Τμήμα Πολιτισμού – Δημιουργικών Βιομηχανιών

The kick-off meeting of the THRACE-CONNECT project was held on 12/6/2025, with the participation of the members of the ATHENA RC team (Despoina Tsiafaki, Vassilis Evangelidis, Yiannis Mourthos, Melpomeni Karta, Kostas Stavroglou, Maria Topalidou), in the ILSP department of Xanthi. The research project “Unraveling Connections between Aegean and inland Thrace via the Rhodope mountains, through archaeological exploration and spatial technology (THRACE-CONNECT)” is implemented in the framework of H.F.R.I call “3rd Call for H.F.R.I.’s Research Projects to Support Faculty Members & Researchers” (H.F.R.I. Project Number: 23755).

THRACE-CONNECT explores the ancient communication networks linking Aegean Thrace to its inland regions via the Rhodope Mountains, from the Archaic to the Roman period. By integrating archaeological, historical, and geospatial data, the project investigates the Rhodope as a transitional zone and cultural crossroads. Utilizing GIS technologies and advanced visualization techniques, it aims to reconstruct ancient routes and uncover the socio-cultural dynamics that shaped the region.

On May 5, 2025, members of Dr. Despoina Tsiafaki’s team, Ioannis Mourthos and Meliana Karta, visited the 2nd Senior High School of Xanthi and presented the project “Echoes” (https://echoesproject.gr/), its historical significance for the city of Xanthi, as well as the new technologies that were utilized for the implementation of the project.

As part of the J. Paul Getty Museum’s “New Archaeology of Ancient Thrace” lecture series on April 28, 2025, Dr. Despoina Tsiafaki gave a lecture entitled “The Archaeological Heritage of Aegean Thrace”. For more information, follow the link: https://www.getty.edu/calendar/archaeology-ancient-thrace/

With speeches, workshops, scientific activities and live interaction with students and audiences of all ages, the 1st Xanthi Puzzle Festival was completed, which lasted from April 4 to 6, 2025 and took place at the Athena Research Center (Xanthi Division), at the Multiplex of Art and Thought of Xanthi, at the Old City Hall of Xanthi, at the “Odysseas” Mobile Education Unit in the central Square as well as at the “P” Tobacco Warehouse.

The Puzzle Festival came from Kastellorizo ​​to Xanthi, with the following goal: to share the knowledge of a pioneering and multi-thematic scientific festival, which has already conquered its local community and now seeks to share its knowledge with other remote areas of Greece.

For more information, visit the page: https://xanthipuzzlefestival.gr/ and https://www.facebook.com/xanthi.puzzle.festival

The department participated in the British School of Athens workshop entitled “Archaeology and Education”, with the speech “Antiquity and Innovation: The actions of the ‘Athena’ RC in Xanthi for teachers and school groups at local and international level” by Dr. Vasilis Evangelidis and Natasa Michailidou. This program is aimed at primary and secondary school teachers who teach ancient and Byzantine history, as well as teachers who have no experience teaching ancient history.The workshop took place on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.