A very special gathering took place in Aegina on Wednesday evening August 7 which focused everyone’s eyes and attention on the Aegina Mosaic, belonging to an ancient synagogue dating back to the 4th century. More than two hundred people came together in the welcoming patio of the Archaeological Museum of Aegina who showed with their presence that they care for its state and preservation. The public had the chance to view the Mosaic of Aegina and the exhibition on the Mosaic of Aegina that was inaugurated that night, curated by architect Dr. Elias Messinas, a world expert on Greek Synagogues.
The event was jointly organized by the Eforate of Antiquities of Piraeus and the Islands of the Ministry of Culture and Sport and NGO ECOWEEK founders Dr. Elias Messinas and Yvette Nahmia-Messinas under the auspices of the Aegina Municipality.
The event was attended by the Minister of Agricultural Development, Makis Voridis, along with his wife Danae Michelakou Voridi, Deputy Mayor of Aegina Nikos Economou, who saluted the event on behalf of Mayor Dimitris Mourtzis, Daniel Benardout representative of the Central Board for Jewish Communities of Greece on behalf of the president David Saltiel and Gabriel Negrin Chief Rabbi of Athens.
Pictures from Left to right: Nikos Economou; Dr. Stella Chrysoulaki conversing with Daniel Benardout; Dr. Elias Messinas, Dr. Stella Chrysoulaki, Danae Michelakou Voridi, Makis Voridis, and Tatiana Panagopoulou, Head of the Conservation Department of the Eforate of Antiquities of Piraeus and the Islands discussing the condition of the mosaic floor.
Speakers at the event were Dr. Stella Chrysoulaki, Director of the Eforate of Antiquities of Piraeus and the Islands, the architect Dr. Elias Messinas who curated the exhibition and Yvette Nahmia-Messinas coordinator of the Friends of the Mosaic Floor of the Aegina Synagogue campaign.
Dr. Elias Messinas who has published two books on the subject gave a short overview of the history of the Aegina mosaic in a visual portrayal since the time it was first excavated and placed it in the context of other Greek synagogues and their preservation.
Dr. Messinas, who has recently overseen the renovation of the two synagogues of Thessaloniki explained that “the mosaic of Aegina spans more than two millennia of Greek Jewish history, from ancient times to the present. For example, Belle Mazur, one of the archaeologists who published the mosaic and discovered the apse that pointed to Jerusalem during prayer, was later involved in the distribution of funds to support Holocaust survivors and Jewish communities in Greece to re-establish after the war. It is fascinating how much history is hidden behind this mosaic!” Dr. Messinas explained.
Yvette Nahmia-Messinas, who coordinates the Friends of the Mosaic pointed on her deep connection to the island of
Aegina, and invited everyone present to join the Friends of the Mosaic group. Nahmia-Messinas thanked the donors who have so far supported this initiative, including the Greek Community of Jerusalem and the Jewish Women of Athens.
At the event Dr. Stella Chrysoulaki, the Director of the Eforate, announced the commitment of the Eforate to undertake the preservation of the mosaic.
To view the video of the event online please visit the Aegina Portal web tv here. For more information on this initiative please visit the Mosaic of Aegina website or the ECOWEEK website (https://ecoweek.org/). The site includes a drone video showing the location of the mosaic. Should you want to support this project please contact aeginamosaic@ecoweek.org
