From aina (keel) to bow: Sailing ships of the 18th and 19th centuries – Temporary exhibition at the Industrial Museum of Hermoupolis

The temporary exhibition “From Aina to Bow: Sailing Ships of the 18th and 19th Centuries” at the Industrial Museum of Hermoupolis is organized under the auspices of the Municipality of Syros – Hermoupolis, the Department of Product and Systems Design Engineering of the University of the Aegean, and the Directorate of Modern Cultural Heritage of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture.

The exhibition presents historical information on Greek sailing-ship navigation during the 18th and 19th centuries, details on the most representative types of sailing vessels—starting with the three ships for which 3D digital reconstructions were created—and insights into life on board, sea voyages, major ports of the time, and traditional wooden shipbuilding. Visitors can design and “build” their own ship through an interactive virtual game. They may also embark on a virtual tour of a 19th-century sailing ship, using interactive methods that offer an immersive cultural experience through virtual reality (VR), along with enhanced knowledge through additional information and images via augmented reality (AR). A video shown in the exhibition space highlights the construction and rigging of 19th-century sailing vessels through the process of ship modeling.

The exhibition is the result of the research project “Virtual Historic Sailing Ships”, conducted by the Institute for Mediterranean Studies of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (IMS–FORTH) in collaboration with the Department of Product and Systems Design Engineering of the University of the Aegean, the Folklife & Ethnological Museum of Macedonia–Thrace, and TETRAGON S.A., funded by the Operational Programme Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship & Innovation (EPAnEK 2014–2020).

Exhibition duration: 30 August 2024 – 15 October 2024
Visiting hours: Monday – Sunday, 10:00 – 15:00 (closed on Wednesdays)