Must-See Exhibits At The National Archaeological Museum In Athens
- by XpatAthens
- Thursday, 04 July 2019
With over 11,000 exhibits at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, it's easy to feel overwhelmed trying to see it all! Luckily, Why Athens put together this list of 7 things you must see while you're visiting the largest museum in Greece.
The Kore and Kouros
The Kore (young maiden) and Kouros (young male) were discovered in Mirenda, south-east of Athens in 1972, with the female Kore being fully preserved and considered one of the most important pieces of Archaic art in existence. Both statues were created by the sculptor Aristion of Paros around 550-540BC.
Zeus or Poseidon
Zeus or Poseidon, the museum itself asks the same question as the experts can’t agree but the locals will tell you it is Zeus. Found in a shipwreck off the island of Euboea (Evia) the hollow cast bronze statue dates back to the early Classical period around 460BC and is one of the few original pieces in existence from this time.
The Horse and Jockey
Discovered in the same shipwreck as the statue of Zeus, the Horse and Jockey is one of the Museum's most famous exhibits. The statue is virtually life-size at 2.9 meters long and 2.1 meters high, and it is one of the very few sculptures depicting a racing horse.
The Antikythera Mechanism
Sponge divers found the Antikythera Mechanism off the coast of the island Antikythera in 1901. Considered to be the world's first computer, the Antikythera Mechanism comprises a complex system of over 30 mechanical gears and is the most complicated ancient item ever found, according to the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.
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Photo source: Wikipedia
Photo source: Wikipedia