Archaeological
Museum of Herakleion
 It
houses the most important and representative finds of the Minoan civilization.
The foundation of the first museum (1904-1912) is owed to the efforts of
two Cretan archaeologists, Joseph Chatzidakis and Stephanos Xanthoudides,
Ephors of the Archaeological Service. It housed the valuable finds from
Crete until 1937, when the construction of the modern, antiseismic building
was begun. Thanks to the efforts of Prof. Nicolaos Platon, the treasures
of the museum survived during World War II, although the building was seriously
damaged.
The
task of rearranging the exhibition was undertaken by Prof. N. Platon in
1951, and in 1952 the finds were again on display.In 1964 a new wing was
added and the arrangement of the exhibits was completed by the Director,
St. Alexiou. Thus the museum today has twenty rooms in all, containing
artefacts from the palaces, houses, tombs and caves in Crete. The exhibiton
of the museum is organized in chronological order, ranging from the neolithic
period to the Roman era (4th century A.D.) and geographically, according
to the provenance of the finds.There are, though, several groups of finds
exhibited in separate rooms:
I.All
the LM III sarcophagi are displayed in room XIII, the Minoan frescoes in
rooms XIV-XVI and the sculptures (reliefs, statues and architectural parts)
in rooms XIX-XX.
II.The
St. Giamalakis collection which was bought by the Greek State in 1962 is
now on display in room XVII.
III.A
collection of inscriptions is exhibited in a fenced, sheltered open space
opposite the museum
IV.The
archaeological collection of Archanes.
V.The
"Glyptotheke" of Gortyn, which is exhibited at the archaeological site
of Gortyn.
Historical
Museum of Crete
The
Museum is housed in a neoclassical building which belongs to the Philanthropic
Institutions A. and M. Kalokairinou. It was designed by L. Kantantzoglou
and built in 1870, in the place of an older mansion. It was fired by the
Turks during the events of August 25, 1898 and was reconstructed in 1903
on the plans of K.Tsantirakis (preserved today), based on the layout of
the previous structure. It has been declared a Historical Building and
a Work of Art and is protected by a preservation order. The two-storeyed
building is a wonderful specimen of the Neoclassical architecture. Its
entrance is formed by a marble porch and columns made of poros stone. The
windows on the facade of the ground floor and in the south part of the
east and west walls are crowned by arched lintels and framed by caryatids
(Hermae) supporting a pediment. The rest of the windows have plain, rectangular
frames.
The
north side of the building is modelled as a "scarpa" following the venetian
model. The courtyard on the south side of the building is enclosed by a
Neoclassical fence. The interior is decorated with friezes depicting scenes
from the Iliad and the Odyssey. Its presents form (19 rooms, 2 court yards,
library etc.) is a combination of neoclassical and modern architecture.
The works of expansion began in 1989 and were completed in 1997.
The
museum is open every day from 09:00 to 17:00 (Saturdays 09:00 to 14:00).
Closed Sundays and holidays.
Tickets:
3 euros. Students and group tours: 2,20 euros. |
