National Archaeological Museum

National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum is one of the most famous in Greece, as well as the world. It houses finds from all over Greece, with over 20,000 exhibits, showing the history of Greek civilization from the beginnings of Prehistory to Late Antiquity.

The National Archaeological Museum is located in an impressive neoclassical building of the end of the 19th Century that was created by L. Lange and later remodeled by Ernst Ziller. Note that the address at 28th October Street (Patision Avenue) No. 44, marks the beginning of the infamous area of Exarcheia.

Spanning a total of 8,000 square meters, the displays in a number of galleries on each floor house six large permanent collections:

The Collection of Prehistoric Antiquities, highlights creations of the great civilizations that developed in the Aegean from the 6th millennium B.C. through 1050 B.C. (Neolithic, Cycladic, Mycenaean), and items from the prehistoric settlement at Thera.

The Sculptures Collection, which displays the development of ancient Greek sculpture from the 7th to the 5th centuries B.C. with one-of-a-kind grand works.

 

The Vase and Minor Objects Collection, shows samples of ancient Greek pottery from the 11th century B.C. to the Roman period, including the Stathatos Collection, a body of small objects of all periods.

The Bronze (Metalwork) Collection, with numerous essential statues, figurines and marginal peices.

The single Egyptian and Near Eastern Antiquities Collection in Greece, with creations going as far back as the pre-dynastic period (5000 B.C.) up until the Roman conquest.

And lastly, the newest entry, the Collection of Cypriotic Antiquities.