GREECE CRETE HERAKLION HERAKLION MUSEUM

The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion houses the most important finds of the Minoan world from excavations all over Crete. The present building of the museum dates from 1937 - 1940, and thus in spite of the addition of a new wing in 1964, the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion is relatively old. Consequently, the exhibits are displayed in a manner that does not meet modern standards of presentation. Nevertheless, it is the most important museum of the world regarding Minoan culture.

Above: Marble, alabaster, steatite, and ivory was used to carve these idols, found in the vaulted tombs of Mesara. But note that these are cycladic figurines.

Above left: Large vase of Kamares ware. - Above right: The famous "Phaistos disk", dated to the Protopalatial period (MM III, 17th century BC), which was found in the palace of Phaistos. In spite of numerous attempts, its hieroglyphic signs have not yet been deciphered. - Below left: Snake Goddesses. Arthur Evans found these two faience figurines of the Neopalatial period in the temple repositories in the West Wing of the palace at Knossos. - Below right: Large pithos from the palace at Galatas, dated to the Early Neopalatial period (17th century BC).

Above and below: Clay model of a Minoan house (Early Neopalatial period, 17th century BC), found in Archanes. The model clearly shows the timber and stone construction used in Minoan houses of this time.