Iraklion Archaeological Museum
Encyclopedia
Heraklion
Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
Archaeological Museum is a museum located in Heraklion
Heraklion
Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
on Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
. It is one the great museums of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and the best in the world for Minoan
Minoan civilization
The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that arose on the island of Crete and flourished from approximately the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century through the work of the British archaeologist Arthur Evans...
art, as it contains the most notable and complete collection of artifacts of the Minoan civilization
Minoan civilization
The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that arose on the island of Crete and flourished from approximately the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century through the work of the British archaeologist Arthur Evans...
of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
. The museum began in 1883 as a simple collection of antiquities. A dedicated building was constructed from 1904 to 1912 at the instigation of two Cretan archaeologists, Iosif Hatzidakis and Stefanos Xanthoudidis. After three destructive earthquakes in 1926, 1930, and 1935, the museum nearly collapsed. The director of the Heraklion Museum was then Spyridon Marinatos
Spyridon Marinatos
Spyridon Nikolaou Marinatos was one of the premier Greek archaeologists of the 20th century.- Career :...
, who made tremendous efforts to find funds and persuade the locals and the central government alike that a new solid building was needed. In 1935, Marinatos succeeded in engaging Patroklos Karantinos to build a sturdy structure that has withstood both natural disasters and the bombing that accompanied the German invasion in 1941. Although the museum was damaged during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the collection survived intact and again became accessible to the public in 1952. A new wing was added in 1964.
Besides the Minoan collection, the museum covers other periods of Cretan history, with artifacts from the Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
to the Greco-Roman period. The museum is currently under renovation, but a temporary exhibition is open in the main building.
Room I
Covers findings from 6000 BCE to the pre-Palatial period, including:- NeolithicNeolithicThe Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
fertility goddess - Vasiliki ware
- stone jars from the island of MochlosMochlosMochlos is a modern island in the Gulf of Mirabello in eastern Crete, and the archaeological site of an ancient Minoan settlement. There is evidence that Mochlos was not an island in Minoan times, but was attached to the mainland and acted as an eastern harbor.The name Mochlos also applies to the...
- miniature clay sculptures
Room II
Covers findings from 2000 BCE to 1700 BCE in KnossosKnossos
Knossos , also known as Labyrinth, or Knossos Palace, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and probably the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square...
, Malia
Malia (city)
Malia is a coastal town and a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Hersonissos, of which it is a municipal unit. It lies 34 km east of Heraklion, the Cretan capital city. The town was the...
and several peak sanctuaries
Peak sanctuaries
Minoan Peak sanctuaries are widespread throughout the island of Crete . Most scholars agree that peak sanctuaries were used for religious rites. In all peak sanctuaries, human and animal clay figurines have been found. Clay body parts, also called votive body parts, are also found in most peak...
, including:
- Kamares ware pottery
- glazed plaques of Minoan houses (aka the "Town Mosaic")
- peak sanctuary figurines
Room IV
Covers findings from 1700 BCE to 1450 BCE, including:- bull's head rhyton from KnossosKnossosKnossos , also known as Labyrinth, or Knossos Palace, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and probably the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square...
- snake goddess figurines
- tools and weapons, mostly cast in bronze
- cups with Linear ALinear ALinear A is one of two scripts used in ancient Crete before Mycenaean Greek Linear B; Cretan hieroglyphs is the second script. In Minoan times, before the Mycenaean Greek dominion, Linear A was the official script for the palaces and religious activities, and hieroglyphs were mainly used on seals....
inscriptions
Room V
Covers findings from 1450 BCE to 1400 BCE, including:- Egyptian trade objects
- clay model of a house
- Examples of a Linear ALinear ALinear A is one of two scripts used in ancient Crete before Mycenaean Greek Linear B; Cretan hieroglyphs is the second script. In Minoan times, before the Mycenaean Greek dominion, Linear A was the official script for the palaces and religious activities, and hieroglyphs were mainly used on seals....
and Linear BLinear BLinear B is a syllabic script that was used for writing Mycenaean Greek, an early form of Greek. It pre-dated the Greek alphabet by several centuries and seems to have died out with the fall of Mycenaean civilization...
scripts
Room VI
Covers findings from cemeteries at KnossosKnossos
Knossos , also known as Labyrinth, or Knossos Palace, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and probably the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square...
, Phaistos
Phaistos
Phaistos , also transliterated as Phaestos, Festos and Phaestus is an ancient city on the island of Crete. Phaistos was located in the south-central portion of the island, about 5.6 kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea. It was inhabited from about 4000 BC. A palace, dating from the Middle Bronze...
and Archanes
Archanes
Archanes is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Archanes-Asterousia, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 4,548 . It is also the archaeological site of an ancient Minoan settlement in...
