| Archaeological
Museum of Mytilene
Old
Building
 The
three-storied building that houses the Archaeological Museum of Mytilene
belonged to the family of Achilleas Vournazos and was built in the eclectic
style by the Smyrniot architect Vapheiadis, around 1921. It is an exquisite
specimen of the architecture in the last years of the Turkish occupation
and has been protected with a preservation order. In 1965 the Greek State
purchased it from the Vournazos' heirs. In 1985 it housed the newly founded
Ministry of the Aegean and the antiquities were stored in the basement.
In 1991 the Ministry was moved to another building, and in 1992 the exhibition
was finally rearranged by the 20th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical
Antiquities.
For
the exhibition all areas of this fine mansion were used. Figurines, pottery
and jewellery from the prehistoric period down to Roman times are displayed
in the main building. Heavy objects, though, like the unique Aeolic column
capitals from the temple at Klopedi, as well as important inscriptions,
funerary stelai, relief sculpture, statues and coins from the Archaic to
the Roman period, were placed in the service building and the courtyard.
The
philosophy of the exhibition was to enable the visitor to comprehend the
island's history and the role it played through the ages in the Aegean
and the shores of Asia Minor, by using artefacts accompanied by captions,
explanatory texts and maps.
Days-hours
Winter
period : Monday: Closed, Tuesday - Friday: 08:00 - 14:30 Weekends and Holidays
08:00 - 14:30
From
July 1st to October 31: Daily: 08.30 - 15.00, Monday: closed
Ticket
price
Full
admission 3
Reduced
admission
(students
from countries outside the E.U., citizens of the E.U. aged over 65)
2
Free
admission
-
persons
under 18
-
university
students from Greece and the E.U.
-
students
of Classical Studies or Fine Arts from countries outside the E.U.
-
members
of the ICOM-ICOMOS
-
Tour
guides
-
journalists
-
persons
possessing a free admission card
-
Days of
free admission for all visitors: Sundays in the period
between 1 November and 31 March
the
first Sunday of every month, except for July, August and September (when
the first Sunday is holiday, then the second is the free admission day,
etc.)
Telephone
+30-0251 - 28032 FAX: +30-0251 - 20745
New
Building
The
new building of the Archaeological Museum of Mytilene, which is a sample
of the modern museum architecture, is located in the Kioski area, where
excavations have brought to light a sanctuary of Aphrodite. Its construction
was completed in 1995, with the co-financing of the Greek State and the
European Community, and the permanent exhibition "Lesbos from Hellenistic
to Roman Times" opened on 23 March 1999.
The
purpose of the exhibition is to provide the visitor with a view of the
way of life on Lesbos from the 2nd century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D.,
by displaying ancient Roman villas with mosaic floors, everyday objects
and statues, that either had a religious character or were symbols of power
and wealth. The display is completed with captions, explanatory texts,
maps and models that contribute to a better understanding of the material
on display |
