Dr Archaeologist
Director General
akarapanagiotou@culture.gr

Anna Vassiliki Karapanagiotou was born in Tripoli, Arcadia and studied History, Archaeology and History of Art at the University of Athens, continued postgraduate studies at the University of Munich, and then received a postgraduate degree in Classical Archaeology from the University of Athens. In 2002 she received her Ph.D. from the University of Athens with the highest distinction. Her doctoral thesis was titled: “The image of the woman in Athens of the late Hellenistic and imperial periods. The evidence of the grave reliefs”. She speaks fluently English and French and very good German.

Her activity in the field of archaeological work includes excavations in Cyclades, Attica, Pelopennese and Southern Italy. She is currently Director of the Greek Mt. Lykaion Excavation and Survey Project, Arcadia. As a visiting Professor at the University of Peloponnese she taught the subjects of Classical Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Management.

From 2010 to 2020, Anna Karapanagiotou oversaw, coordinated and implemented a broad cultural heritage management and promotion program in Arcadia and Messenia. In 2016, the project of the re-exhibition of the Archaeological Museum of Tegea (Arcadia), coordinated by Anna Karapanagiotou, received a special honorary distinction by the European Museum Forum. From 2011-2022, she was a member of the Central Archaeological Council (Hellenic Ministry of Culture) and she is currently Member of the Council of Museums of the same Ministry.

On 2021 Anna Karapanagiotou was appointed Director of the Hellenic National Archaeological Museum, Athens and on 2023 Director General of the same Museum. She is currently in charge of the project for the expansion and upgrade of the Museum.

Her scientific writing work includes – among others- five monographs and more than 60 articles and contributions on the archaeology and history of Arcadia, ancient Greek urban planning, sculpture of imperial times in Greece, ancient Greek theaters, museology and cultural educational policy. She has given many lectures to Greek, European, American, Chinese and Australian academic and cultural institutions.

In 2023 Anna Karapanagiotou was awarded the title of International Adviser of the National Art Museum of China and Corresponding Member of the German Archaeological Institute. In the same year she received the Decoration of the Order of the Lion of Finland.