Art, Symbolism, and Allegory in Old Maps

The two-day ENDORAMA conference, now in its eleventh year, is complemented by the CULTURAL ENDORAMA, a parallel event to the medical program. The Cultural Endorama is what gives the conference its unique character each year; it takes us beyond the boundaries of medicine, allows us to engage with the city and interact with the community, to get to know the wider region, or even to “travel” a little farther afield.

And so, through the educational program, we explored Kalavryta and the Revolution, Messolonghi and the lagoons, the refugee crisis, theater and the Patras Municipal Regional Theater, the correctional system and human rights, the excavations at Messene, the war of memory, Syria, the CERN experiment, and the “God particle.” Each year, exhibitions, recitations, music, and gastronomy come together to paint a picture of the chosen theme. The paintings from Messolonghi, the weapons of the Revolution, and the costumes of the Municipal Regional Theater were paired with symphonic works, traditional music, photographs—works of art captured through the pathologists’ microscopes, Eva Kotamanidou reading the third rhapsody of the Iliad, and historian Marianna Koromila’s iconic lecture on the profound culture of Syria.

In 2019, the CULTURAL ENDORAMA dedicated its theme to a true journey through art. The guest speaker at the Opening Ceremony was our colleague Alexandros Garifallos, Professor of Pathology–Rheumatology in the Department of Medicine at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, who, guided by Western artistic movements from the 15th century onward, took us on a journey through old maps of the Balkans, as well as through the symbolism and allegories hidden within the maps themselves!

The Renaissance, the Baroque, the Rococo, Classicism, Romanticism, and Orientalism were reflected in the aesthetics and details of geographical maps.

At the same time, the foyer of the Conference Center hosted the exhibition “Maps and Aesthetics, ” featuring original, carefully selected printed maps, where we enjoyed examples of all the styles mentioned above.

On behalf of “ENDORAMATOS,” we would like to thank everyone who, once again, contributed to the Opening Ceremony and the cultural identity of our two-day event:

Professor Alexandros Garifallos, who so readily accepted our invitation and worked, as always, methodically and with enthusiasm on the lecture and the map exhibition.

Elsa Pikramenou, the conference organizer, who once again embraced and highlighted in a special way not only the organizational and academic aspects of ENDORAMA, but also its cultural dimension.

Finally, historian and archaeologist Androniki Chrysafi, who has served as curator of the “Cultural Endorama” since its inception and, with great care, passion, knowledge, and fruitful discussions, she contributes to its realization every year.