What if I told you that for the most distant trip you can take, you wouldn’t even need to go to the airport? And no, I haven’t lost my mind.
And what if I told you that the most distant journey you can embark on is… to Athens in 415 BCE(!) with your starting point located on Piraeus Street? What would you think then?
All of this may sound strange, but it’s entirely true. Let’s take it from the beginning. You drive down Piraeus Street, park at the Hellenic Cosmos Cultural Center’s parking lot, and… minutes later, you find yourself 2,500(!) years in the past.
But how is that possible? The answer lies in eXtended Reality.
What is eXtended Reality?
The term eXtended Reality—refers to all real, virtual, and mixed environments and human-machine interactions created by computer technologies and portable devices.
In simpler terms, it resembles virtual reality, but this time, people can interact with each other and with machines within a virtual environment. Moreover, they can move freely through a digitally generated space entirely created by computers.
The use of eXtended Reality (XR) is growing rapidly and is expected to revolutionize various sectors in the coming years—from industry and firefighting to culture and education.
The XR Experience "In the House of Ergocharis"
A Journey to 415 BCE
Our team visited one of the first XR applications in Greece (and among the few in Europe) to experience it firsthand. The program is called BRIDGES.
The process for visitors is very simple. We arrived at the specially designed area within the Hellenic World Cultural Center, received information from program officials, and watched a short instructional video. Then we were ready to experience it ourselves.
The first stage of this time-traveling adventure involved the equipment: a lightweight computer worn like a backpack and classic virtual reality glasses. We were ready to begin.
The moment you put on the glasses, you see your reflection in the mirror—but it’s your "new self." I was no longer Panos; I had become "Apollonios." The figure in the mirror—Apollonios—mirrored my every move.
I then passed through a doorway and magically found myself in the 5th century BCE. Once the other participants joined—Antigone, Linos, Melissa, and Hippias (up to four people can participate in each exploration cycle)—the adventure began.
A Dramatic Night in an Athenian House of the 5th Century BCE
We were now in Athens, 415 BCE. The Peloponnesian War was ongoing, following 15 years of armed conflict with Sparta and its allies. The city was in turmoil.
The Athenians had decided to send a major expedition to Sicily to conquer Syracuse, believing this would give them a strategic base against the Greek cities of southern Italy.
We were invited to the house and workshop of Ergocharis, a renowned potter, where a farewell party had been organized for his son, Euthymachos, who would soon be leaving with the Athenian fleet for Sicily.
Alongside them was Perictione, Ergocharis's wife and Euthymachos's mother. The three of them were the hosts and virtual characters of the story.
The invited guests included the family of Apollonios (me)—a dear friend of Ergocharis and father of Euthymachos's best friend, Linos. Also present were Antigone, Apollonios's wife, and Melissa, their young daughter.
The XR Experience Inside Ergocharis's House
The experience inside Ergocharis’s home was unforgettable. You could explore nearly the entire house, paint amphorae, sit at the same table with the hosts, and even engage in conversation with these people, who lived… 2,500 years ago!
What we saw, heard, and experienced was as historically accurate as possible. The BRIDGES project consulted historians and archaeologists to ensure the 20-minute narrative was based on solid research.
The experience was truly immersive. Beyond the visuals and interactions, XR allowed us to feel elements like wind, warmth, scents, and vibrations—so vividly that, at times, you forgot it was all happening inside a digital simulation and believed you were experiencing it for real.
What is BRIDGES?
The Hellenic World Cultural Foundation, a pioneer in using new technologies and virtual reality to promote cultural heritage, participates in the BRIDGES project:
A hyBRID [physical-diGital] multi-user Extended reality platform as a stimulus for industry uptake of interactive interfaceS.
The BRIDGES solution is based on the Immersive Deck platform developed by Illusion Walk and the Vienna University of Technology. It has been further enhanced into a comprehensive, ready-to-use tool with a wide range of applications to promote interactive technologies across different industries.
For example, BRIDGES can significantly aid firefighter training by providing realistic simulations without the need to rebuild structures or vehicles, reducing costs while enhancing effectiveness.
Firefighters have already begun testing the BRIDGES platform at international airports in Berlin (Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg-BER) and Athens (Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport), both program partners.
BRIDGES in Greece
In the field of culture, the XR platform is being tested at the "Hellenic Cosmos" Cultural Center, part of the Hellenic World Foundation. Here, users can experience a multi-sensory (visual, auditory, and tactile) simulation of life in an ancient Athenian household.
