Ancient Myths Light Up Modern China
Picture this: Beijing humming in spring, lanterns lit, the whisper of old legends twisting through the halls of the Forbidden City. At the heart of it all, the Daedalus, Legends of Crete exhibition—hot off the ship from Heraklion’s storied Archaeological Museum—sets up shop where emperors once trod. Greece’s culture minister, Lina Mendoni, no stranger to ceremony or jet lag, glides between marble statues and journalists. She’s here on official business, but this feels special, like the old world meeting the new over wine and Cretan myths.
The show itself? Imagine ancient labyrinths, heroic escapes, and winged dreams; all recast in a city better known for dragon motifs than minotaurs. It’s part celebration, part cultural handshake, and all timed with the 100th anniversary of China’s Palace Museum—a birthday worth remembering.
While cameras flashed, Mendoni held a working session with Gao Xiang, head of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). There was talk of bringing Homer’s heroes to scholarly life and plans for a joint conference washed down with strong green tea. Ancient Greek and Chinese mythologies might soon share a table—think of Zeus swapping stories with the Jade Emperor. Both sides tossed around the idea of translating classic literature for new readers, echoing across continents.
- Plans for joint mythological studies between Greece and China.
- Possible translation projects for Greek and Chinese literature.
- New conferences on archaeology and epic storytelling.
Shaanxi’s Ancient Wonders: Terracotta, Time, and Tourism
After the spotlight of Beijing, Mendoni journeyed west to Xi’an—the storied beginning of the Silk Road, where history seems stacked like bricks and the air tastes faintly of clay dust and legend. Here, she swapped city lanterns for the heavy hush of mausoleums. Xu Mingfei, Shaanxi’s vice governor in charge of culture, welcomed her under the watchful eyes of terracotta warriors. If their expressions could change, maybe they’d wink; after all, Greek and Chinese stone faces have quietly influenced one another for ages, a fact archaeologists now say with straight faces.
The Terracotta Army, as always, stole the show. Mendoni got the whole tour, marveled at the Greek-inspired touches on the armor, and suggested an Athens cameo for these famous foot soldiers. Xu Mingfei liked the notion of one more cultural thread weaving Greece and China together.
Key moments from the Shaanxi stop:
- In-depth tour of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum and its iconic warriors.
- Discussion about Greek influences found in terracotta sculpture.
- Mendoni’s proposal for a warrior exhibition in Athens.
- Xu Mingfei’s plans to visit the Acropolis for restoration tips.
Next came the windswept plains of Taiping, where diggers and dust mask the quiet thrill of discovery. Mendoni met Han Jianhua, the excavation chief, to arrange for archaeological students and specialists to swap notes and tales. The Taiping site, just uncovered in 2021, sprawls across a jaw-dropping two million square meters and dates back up to 4,150 years—older than Greek myths, older than some city walls, and brimming with clues for anyone with a trowel and patience.
And if museum hopping is your sport, the Shaanxi History Museum dazzles with its trove of newly found relics—a true feast for those with time and curiosity.
This summer, the legend of Daedalus stretches from Crete to Beijing—an open invitation for travelers to follow the story, whether on foot, in imagination, or perhaps one day face-to-face with Minotaur and Emperor alike.
