National Archaeological Museum, Athens
This first national museum for antiquities was built in Aigina in 1829. (Nope, I have no idea where that is either). It was moved around to various locations for the next 60 years. A contest for the design of a new, huge, permanent, museum was held in 1858. They started building in 1866, and finished 23 years later... (do NOT ask me about Greek construction schedules). The project was funded mostly by donations from wealthy people in Greece and even from Imperial Russia.During WW2, the collection was actually crated up, moved, and buried to keep the artifacts safe and in the country (if only they had done that before the Brits showed up a century earlier).
The Arrival - Athens Subway
I took the subway to the Biktoria (Victoria) subway station and walked down to the museum. Easy walk but observance of crosswalk signs can be optional for vehicles in the city.The Museum - First Area
Kind of a museum in order of timelines but not really. From the main entrance, if you go in the center area straight ahead, you enter the Neolitch, Cycladic (super cool stuff actually and not really understood at all) and Mycenaean (which is pre-classic, classic Greece). Lots of gold, little bit of metal work, and around 3,500 to 6,000, years old.Greek Funerary
So many funeral items. Stellas, the ancient precursor to our gravestones, and ornamentation to a burial site, were at their peak creation at this time of history. Maybe influenced by Egypt, but also distinct in nature and usage.Statues
The Greek were prolific statue creators, so much so that Rome copied a lot of them for their own displays. Even in cast bronze, which is not an easy process. The museum has multitudes of examples of this fine work.Pottery
Greece was also the maker of the most advanced ceramics at the time. With intense skills and master artists, they made vessels large enough to fit a person and with incredibly detailed designs.Egyptian
Yes, quite a bit of Egyptian. Why? Well, while Egypt is actually a couple thousand years older in comparison, they were ruled by a Greek dynasty for a spell, and the two civilizations had excellent trade for a very long time.Other Uncategorized
Cafe
Well, ok, technically there is a shop but it was being completely redone, so it was just not there. But a cafe and patio is there on the lower level for coffee and such.
Near the entrance, samples of the wonders to behold
The, Mask of Agammennon. Ok, not really his, but named that
So much gold in antiquity, which belies the insane power and wealth they had"
More funerary masks
War helmet, minus mohawk
All the jewelry that has survived too
Various regions of Greece (there were several distinct ones)
Greek writing in clay
The mysterious Cycladians, nobody is sure what these are for
Items from more of the Greek Isles
Gravestones, or Steles, and not from a Streetcar Named Desire
Statues and carvings in the likenesses of the interred
Big time into remembering the dead"
Wonder how difficult this person was to have a harpy
And what it looks like after you dig them up
Outstanding 3000 year old craftsmanship
You'd think statues were the national industry
A hall of Greeks
Roman copies of Greek classics
More Roman copies and such, like this guy in the center wanting you to pay attention
Smaller statues and a replacement arm
One does not mess with the gods
The pretty pots
Even sewer pipe, seems the Romans got credit for too much
Primarily grave pots, mass produced
So many examples of form and function
One could smuggle children inside of this
One must have a mummified body and sarcophagus
A stela? Nope, a false door to otherworlds
Lots of Hathor items
A transplanted Roman room
"Killer display
A head party, mostly Romans
An entire wing, closed down. Why? Who knows
Recreation of the chariot, only the bronze bits survived
The functional cafe. I had a sandwich and coke
In the lower floor a cooler area to sit outside and sip or munch or just sit
Summary
So, this is THE Greek museum for old Aegean stuff. Built in the western fashion of modeling buildings on the Greek Acropolis. So strange how that went westwards then came right back to home.So so many amazing things, these pics barely scratch the surface of the displayed collection. It was me, a couple families and piles of school kids in there. I was the most engaged individual I saw, but these things are my groove.
Fantastic place to brag about going to.