Pyxides are very common ancient vessels, which were used as small containers of jewellery and other valuable objects or cosmetics and medicines. Excavations in various Messenian sites have brought to light pyxides dating from the Prehistoric to the Hellenistic times; these finds are nowadays exhibited in the museums and the archaeological collections of Messenia, while many of them are kept in the archaeological storerooms. 
Iias Christopoulos and Manos Kalamenios are two artists, who are inspired by ancient pyxides versions. Their proposal to organise an exhibition of their artworks in the Archaeological Museum of Messenia was eagerly accepted; this is a proposal meeting the objectives and priorities of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Messenia, which opens the museums and archaeological sites of its responsibility to the modern artistic expression. This way, modern artworks co-exist and interact with their ancient counterparts. The co-display of ancient and modern pyxides, supports this interaction and presents the evolution and function, as well as the decoration of these attractive ancient vessels. 
Many thanks to both artists, Elias Christopoulos and Manos Kalamenios for their fruitful cooperation, as well as to the archaeologists Mary Tsoulakou, Katerina Tzamourani and Alexandra Konstantinidou, the civil engineer Dimitra Pikoula, the conservators Thanos Katakos and Evgenia Spala, the graphic artist Tassos Papadogkonas the designer Vicky Andrianopoulou, the electrician George Papanikolaou and the craftsman Giannis Economopoulos who worked with enthusiasm and creativity on the exhibition.

Dr. Eyangelia Militsi-Kechagia

Archaeologist, Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Messenia