Discover your talent in sculpture, in a country where golden section was born.

The most unusual part of this Athens activity is its blend of hands-on sculpture and behind-the-scenes game artistry. At Ancient Symposium in Kallithea, sculptor Manos introduces you to ancient techniques, displays weapons and armor made for the Assassin’s Creed Odyssey video game, and then guides you in shaping the face of the god Hermes from air-dry Cretan clay.

I like two things right away. First, you are not simply watching an artist work. You handle real sculpting tools and make your own piece. Second, the studio adds cultural context through its ancient-style room, talks about Greek wine and sculpture, and a small museum collection. The main consideration is the two-hour time limit: you will make a rewarding keepsake, but this is an introduction to sculpture rather than a full professional course.

Key points at a glance

• Make a Hermes face from Cretan clay: You shape an art object yourself, with Manos helping you through the facial details.
• See Assassin’s Creed Odyssey props: The studio created armor, helmets, swords, and other items connected with the game and its live-action trailer.
• Learn practical sculpting basics: You handle selected tools and hear about methods ranging from lost-wax casting to carving precious stone.
• Visit an unusual Kallithea studio: The ancient-style room and mini-museum give the class more character than a standard craft workshop.
• Take your work home: Your air-dry clay sculpture becomes a personal Athens souvenir.
• Expect a private session: Only your own group participates, and the activity returns to Doiranis 39.

Why the Assassin’s Creed connection adds real interest

Many art workshops in Athens focus only on ancient Greece. This one connects the old and the new. The studio team created armor and weapons for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, including helmets, swords, and blades associated with the game and its live-action trailer.

That detail will matter most if you enjoy video games, costume design, film props, or practical making. You are not just hearing a quick reference to a famous title. The studio displays items from that work, giving you something concrete to examine before you sit down with the clay.

I also like the way this connection helps explain how sculpture and prop-making overlap. Both require attention to form, proportion, surface, and the way an object looks from different angles. The workshop does not promise a full film-prop demonstration, so you should think of the Assassin’s Creed material as part of the studio visit, not the main class.

Entering the ancient room and mini-museum

The session begins with a look around the ancient room. Manos talks about art and wine in ancient Greece, then shows you objects from the studio collection. This opening gives the class a sense of place before the tools come out.

The mini-museum is a useful bonus. It gives you something to study while learning about the family’s sculpting background and the work made for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. One account also describes three generations of sculptors in the family, which helps explain why this feels like a working artistic space rather than a rented classroom.

The wine discussion is part of the setting, not a required tasting experience. Manos is also described as a winemaker, and wine production forms part of the cultural conversation. If you do not drink, the class still works perfectly well, since the main activity is sculpture.

Allow a little extra time around the start for this introduction. The formal duration is about two hours, but the studio tour is an important part of what you pay for. It would be a mistake to view it as dead time and rush straight to the clay.

Handling ancient-inspired sculpting tools

Next, you handle a selection of sculpting tools and learn what each one does. This is where the activity becomes more useful than a simple clay souvenir class. You get a basic feel for how artists remove material, shape surfaces, and bring out small features.

The workshop also introduces techniques linked to sculpture, from lost-wax casting to carving precious stone. Within two hours, you will not master those methods. You will, however, see how a sculptor thinks about materials and tools, and why the choice of tool affects the final surface.

Manos is the key to this part of the session. He is described as patient, encouraging, and good at setting the right pace. That matters if you are a complete beginner. Sculpture can feel intimidating when you are handed a lump of clay and told to make a face, but clear guidance helps you work one feature at a time.

You should still expect to do much of the making yourself. The point is not to receive a finished sculpture made by the instructor. Manos helps with difficult details and demonstrates techniques, while you shape the piece.

Building the face of Hermes from Cretan clay

The main project is the face of Hermes, made with air-dry clay from Crete. The subject fits the setting well. Hermes is one of the most recognizable figures in Greek mythology, and a human face gives you a clear structure to work toward.

You begin with the general form, then work on the features. The instructor explains how to build the face and helps you finish details. If your artistic confidence is low, do not let that stop you. The class is designed for all skill levels, and the finished result depends less on drawing talent than on listening, taking your time, and accepting a little help.

I like that the project is ambitious enough to feel like real sculpture. You are not merely stamping a pattern into a tile or painting a ready-made object. A face has shape, balance, and expression. Even small changes around the eyes, nose, mouth, or cheeks can alter the whole result.

That also creates the main risk. Your sculpture may not look exactly like the model or your original plan. One practical advantage of clay is that you can adjust it as you work, but the short session means you should focus on enjoying the process rather than chasing perfection.

The clay is air-dry, so it is intended to be taken home as a finished souvenir. The available information does not specify a firing or glazing service. Plan on receiving a handmade clay artwork, not a kiln-fired ceramic piece.

A personal souvenir with more meaning than a shop purchase

At the end, you take your sculpture home. The studio can carefully box the artwork, which is useful if you still have flights, ferries, or more sightseeing ahead. Since the piece is made by your own hands, it carries a stronger connection to your time in Greece than a mass-produced magnet or museum-shop object.

