“…And here I am once again! What a surprise! I expected to find my old pedestal, the familiar display cases, the half-empty gallery—but what miracle was this? How the museum had changed! What splendid new showcases! And so many treasures, objects I had never laid eyes on before! When they placed me in my new home, they brought over a strange machine, a television screen… Whatever could they want with such an ungainly thing? But how mistaken I was! Soon I heard a man’s voice recounting my adventures. My life had become a film for museum visitors to watch and listen to. It had become a book as well, so that readers might discover that my story began centuries ago, in the workshop of a sculptor whose name I never came to know…”
On Saturday, 27 June, from 17:00 to 18:00 Athens time, Voice of Greece presents the second installment in the remarkable story of the repatriation of the Lion of Kythera, the celebrated Archaic marble sculpture, as part of “Narratives– Stories and Fairy Tales for Children and Grown-Ups”, produced and presented by Maria Karagiannaki Iona.
This episode continues the enchanting tale inspired by the children’s book published by Kedros Editions, which recounts the extraordinary journey of the marble lion from Kythera. Written with warmth and clarity by children’s author, archaeologist, and Ministry of Culture official Evi Pini, the story introduces young readers to the statue’s many adventures and its long-awaited homecoming.
The book is beautifully illustrated by archaeologist and artist Giannis Nakas, whose evocative drawings accompany children and adults alike on the lion’s remarkable voyage across time, leading to its triumphant return to the Museum of Kythera after decades away from home.
Young listeners are also invited to explore the historical record of the statue preserved in the archives of the National Archaeological Museum, reproduced at the end of the book, as well as the appendix, “The Story of the Lion of Kythera: From Fiction to Reality.” There they will find a richly illustrated timeline tracing the lion’s true history, together with photographs documenting the memorable day it finally returned to its island home.
Children and grown-ups alike are invited to join ERT’s international radio service, Voice of Greece, for the second chapter in the story of the island’s beloved marble lion—a tale of history, memory, adventure, and homecoming.
Produced and presented by Maria Karagiannaki Iona
Broadcast: Saturday, 27 June 2026, at 17:00 Athens time.
