Costume Museum of Lykeion ton Ellinidon
Museum with collections of local and urban costumes, jewellery and garments from antiquity to the present, in Kolonaki.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Costume Museum of the Lykeion ton Ellinidon (MELE) was inaugurated on 8 March 1988 by the Minister of Culture, Melina Mercouri. It emerged from the historical path of the Lykeion ton Ellinidon: its founder, Kallirroi Parren, had already expressed in the early 20th century the intention of creating an ethnographic museum.
The collection began with costumes lent by families and organisations for the great appearances of the Lykeion at the Panathenaic Stadium, and was enriched with donations and purchases. From 1963 the costumes were gradually withdrawn from use in dances, to protect them from wear, and were replaced with copies. Initially they were housed in the main building at 14 Dimokritou Street in Kolonaki; in 1987 they moved to the building at 7 Dimokritou Street, which had been bought in 1984 with partial funding from the Ministry of Culture.
The collections include local and urban-type costumes and jewellery, urban clothing and fashion, garments inspired by the Minoan, Archaic and Byzantine periods, dolls in local costumes and folklore garments. They are complemented by archives and special collections on contemporary themes.
Highlights
- Local and urban costumes and jewellery from across the Greek lands
- Urban clothing and fashion
- Garments inspired by the Minoan, Archaic and Byzantine periods
- Dolls in local costumes
- Digital repository and archives
Permanent exhibition
- Μόνιμες συλλογές ενδυμασίας – Local and urban costumes, jewellery, garments inspired by antiquity and Byzantium, dolls in local costumes and folklore garments.
- Founded
- 1988
- Operated by
- Λύκειον των Ελληνίδων
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · People with disabilities and their companion have free admission. |
Free admission: 18 May (International Museum Day)
Free admission is also available for holders of an ICOM card, qualified guides, holders of an unemployment card, journalists and large families (on presentation of a valid ID).
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | For guided tours, and for the participation of school groups in educational programmes, prior arrangement with the museum is required. |
