Get ready to discover the secrets of mathematical thinking and learn the history of ancient Greek mathematics at the «Hellenic Cosmos» Cultural Centre.

Interactive and digital applications, Virtual Reality exhibits, texts, impressive projections, maps, and constructions come together to create a unique exhibition, a point of intersection between ancient and modern technology.

This is an impressive exhibition at the «Hellenic Cosmos» Cultural Centre that deals with the history of mathematics and the development of mathematical thinking in the ancient Greek world, their influence on other sciences and arts, such as astronomy, mathematical geography, and music, as well as their everyday applications in modern society. It refers to the most important "episodes" and figures in the history of Greek mathematics, such as Thales, Euclid, and Pythagoras.



Through a series of activities, visitors come into contact with the numerical systems of the Egyptians and Babylonians. They familiarize themselves with Thales' theorem, the triangular and square numbers of the Pythagoreans, the Pythagorean theorem, and the concept of mathematical proof. Thanks to the educational and entertaining character of the exhibition, visitors discover how mathematics can become interesting, enjoyable, and understandable.

At the exhibition we will…

… write numbers based on the hieroglyphic symbols of the ancient Egyptians and the cuneiform script of the Babylonians.

… try to divide exactly 6 loaves of bread among 10 men and learn how the ancient Egyptians did it, as presented in the Rhind papyrus, the most extensive and one of the most well-known texts of Egyptian mathematics.

… search for shapes around us, as Thales and the Ionian philosophers did, and draw them in the sand with a stick.

… learn how Thales calculated the height of the pyramid of Cheops with just a rope and his observational skills...

… meet Pythagoras, the man who saw numbers everywhere, and experiment with the musical scale on his monochord.

… wonder whether there is indeed a solution to everything using only a compass and a straightedge, and learn about the three unsolved problems of antiquity.

… learn how the bath of an ancient mathematician became the basis for a fundamental law of hydrostatics, and how the word "Eureka" became famous.

… see how Eratosthenes managed with minimal means to calculate with great accuracy the circumference of the Earth.

… experiment with the abacus, the tool with which the ancients performed calculations and operations.

… wonder where we derive our knowledge of ancient Greek mathematics.

… solve a practical arithmetic problem from the 15th century, where we help an old lady figure out how many eggs she was holding before they broke.

Digital applications coexist with physical exhibits, such as texts, maps, and constructions, offering the visitor a unique interactive tour of the world of ancient Greek mathematics. Children learn by playing, and adults are captivated by the charm of the mathematical science.

For the first time, at the exhibition, you will experience Virtual Reality through the pioneering system of the "Ark," the first virtual reality system in Greece and the "Virtual Cinema"!

The new exhibition is a continuation of the original that was held with great success at the «Hellenic Cosmos» Cultural Centre and was organized with the care of scientists and museologists of the Foundation of the Hellenic World, as well as with the kind contribution of the Hellenic Mathematical Society. The scientific supervision of the exhibition was signed by the History of Mathematics specialist, Professor Giannis Christianidis.

They have said about the exhibition

"What I feel cannot be expressed. What I experienced here was exciting. I loved mathematics, and now I adore it even more!!!"

"The mathematics exhibition shows how mathematics should be taught in school. Every mathematics student and teacher should visit it to get ideas on how to teach mathematics."

"The mathematics exhibition was wonderful and suitable for students. The depiction of how the height of the pyramid was measured is exceptionally accurate, the best I've seen so far. Thank you for the wonderful tour."

"The exhibition on mathematics in antiquity is a surprise, even if you have visited it before. We thank the guides who spark the interest of students and teachers."