Antonio Penadés's new work, 'Acropolis. From Thessaloniki to Athens, a journey through central Greece with Xerxes and Edward Dodwell', will be presented this Tuesday, September 15th, at 7 PM at Casa Mediterráneo. This book concludes the author's travel trilogy dedicated to the Greek world, which began with 'Tras las huellas de Heródoto' and 'Viaje a la Grecia clásica'.
The book offers a journey through some of the historical settings of the eastern Mediterranean, connecting the Greece of Xerxes the Great (486-465 BC) with the testimony of the Irish traveler and archaeologist Edward Dodwell, who toured the country in the early 19th century. Penadés also incorporates the perspective of his teenage daughter, as they jointly explore key sites of the Persian Wars such as Marathon beach, the island of Salamis, and the plain of Plataea, culminating in Athens and its Acropolis.
Throughout the book, three perspectives alternate: that of Penadés himself, that of Herodotus, and that of Edward Dodwell. Dodwell's account, which documented his era with hundreds of drawings and engravings under Ottoman rule, gains particular relevance by addressing the plunder of the Parthenon marbles by Lord Elgin, an issue that Penadés delves into concerning their restitution.
The presentation at Casa Mediterráneo will include the screening of over a hundred images and maps related to the described journeys, making it a visual voyage. Penadés will reflect on the traces these historical moments have left on our understanding of the Mediterranean and the origins of civilization.
Antonio Penadés, a historian, journalist, and lawyer, is the author of several works on the Greek world. Since 2005, he has taught literature and history at the Museo L’Iber and has collaborated with media outlets such as El País and Historia National Geographic. His interest in the Greek world began at age 17 with his discovery of Herodotus.
An unmissable event for lovers of history and the Mediterranean.
