A night in ancient Kaulon: rituals, wars, and everyday life

On August 3, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., the Museum and Archaeological Park of Ancient Kaulon will host a day dedicated to the living history of the Greek era, organized as part of the “Educational Services in Places of Culture” program promoted by the Ministry of Culture - Regional Directorate of Museums of Calabria.

The initiative will kick off in the afternoon at the Archaeological Museum, where, starting at 6:00 p.m., visitors will be welcomed by experiential displays featuring ceramics and ornamental objects, as well as educational workshops and ancient games designed to engage audiences of all ages.

Starting at 6:30 p.m., the activities will move to the area of the Temple of Zeus in the Archaeological Park, with demonstrations on the art of war in Greek times, the ritual introduction with hymns and prayers to Zeus and Aphrodite, the offering of gifts and votive offerings by women and warriors, the Pyrrhic dance, and a farewell ode. The activities at the park will end at 7:45 p.m.

In the evening, from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., the public will be able to explore the Greek camp set up at the Museum, with displays of everyday objects, weapons, combat demonstrations, and educational exhibitions dedicated to food, wine, musical instruments, and games of the time. At 9:00 p.m., there will be new demonstrations on the use of weapons and armor, while at 9:30 p.m., a theatrical guided tour of the museum's rooms will begin, animated by actors and reenactors. The evening will end with ancient games such as orca, stomachion, petteia, polis, and archery, with themed prizes and further exhibitions on the art of Greek warfare until 11:30 p.m.

The initiative involves Itineraria Bruttii onlus, the Cavalieri de li Terre Tarantine for living history activities, Emergenti Visioni for historical theater, and the Brettion Foundation, with artistic direction by archaeologist Paolo Gallo.