- When: April 22, 2026, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Where: Universitätshauptgebäude, Fürstengraben 1, Hörsaal 24 (Lecture) & Fürstengraben 25 (Exhibition)
- What: Keynote lecture on the assembly of gods in the Parthenon frieze & opening of the exhibition „Lichtwechsel“
- Guest Speaker: Prof. Dr. Andreas Scholl (Staatliche Museen zu Berlin)
Jena. A significant anniversary is approaching – or rather, its light. The Archaeological Museum of the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena is celebrating its 180th anniversary this semester. To mark the occasion, the Chair of Classical Archaeology invites you to a special evening on April 22, 2026, which combines scientific excellence with the joy of museum discovery.
Lecture: When Athens Celebrates
The evening begins with a keynote lecture in the Universitätshauptgebäude. None other than Prof. Dr. Andreas Scholl could be secured as the speaker. Scholl, Director of the Antikensammlung of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz), is considered one of the leading experts in the field of Greek sculpture and architecture.
His topic, „Athens Celebrates Athena’s Birthday: On the Assembly of Gods in the East Frieze of the Parthenon,“ promises a deep insight into one of the most significant structures of antiquity. The Parthenon on the Akropolis in Athens is not only an architectural masterpiece but was also the spiritual center of the ancient city-state. Particularly the frieze, which depicts the Panathenaia – the great festival in honor of the city goddess Athena – continues to pose riddles for researchers and offers room for fascinating interpretations. In his lecture, Scholl will illuminate how the gods are depicted in this stone masterpiece and what political and religious symbolism lies behind it.
180 Years of the Archaeological Museum: „Lichtwechsel“
The lecture serves as the academic framework for a local highlight: the opening of the new special exhibition „Lichtwechsel. Antike Reliefs neu sehen“ (Changing Light: Seeing Ancient Reliefs Anew). For nearly two centuries, the University of Jena has preserved a treasure trove of casts and originals that brings the world of antiquity closer to students and the public. The 180th anniversary of the museum is a testament to the long tradition of classical studies in the city on the Saale.
Fittingly for the title, the new exhibition focuses on a new perspective. Ancient reliefs, often perceived as static stone images, only unfold their full effect through the play of light and shadow. The exhibition curators promise to present well-known pieces in a literally „new light,“ making details visible that often remain hidden to the naked eye.
From the Lecture Hall to the Museum
The event is divided into two parts and connects theory with practice. Following the lecture by Prof. Dr. Andreas Scholl in Hörsaal 24 of the Universitätshauptgebäude (Fürstengraben 1), the group will move a few meters to Fürstengraben 25. There, the special exhibition will be ceremoniously opened. This offers visitors the opportunity to reflect on what they have just heard directly within the museum context and to engage in conversation with the experts.
The event is open to the public and barrier-free. For those interested in culture in Jena, this evening offers a rare opportunity to experience top-tier research from Berlin right on their doorstep while celebrating local university history.
Transparency Note: This article was automatically created, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.