Tour the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus
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The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus is located in the heart of the city of Piraeus, Greece. It is one of the most important archaeological museums in Greece and houses an extensive collection that includes sculptures, mosaics, pottery, and coins from all over the Mediterranean region. The museum was founded by an archaeologist named Konstantinos Kourouniotis in 1887 with his private collections.
About the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus
The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus was founded in 1887 and housed an extensive and essential collection. The museum is located in an annex building near the harbor and not far from famous places such as the Ancient Agora, Hadrian’s Arch, and the Keratsini Gate. Today it belongs to the Ministry of Culture-Heritage and Tourism, with the main headquarters in Athens.
Due to its very convenient location, most of the artifacts from Keratsini and other archaeological sites from Attica are displayed in this museum. It is one of the biggest collections in Greece, with over 100 000 exhibits since its foundation. In 1887 when archaeologist Konstantinos Kourouniotis collected artifacts from the region, he decided to found a private museum in his house.
So, in 1890, when Athens began to be the capital city of Greece, he needed to transfer all of his collection there. That is how one of the most important museums in Piraeus came into existence.
What to Do at the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus
The main goal of the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus is to display all the findings which were made in Attica, especially those from Keratsini and its horizon. These include sculptures, vases, coins, and jewelry which date between 3000 BC until 100 AD. One can also see marbles that depict gods, sea heroes, or warriors adorned with golden armlets, helmets, and swords.
Greek temples are also well preserved in the museum. Visitors can admire the famous Temple of Poseidon at Isthmia, which dates back to the 5th century BC or its northern wall transported to this museum for protection since it is part of the temple’s remains. The most important exhibits are sculptures from the Temple of Apollo at Bassae.
Another good thing about this museum is that it acquires new exhibits every year by offering a prize for its visitors to find artifacts from all over Greece. This also encourages them in their research and in protecting the Greek culture. Visitors who come here can watch archaeologists work in some places, which is very interesting.
Getting to the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus
The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus is located in a large area near popular places such as the Ancient Agora, Hadrian’s Arch, and the Keratsini Gate. As a result, it can be easily accessed by other modes of transportation other than using a car or motorbike. Visitors can arrive at this museum from the city center using the Athens metro, easily accessed at Piraeus Station. Others can take the nearby blue mini-bus line 434 that stops right in front of the museum or use buses that run on Egaleo Street or Athanasiou Diakou Street.
The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus is a museum that displays all the findings from the region of Attica. It was founded in 1887 by archaeologist Konstantinos Kourouniotis and featured exhibits from different eras such as ancient Greece, the Hellenistic period, Roman Period and Byzantines. It also has a prize that is offered to visitors who find artifacts from all over Greece.
Categorized in: About Piraeus, Greece, Greek Travel Guide
This post was written by Greek Boston
