Sat 24 Jan 2026 | 11:31 PM
Th. Papakostas Brings Greek History to Life in Cairo International Book Fair Panel
Greek archaeologist Theodoros Papakostas presented his book “Greek History and Philosophy Through the Ages” at the 57th Cairo International Book Fair, offering readers a fresh, human-centered approach to ancient history and archaeology.
The panel, held in the International Hall (Plaza 2) as part of the “Cultural Experiences – Arabic Book Translation” program, was moderated by Egyptian writer Mohamed Mandour and featured translator Dr. Mohamed Abbas Abdel Aziz and historian Dr. Mohamed Ramadan Al-Arja. Abdel Aziz, an expert in comparative literature and Greek-Arabic cultural translation, highlighted Papakostas’ mission to make archaeology accessible, noting that the author believes knowledge has real value only when shared with the public.
Papakostas, born and raised in Thessaloniki with a PhD in Classical Archaeology, takes readers on a unique journey through history via a dialogue between an archaeologist and an ordinary person trapped in an elevator—a storytelling device that compresses millennia into an engaging, thought-provoking narrative. Mandour described the book as “an example of how narrative can break barriers between readers and history, making them active participants in discovering the past rather than passive recipients.”
Dr. Al-Arja emphasized that the work humanizes Greek history, moving beyond heroes and battles to the everyday lives of ordinary people, while presenting historical figures like Alexander the Great in a nuanced, non-idealized manner. He also noted the book’s illumination of cultural exchanges between ancient Greece and civilizations of the Near East, including ancient Egypt.
Mandour added that Papakostas’ approach, together with Abdel Aziz’s translation, opens a new horizon for Arab readers, redefining the relationship with the past as an accessible, living, and interpretable experience rather than a fixed narrative.
The event concluded with agreement among speakers that such works offer a rare blend of education and enjoyment, encouraging young audiences to explore history and philosophy in a contemporary, critical, and engaging way
