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Environment Museum of Stymphalia

The Environment Museum of Stymphalia is located in Greece,  in a mountainous region of northern Peloponnese (at an altitude of 600m),  there where, according to mythology, Hercules confronted and slew the Stymphalian birds. The water basin of Stymphalia is considered to be the largest mountain lake of the Peloponnese, at the same time as being the Balkans' southernmost mountain wetland. The basic goals of the museological approach are to raise the public's ecological awareness and preserve the knowledge relating to the region's traditional technology.  The exhibition's goals are supported by models and interactive applications, digital representations and documentary films. makebelieve design & consulting designed and developed the majority of these digital exhibits for the Environment Museum of Stymphalia and continues to provide technical support. 

Interactive geology: Geological Formations in the Stymphalia Region

A unique 3D experience about the geographic formations, erosions, waterways and valleys of the greater region around lake Stymphalia. The exhibit includes a digital film, narrated in Greek and English, that controls a laser-head which lights a plaster model (maquette) of the surrounding area. In collaboration with Conservation Biologist & Environment Interpretation Specialist, Giorgos Catsadorakis, with Geologist, Jenny Lagkadinou, and with the mechanical engineers responsible for the laser, Dr. Nikos Kampanis and Antonis Plytas.

3D animation: Reconstruction of Hadrian's Aqueduct

A 3D digital reconstruction, with animation, of sections of Hadrian’s aqueduct. The reconstruction is based on photographs, historical research, and close collaboration with Yannis Lolos, the archeologist who has studied closely this immense roman project that served to supply water from Stymphalia to Ancient Corinth. The aqueduct dates from the 2nd century A.D and had a length of 84 km.

Video art: Myths and Birdlife of lake Stymphalia

An abstract digital artistic application about the myths and wetland of lake Stymphalia, from Hercules' famous labour in which he cleared the lake from the Stymphalian Birds to today's natural environment. Graphics and animation by our very creative  long-time collaborators minimatik.

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3D animation: Stymphalia – a virtual journey through the site from Antiquity to the Middle Ages

3D digital reconstructions, with animations, of homes, temples and public buildings of the ancient city of Stymphalos and of the Cistercian abbey of Zaraka. The reconstructions have been created in close collaboration with the team that has been excavating the site since 1994 (Professor Hector Williams, Ben Gourley, Yannis Lolos, Anthony Masinton et al.), based also on previous publications and sketches by Anastasios Orlandos.

makebelieve was also responsible for the installation of the technological infrastructure used for the aforementioned exhibits.

Presentations

The digital exhibits of the Environment Museum of Stymphalia were accepted and presented at:

• Archeovirtual 2009 (within the Mediterranean Expo of Archaeological Tourism), Paestum, Italy, 19 - 22 November 2009
• DNA Italy: 1-3 October, 2010,  Turin Italy

The Environment Museum of Stymphalia soft launched in October 2009 and opened to the public on June 5, 2010 (World Environment Day). More about the museum: www.piop.gr.

Credits

• Production Coordinator: Dr. Maria Roussou, Interaction Designer, makebelieve
• Technical Production Coordinator: Dimitris Nastos, Computer Scientist, makebelieve
• Overall Coordination: Dr. Natassa Filippoupoliti, Archaeologist-Museologist, Pireaus Bank Group Cultural Foundation's Museums Network

For the 'Geological Formations in the Stymphalia Region' application:

• 2D and 3D Graphics and Animation: Antonis Makrigiannis, Graphics Designer/3D Animator
• Scientific Advisor: Dr. Giorgos Catsadorakis, Conservation Biologist & Environment Interpretation Specialist
• Scientific Advisor: Jenny Lagkadinou,, Geologist
• Advisor on Laser implementation & installation: Antonis Plytas, Electrical & Mechanical Engineer
• Advisor on Laser implementation & installation: Dr. Nikos Kampanis, Mechanical Engineer

For 'Hadrian’s Aqueduct' reconstruction:

• Scientific Advisor: Dr. Yannis Lolos, Archaeologist

For the 'Myths and Birdlife of the lake' video art:

• Concept, Design & Implementation: minimatik

For 'Stymphalia: a virtual journey through the site from Antiquity to the Middle Ages':

• Scientific Advisor: Professor Hector Williams, Archaeologist
• Scientific Advisor: Dr. Ben Gourley, Archaeologist
• Scientific Advisor: Dr. Yannis Lolos, Archaeologist
• Scientific Advisor: Dr. Anthony Masinton, Archaeologist