This is also a good activity for couples or families who want something to do together. You can each make a face and compare the results, or simply enjoy the contrast between your approaches. The private format means your group can work without sharing the table with strangers.

The keepsake will not be flawless, and that is part of its charm. If you want a polished statue made by a professional, buy one from a gallery. If you want an object that records what you learned and how you spent an afternoon or evening, this workshop offers better value.

Manos makes the class approachable

The instructor is Manos, and his teaching style is one of the strongest reasons to book. He is described as patient, kind, encouraging, and careful about giving support without taking over.

That balance is important. Too little help leaves beginners frustrated. Too much help turns your project into the instructor’s project. Here, you can work at your own speed while receiving practical advice when a feature needs correction.

The schedule also appears flexible within the posted opening hours of 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Sunday. The activity itself lasts about two hours. Late-evening sessions may suit an itinerary built around the Acropolis, a museum visit, or dinner, but you should confirm availability before booking a specific time.

Private participation makes the lesson feel personal. It also means the price of $58.05 per person should be judged against the amount of individual attention you receive, not against the cost of simply entering a museum. For an art class, studio tour, cultural talk, and handmade souvenir combined, I consider the price reasonable, especially for two people who want a shared activity.

Getting to Doiranis 39 in Kallithea

The meeting point is Doiranis 39, Athina 176 72, Greece, in the Kallithea area. The studio is near public transportation, but the information does not give a specific station, route, or walking time.

One useful practical tip is to take a taxi if you are unsure of the address or arriving for a timed session. The location may involve more walking than expected from some Kallithea hotels. Build in a little margin, since arriving late can shorten the part of the activity you most want to enjoy.

The activity begins and ends at the same meeting point. There is no hotel pickup listed, and you should not expect transportation between the studio and other Athens sights.

Because the address is in a neighborhood rather than beside a headline monument, this can feel like a small change of pace from central Athens sightseeing. You are going to a working studio, not a major archaeological site. That is precisely the appeal, but it also means you should check your route before leaving.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this for:

• Couples seeking a shared activity with a physical souvenir
• Families with children or teenagers who enjoy making things
• Beginners who want patient instruction
• Art lovers curious about sculpture and ancient Greek techniques
• Assassin’s Creed fans interested in armor and weapon props
• Visitors who have already seen the major Athens monuments and want a neighborhood experience

You do not need previous sculpting experience. The class is suitable for most participants, and the emphasis is on basic techniques and guided making.

It may not suit you if you want a long, quiet studio course, advanced instruction, or a museum tour focused only on ancient artifacts. The video-game props and modern studio work are central to the character of the visit. Some people will find that mix refreshing, while purists may prefer a traditional archaeological tour.

Timing, booking, and cancellation details

The experience is commonly booked about 28 days ahead, but availability can vary. The provider has accommodated last-minute bookings and late-evening sessions, yet you should not rely on that during a busy Athens visit. Ask about availability before making firm plans.

Confirmation is received at booking, and the ticket is mobile. The activity is offered every day during the stated operating period, with opening hours from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted, and the cutoff follows local Athens time.

What to bring and how to approach the class

Wear clothes you do not mind getting a little dusty or marked by clay. The available details do not list a required equipment pack, and the workshop supplies sculpting tools and clay.

Bring a phone if you want photographs of the studio objects or your work in progress. Since the sculpture is the souvenir, leave enough room in your luggage for a carefully boxed piece.

Most important, do not measure success by resemblance to a museum statue. Let Manos guide the proportions, but allow some of your own hand to show. The best result is not necessarily the most perfect one. It is the face you remember making in Athens.

Should you book this Athens sculpture class?

Book it if you want a small, personal activity with something tangible to take home. The combination of Manos’s patient instruction, Cretan clay, ancient Greek themes, and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey props gives the two-hour session a wider appeal than a basic craft lesson.

At $58.05 per person, it offers fair value for a private studio visit, guided sculpture class, cultural discussion, and handmade souvenir. I would especially recommend it to couples, families, beginners, and game fans.

Skip it if your schedule is packed with archaeological sites or you want advanced sculpture training. For everyone else, this is a smart way to spend two hours in Kallithea, with a keepsake that records your own effort rather than simply carrying a Greek label.

FAQ

Where does the sculpture workshop take place?

The meeting point is Doiranis 39, Athina 176 72, Greece, in Athens’ Kallithea area.

How long does the activity last?

The workshop lasts approximately two hours.

What will I make during the class?

You will model and carve the face of the god Hermes using air-dry clay from Crete.

Can I take my sculpture home?

Yes. You take your own artwork home as a souvenir, and the sculpture can be carefully boxed for transport.

Who teaches the workshop?

The instructor is Manos, a professional sculptor associated with Ancient Symposium.

Will I see Assassin’s Creed Odyssey items?

Yes. The studio displays weapons, armor, helmets, swords, and other items connected with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. The team also created armor and weapons for the game and its live-action trailer.

Is the activity private?

Yes. Only your own group participates in the activity.

Is previous artistic experience required?

No. Most participants can take part, and the workshop is suitable for different skill levels. Manos provides guidance with the sculpting tools and facial details.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted, and the amount paid is not refunded.