Experience the Adventures of Greek Heroes in Basel with Athena

16 September 2025

The origin of the name Basel, Basilia, likely comes from the Celtic tribe of the Rauraci, who inhabited the area at the time and had a small settlement near the Münster and the old gas factory.

However, this does not alter the fact that the Romans, along with the Greek goddess Athena (equivalent to Minerva for the Romans), were present at this location for centuries (ca. 13 BC – 410 AD).

After the departure of the Romans, Athena has not been seen in Basel until September 14, 2025, on the occasion of the ‘Hero Games’ exhibition at the Antikenmuseum Basel.

Head of Athena, marble, reduced-size Roman copy after a Greek bronze statue from around 430 BC. Inv. Lu 231

Moreover, it is not often that the goddess Athena addresses humans. Yet, her words can be heard again after a long absence in the Antikenmuseum. Her presence is also necessary, as visitors are about to experience the adventures of the mythical Greek heroes. Athena supports them with the words:

“I, the invincible Athena, speak to you! I, who hold victory and glory in my divine hands. I am the goddess of wisdom and war, the daughter of Zeus. I welcome you to the Hero Games!

I have hastily descended from Olympus to assist you. Thousands of years ago, in the time of the great heroines and heroes, I was always present. I accompanied Heracles in the dark depths of Hades, guided the sword of Perseus to the throat of the demonic Medusa, and strengthened Theseus in the labyrinth of the Minotaur. People still know their names. Through their deeds, they have made themselves immortal.

But now your time has come. The era of your heroic deeds has begun. You follow in the footsteps of the ancient heroines and heroes and experience their legendary adventures. On your journey, you will encounter seven adventures. In each adventure, you must prove a different skill.

Your goal, the Oracle of Delphi and Apollo, awaits you at the end of the adventures. There, you will receive the assessment of your heroic deeds. And rest assured, I, Athena, will assist you in every mission and always tell you what to do.”

Athena indeed guides the visitors through the Hero Games via an audio guide in three languages (English, German, French).

Statue of Athena (known as Athena Giustiniani), marble, Roman copy after a Greek bronze work from around 380 BC, Rome, Vatican Museum (original), plaster cast, Inv. SH 947

A total of seven missions, in the form of both analogue and digital games, lead visitors in the footsteps of their ancient predecessors. They experience the same adventures, face the same monsters, and solve the same puzzles.

The boar killed by an arrow fired by a visitor

Arrowheads, bronze, various periods. Basel Museum of Antiquities, various inventory numbers

Medusa

Perseus beheads Medusa in the presence of Athena. Architectural decoration from the temple in Selinus, around 530 BC. Palermo, Regional Archaeological Museum (original), plaster cast. Inv. SH 440

On their way, they encounter the terrifying Medusa at the edge of the world, followed by the forest of Calydon and the gigantic boar, a malevolent monster.

They overcome the three-headed Cerberus in the underworld and face the man-eating Minotaur in its labyrinth on Crete.

The Minotauros in his Labyrinth

They find themselves in the Greek camp, which has been besieging Troy for ten years. The visitors try to build the famous Trojan horse. Once the horse is ready, the Trojans pull it into the city along with its secret cargo of Greek warriors, sealing the fate of Troy.

Ready to battle. Athena stands by warriors. Wine mixing vessel (krater) from Corinth, circa 590 BC, Inv. BS 451

In the room of Medea, one of the most powerful sorceresses in the world, there is much to see: tins, glasses, flasks, and pots containing secret magical ingredients, as well as dried herbs.

Hecate was the goddess of magic. Cult statue of Hecate (known as a Hecateion), marble, circa 100 BC. Inv. Lu 246

Medea’s speciality was a rejuvenation spell. Wine mixing vessel (krater) from Athens, circa 440 BC, Inv. BS 1450

In a cauldron, a potion bubbles, with which Medea prepared her famous rejuvenation spell. The visitors add the most essential ingredients. They must strictly follow the recipe.

The final mission takes them to the mountains of Thebes. Here, the cruel Sphinx sits on a rock and poses a riddle to anyone who wants to pass. She punishes ignorance with death. She has already devoured countless people. Only Oedipus once had the mental strength to defeat the monster. Now the visitors stand before the riddle-setter and must prove their logic and intelligence.

Finally, the visitors have endured the adventures and reached the end of their journey in the sacred city of Delphi. Here, Apollo, the god of prophecy, presides over the most important oracle site in the ancient world. In his temple, he speaks through his prophetess, the Pythia. The Pythia proclaims her oracles while seated on a tripod cauldron.

Tripod cauldron, bronze, circa 750 BC, Inv. BS 554

The Pythia summarises in an oracle the special skills that visitors have discovered in themselves during their heroic journey. Finally, our visitors immortalise themselves on the Wall of Heroes.

Laurel wreath from Etruria, gold. 3rd century BC, Inv. Zü 485

“Athena Comes Home” is an apt summary of this exhibition. It offers an innovative game concept, immersive staging, interactive missions, and more than 2,500-year-old Greek and Roman original works depicting these adventures and heroes. Greek myths remain relevant today, as nothing human was considered alien to the gods, goddesses, heroes, and monsters.

(Source and further information: Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig)

Hades sits in his palace and welcomes a deceased person to the underworld. Grave vase (krater), from Apulia, around 320 BC, Inv. BS 464