, including:
- clayClayClay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
figurinesFigurinesFigurines is an indie rock band from Denmark, formed in the mid-1990s. The band released their first EP, The Detour, in 2001 and their first full-length album, Shake a Mountain, in 2004. The band began to receive national attention in Denmark around the time of the full-length release, and began... - gold jewelry
- horse burial from a tholosBeehive tombA beehive tomb, also known as a tholos tomb , is a burial structure characterized by its false dome created by the superposition of successively smaller rings of mudbricks or, more often, stones...
tomb at ArchanesArchanesArchanes is a former municipality in the Heraklion peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Archanes-Asterousia, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 4,548 . It is also the archaeological site of an ancient Minoan settlement in...
Room VII
Covers findings from 1700 BCE to 1300 BCE from smaller villas and sacred cavesSacred caves
Sacred caves and peak sanctuaries are characteristic holy places of ancient Minoan Crete. Most scholars agree that sacred caves were used by the Minoans for religious rites. While all peak sanctuaries have clay human figurines, only Idaeon and Psychro have them among the sacred caves...
, including:
- bronze double axes
- the "Harvesters Vase"
- steatite vases from Hagia TriadaHagia triadaHagia Triada is the archaeological site of an ancient Minoan settlement. Hagia Triada is situated on a prominent coastal ridge, with the Mesara Plain below. Hagia triada sits at the western end of the ridge, while Phaistos is at the eastern end...
- gold jewelry from Malia
Room VIII - Zakros
Covers findings from 1700 BCE to 1450 BCE from the palace of ZakrosZakros
Zakros is a site on the eastern coast of the island of Crete, Greece, containing ruins from the Minoan civilization. The site is often known to archaeologists as Zakro or Kato Zakro...
, including:
- rock crystal rhytonRhytonA rhyton is a container from which fluids were intended to be drunk, or else poured in some ceremony such as libation. Rhytons were very common in ancient Persia, where they were called takuk...
- bull's head rhyton
- pottery with floral and marine motifs
Room IX
Covers findings from 1700 BCE to 1450 BCE in eastern Crete, including:- terracotta figurines from Pisokephalo peak sanctuary
- seal stoneMinoan seal-stonesMinoan seal-stones are gemstones, or near-gem-quality stones produced in the Minoan civilization. They were found in quantity at specific sites, for example the Citadel of Mycenae....
s
Room X - Mycenaean
Covers findings from 1400 BCE to 1100 BCE, including:- clay figurines
- clay sculpture of dancers with a lyreLyreThe lyre is a stringed musical instrument known for its use in Greek classical antiquity and later. The word comes from the Greek "λύρα" and the earliest reference to the word is the Mycenaean Greek ru-ra-ta-e, meaning "lyrists", written in Linear B syllabic script...
player
Room XI - Dorian
Covers findings from 1100 BCE to 900 BCE during the arrival of the Dorian Greeks, including:- weapons and tools, mostly of iron
- clay fertility figurines
- votive offerings
Room XII
Covers findings up to 650 BCE, including:- pottery decorated with griffins
- artefacts and figurines from Kato Syme
Room XIV - Hall of the Frescoes
- Frescoes from KnossosKnossosKnossos , also known as Labyrinth, or Knossos Palace, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and probably the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square...
and Hagia TriadaHagia triadaHagia Triada is the archaeological site of an ancient Minoan settlement. Hagia Triada is situated on a prominent coastal ridge, with the Mesara Plain below. Hagia triada sits at the western end of the ridge, while Phaistos is at the eastern end... - The Hagia Triada sarcophagusHagia Triada sarcophagusThe Hagia Triada sarcophagus is a late Bronze Age 137 cm-long limestone sarcophagus. It was originally dated to 1400 BC and was rediscovered in Hagia Triada on Crete in 1903...
Room XX - Classical Greek, Greco-Roman
- sculptures from Classical Greek and Greco-Roman periods
Visitor Information
Hours: April-September Monday 12-7pm Tuesday-Sunday 8am-7pm October-March daily 8am-5pmAdmittance: €6, free on Sundays November-May.
The Museum is currently CLOSED to the public as the building is being completely renovated but an exhibition of highlights from the collection is now open in a building behind the Museum. It is projected to be closed until the spring of 2012.
Renovation
This museum has been closed for renovations since late 2006. A temporary exhibition is now open within the museum where all the main artifacts (including the Phaistos Disk, Snake Goddess, Bull-LeapingBull-Leaping Fresco
The Bull-Leaping Fresco is a 78.2 cm high stucco fresco of bull-leaping from the Middle Minoan III to Late Minoan B period , though there is also a view that it is a later work, of 1425 BC, which would put it in the New Palace period-History:It was found on a wall on the east side of the...
and King of the Lillies Frescoes) are displayed. The temporary exhibition includes approximately 450 items in chronological order with the explanatory plaques and context plaques.
External links
- Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism
- Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- City of Herakleion
- http://ancient-greece.org/museum/muse-iraclion.html
- http://www.interkriti.org/museums/hermus.htm
- http://www.explorecrete.com/archaeology/heraklion-museum.html
- http://www.dilos.com/location/11159
- http://www.heraklion-crete.org/archaeological-museum/
- The highlights from the collection