The National Archaeological Museum in Athens is without a general director following the resignation of Anna Vasiliki Karapanagiotou, who had held the position since January 2021.
Her departure comes at a crucial time as the museum prepares for a significant expansion and renovation, a project described by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis as a major cultural initiative.
Karapanagiotou, a distinguished archaeologist with extensive experience in Greece and Italy, was appointed general director by Culture Minister Lina Mendoni as part of the museum’s transition into a Legal Entity of Public Law. Karapanagiotou has led excavations in Greece and Italy and directed the excavation program at Mount Lykaion. She has received multiple international honors for her work in archaeology and cultural heritage. According to To Vima, her resignation follows the recent departure of the museum’s board chairman, Dimitris Economou, signaling unexpected leadership changes during a pivotal period.
Under current legislation (Law 5021/2023), the museum’s board must now initiate a formal selection process for a new director. A special seven-member committee, including experts in archaeology and museology, will evaluate candidates, with the final appointment made by the Minister of Culture. The new director will serve a three-year term, renewable twice. Until then, Costas Nikolentzos, head of the Collections and Exhibitions Department, will assume interim leadership.
In an interview with To Vima last year, Karapanagiotou reflected on her tenure as the National Archaeological Museum director, highlighting challenges such as overseeing the museum’s transition to an independent legal entity and organizing the international exhibition Open Horizons, which introduced Greek antiquities to a global audience.
Karapanagiotou’s term involved achievements such as completing the inventory of the museum’s vast collection—comprising over 500,000 antiquities, many of them masterpieces.
