A Poet’s Personal Treasures Reveal Thessaloniki’s Hidden Past in New Exhibition
A new exhibition, The Antiquities of Dinos, will open on December 10 at the Tellogleion Fine Arts Foundation in Thessaloniki. The show presents a personal collection of ancient fragments gathered by the late poet Dinos Christianopoulos. These objects, though modest in archaeological worth, offer a glimpse into his daily life and surroundings.
In 1994, Christianopoulos began collecting small artefacts from the streets and places he visited. Most were black-glazed pottery sherds from the Classical period, but the assortment also included stones, wood fossils, coins, talismans, and old banknotes. Each item was carefully labelled with its location and the date it was found.
Archaeologist Kostas Kotsakis described the pieces as 'souvenirs from the streets and places he walked', emphasising their emotional rather than historical significance. Photographer Aris Georgiou documented the collection before it was handed over to archaeological authorities, calling it a 'treasure' of personal meaning. The objects now form an exhibition at the Tellogleion, part of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Rather than showcasing rare antiquities, the display reveals how Christianopoulos saw beauty in everyday fragments of the past.
The exhibition brings together items that trace the poet’s movements through Thessaloniki and beyond. Visitors will see a mix of pottery, coins, and natural relics, each tied to a moment in his life. The Antiquities of Dinos runs from December 10 at the Tellogleion Fine Arts Foundation.
