In the vast expanse of ancient history, Greece, with its legacy of the Parthenon Temple, the Acropolis of Athens, and other cultural treasures, stands as one of the cradles of Western civilization. Similarly, the ancient Shu civilization, boasting the Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites, bears witness to the diversity and brilliance of Chinese civilization. Today in Athens, these two ancient civilizations, though separated by continents and millennia, begin a profound dialogue that transcends time and distance. In the "Thematic Dialogue between Ancient Shu and Ancient Greek Civilizations" event, scholars from both regions engaged in discussions centered on topics such as comparative studies of Chinese and Greek civilizations. This exchange not only bridged the Chinese and Greek cultures but also offered wisdom and inspiration for mutual learning among human civilizations.
Civilizations in Diversity and Commonality

Artisans from Both Regions "Casting" Equally Splendid Blossoms of Civilization

The early human civilizations exhibited both diversity and commonality. In the thematic dialogue, Li Xinwei, the director of the Chinese School of Classical Studies at Athens , delineated the evolutionary trajectory of human civilization, emphasizing how diverse cultures across various regions have flourished independently, yet consistently maintained communication.

Chinese civilization spans over five millennia. Li Xinwei stated that after a hundred years of exploration, archaeology has been able to map out the grand trajectory of the Chinese civilization's origins. "Approximately 6,000 years ago, various cultural regions in China all experienced a remarkable turning point. Regional elites employed diverse political strategies to foster societal development, culminating in the emergence of a constellation of 'ancient states'." Concurrent with the Liangzhu civilization, a material testament to China's 5,000-year-old civilization, "the prehistoric culture of the Greek Cyclades Islands also witnessed remarkable social progress, where religious authority significantly influenced societal development." This archaeological site from the Greek Bronze Age gradually evolved from scattered settlements to fortified walls and watchtowers, eventually leading to the emergence of a city. Artifacts unearthed at the site include bronze swords, stone plates, necklaces and marble statues, among which figures playing the lyre and flute are considered prehistoric masterpieces.

"Approximately 4,000 years ago, close exchanges occurred between China and the vast grassland areas of the Eurasian continent, significantly promoting the development of the northwestern regions of China through such cultural interactions." Li Xinwei stated that domestic animals such as goats, sheep and cattle entered China through prehistoric exchange routes, "leading to intense interactions and collisions between the western and eastern parts of China, giving rise to China's earliest dynasty." Throughout history, crops like broomcorn millet and foxtail millet from China were disseminated westward, reaching Central Asia and Europe. Many historians believe that the continuous development of Chinese civilization to its present is attributed not only to its relentless stream of great inventions but also to its exchange and inclusiveness with cultures in other regions. It is this constant learning from the outside world and incorporating others' strengths that have imbued Chinese civilization with vitality.

The 3,800-year-old Erlitou archaeological site, located in present-day Yanshi, Henan, is believed to be the capital of the Xia dynasty. Interestingly, in Greece, during the same period as the Erlitou culture, the grand Palace of Knossos stood majestically on the island of Crete.

Li Xinwei stated, "The bronze tripods of that era closely resemble the ding artifacts from the Erlitou culture. In both civilizations, bronze was utilized to craft significant ritual vessels." At the shared sacred site of Delphi in ancient Greek city-states, numerous bronze statuettes have also been unearthed. However, these figures differ significantly in artistic characteristics compared to the bronze relics of Sanxingdui. Tang Fei, the director of the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute and the chief leader of the Sanxingdui site archaeological team, stated, "The Sanxingdui bronzes primarily consist of large vessels and statues created through either integral casting or split casting. Moreover, in terms of cultural exchange, they absorbed many ideological concepts from the Central Plains and other regions of China. In contrast, the Delphi site exemplifies an outward radiation of cultural influence." Although the bronze cultures of the two regions exhibit contrasting styles, when the brilliance of bronze civilization simultaneously illuminates the Aegean Sea and the land of Huaxia, the artisans of both regions "cast" equally splendid blossoms of civilization.

"Coincidental Resemblance" in Gold Masks

Numerous Parallels in Civilization Development

In 2021, the gold mask unearthed from the No.5 sacrificial pit of the Sanxingdui site amazed the world. The gold mask, much to the astonishment of many, exhibits a remarkable similarity to those discovered in ancient Egyptian and Greek civilizations. Is there some connection between them? Li Xinwei suggests that the fascinating resemblance between these masks proves the dissemination of goldsmithing techniques across Eurasia.

According to the introduction, the Sanxingdui gold mask was created using the chui ye (pounding and thinning) technique, a significant goldsmithing method in Chinese history, dating back to the late Shang dynasty over 3,000 years ago. The gold mask unearthed from the ancient site of Mycenae in Greece, dating back over 3,000 years, was also crafted using the same technique.

Despite the vast distance between them, both civilizations chose to create and utilize gold masks, yet the symbolic meanings behind these masks differ significantly.

In Sanxingdui, the main objective behind the creation of gold masks was ritualistic, hoping that wearing a gold mask would grant the ability to communicate with deities. Professor Giorgos Vavouranakis, a specialist in Aegean Prehistory at the University of Athe ns, believes that the masks from Sanxingdui possess unique characteristics. "In order to meet the ritual needs for which they were used, many masks are larger and heavier than human facial proportions. They were intended more for display rather than for wearing," he said. In contrast, the masks in Mycenae served ceremonial purposes as well, but their context was funerary rather than sacrificial. "Here, human identity confronts the natural phenomenon of death, perhaps explaining why these masks more meticulously mimic human facial features. The deceased, adorned with these masks, embodies a fusion of life and death, the natural body and the artificial mask, and the realms of nature and the metaphysical." However, it is undeniable that the use of gold masks in both regions became a concrete manifestation of the order and principles governing social functioning. The striking parallels between these gold masks signify the convergent cultural concepts and wisdom shared by people in different regions.

"The development of civilizations showcases myriad aspects that are comparable," observed Li Xinwei. He noted that Chinese civilization has engaged in cultural exchanges with Western civilizations throughout its historical evolution, and similarly, the emergence of ancient Greek civilization was enriched by interactions with cultures around the Mediterranean and the Near East. The Chinese School of Classical Studies at Athens is dedicated to conducting archaeological and classical studies in Greece, aiming to foster greater mutual learning and exchange between Chinese and Western civilizations in the future.