Museum of ancient Eleutherna

About the museum

The Museum of Ancient Eleutherna is considered the first archaeological site museum in Crete. It was created to house the results of some thirty years of excavations by the University of Crete at ancient Eleutherna, and it is comparable, on a smaller scale, with the museums of the sites of Olympia, Delphi and Vergina.

The building was financed by the Operational Programme “Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2007–2013 and implemented by the University of Crete and the Ministry of Culture. The Research Centre and the offices are housed in the southern wing. Private initiatives, among them members of the Mediterranean Archaeological Society, also contributed to the construction and operation of the museum.

The permanent exhibition is organised in three halls. Hall A presents the political, religious, social and private life of the city, with finds from prehistory to the historic period; Hall B presents cult and religious life from the Early Iron Age to the Christian period; and Hall C presents the cemeteries, with emphasis on the necropolis of Orthi Petra.

Highlights

• First archaeological site museum in Crete
• Gold jewellery of the Homeric period
• Finds from the “Tomb of the Warriors”
• Large bronze basin with a depiction of a women’s ritual dance
• Finds from the necropolis of Orthi Petra

Permanent exhibitions

• Αίθουσα Α – Η ζωή της πόλης – Chronological display cases with tools, weapons, jewellery, vessels and coins present the political, religious, social and private life of ancient Eleutherna.
• Αίθουσα Β – Λατρεία και θρησκευτική ζωή – Finds from the Early Iron Age to the Christian period, with a large bronze basin from the “Tomb of the Warriors”.
• Αίθουσα Γ – Τα νεκροταφεία – Finds from the necropolis of Orthi Petra, including grave goods from the “Tomb of the Warriors” and from a stone-built tomb of high-ranking women.

Founded

2016

Operated by

Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης

Admission & discounts

The museum ticket and the archaeological site ticket cost €10 each.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

In front of the entrance there is a bronze shield from the “Tomb of the Warriors”, and beside it are modern casts so that visitors can explore them by touch.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum has a lecture hall.

Plan your visit