Inside Athenart: A Conversation with Athena Papa
Featured by Entertainment News Greece
Some conversations invite us to pause, return to the beginning, and listen once again to the story behind what we create.
Athenart founder and designer Athena Papa recently spoke with Entertainment News Greece about her creative journey, the enduring presence of Greek mythology, and the emotions and symbols that shape every Athenart piece.
From Chania to Athens
Athenart was founded in Chania, Crete, in 2014 and has since continued its journey in Athens. What began as a deeply personal need to create gradually became a world of sculptural jewelry, one where memory, movement, symbolism, and contemporary design meet.
Each new piece begins differently. Sometimes with a symbol, sometimes with the movement of fabric, a fragment of mythology, or an emotion that asks to take physical form.
Where Myth Becomes Form
For Athena, Greek heritage is not something frozen in the past. It is a living language that can be reshaped, reimagined, and carried into the present.
Ancient forms, protective eyes, the sun, the moon, amphorae, and the folds of traditional garments become contemporary jewelry with their own character and meaning.
One of Athenart’s defining chapters is the registered Peplos design, created in 2018. Inspired by the movement and folds of fabric, it transforms softness into sculptural metal. Pieces such as Peplos and Fustanela reflect the dialogue between tradition and modern expression that lies at the heart of Athenart.
Made by Hand, Made with Soul
Every Athenart piece is handcrafted in Athens. The human touch remains visible through subtle textures, organic lines, and the small variations that make each creation unique.
For Athena, handmade jewelry carries something that cannot be reproduced mechanically: the time, thought, and energy of the person who created it.
It is not only an object to wear. It is a small piece of a story.
Jewelry as a Talisman
Throughout the interview, Athena also speaks about the symbolic side of jewelry and the reason so many Athenart creations feel like modern talismans.
They carry ideas of protection, transformation, memory, inner strength, and connection. Their meaning is never imposed; it becomes personal through the person who chooses and wears them.
The Story Continues
Athenart continues to evolve through new designs, materials, collaborations, and stories, always remaining connected to its Greek identity and the quiet power of objects made by hand.
Where myths still whisper, the Athenart world keeps growing.
With warm thanks to Entertainment News Greece for the beautiful conversation and for offering us the opportunity to share the story behind the jewelry.
Read the Full Interview in Greek →