General Information
| Exhibition Title | Feature Exhibition Olympia Meets Japanese Art |
|---|---|
| Period | June 5–July 4, 2021 |
| Venue | Heisei Chishinkan Wing (The Collections Galleries), Galleries 1F, 2F |
| Transportation | JR, Kintetsu Railway, Keihan Railway, Hankyu Railway, City Bus / Map |
| Closed | Monday |
| Museum Hours | 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Entrance Until 4:30 p.m.) |
| Admission |
Adult 700 yen Univ. Student 350 yen *Admission fee includes admission to all galleries in the Heisei Chishinkan Wing. *Admission is free for high school students and other youths age 0–17, seniors over 70, visitors with disabilities and one caretaker, and for Campus Members (including faculty). Please show I.D. |
| Catalogue | Available at the Museum Shop Featured Exhibition Catalogues |
Images from the Exhibit
The Kyoto National Museum is pleased to present treasures from its collection to compare and contrast the ancient Olympics in Greece and religious folkways in Japan. The people of ancient Greece worshipped many gods and goddesses, and among the famous Panhellenic Games held to honor their deities, the most important and famous were the games held every four years at Olympia. Sacred ground to all Greeks, Olympia was a center of religious worship and the location of a magnificent temple to Zeus, lord of the heavens and almighty in the Greek pantheon. The athletes who competed at Olympia trained their minds and bodies to compete before these gods. The victors were feasted for days on end and gained the right to dedicate a statue of themselves on the temple grounds. In their home communities they were honored for the rest of their lives.
Like the ancient Greeks, Japanese since distant antiquity worshipped many deities, competed with each other in the presence of the divine, trained themselves mind and body, celebrated their victories, and feasted together with their gods.
This exhibit introduces art of Japan and East Asia that resonates with the stories and legends of the ancient Olympics, creating what we hope will be an opportunity to enjoy the arts of Asia while learning more about the world of ancient Greece.
Galleries are:
2F-1; 1. The Deities of Japan
2F-2; 2. Sacred Treasures
2F-3; 3. Animals
2F-4; 4. Temples as Gathering Places
2F-5; 5. Competitions Dedicated to the Divine
1F-1
1F-2; 6. Training
1F-3; 7. From Day One of the Ancient Olympics
1F-4; 8. Competitions in Armor and Modern Competitions
1F-5; 9. Portraits of Victors
1F-6; 10. Feasting
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