Necromanteion of Acheron
The Necromanteion of Acheron in Mesopotamos, Preveza, was one of the most famous oracles of antiquity, where believers sought communication with the souls of the dead.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Shrouded in a veil of mysticism, the Necromanteion of Acheron was one of the most famous oracles of antiquity. Believers sought not only predictions for the future but also communication with the souls of their deceased relatives. Homer places the oracle where the river Acheron meets its tributaries, Cocytus and Pyriphlegethon, when he recounts Odysseus’ descent into Hades to obtain a prophecy from the seer Tiresias.
The Necromanteion was built in the Hellenistic period, at the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 3rd century BC, and was later extended to serve the growing number of pilgrims. It operated without interruption until it was set on fire by the Romans in 167 BC. The complex layout of the site, with storerooms for offerings and many rooms for accommodation and preparation, gradually led the faithful into the interior of the building. According to one view, the priests displayed images of the souls with the aid of mechanisms; according to another, the complex was a fortified Hellenistic farmhouse, since agricultural tools and seven small catapults were found.
Highlights
- The Hellenistic complex with storerooms and preparation rooms for pilgrims
- Link with Odysseus’ descent into Hades in the Odyssey
- The site at the confluence of the Acheron with the Cocytus and Pyriphlegethon
- Two interpretations of the monument: oracle or fortified farmhouse
Permanent exhibition
- Αρχαιολογικός χώρος του Νεκρομαντείου – A tour of the Hellenistic complex with the storerooms, the accommodation and preparation rooms and the oracle areas.
- Operated by
- Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Πρέβεζας
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5Citizens of Greece and the EU over 65 (from 1 October to 31 May); accompanying parents on school educational visits of EU primary schools and accompanying teachers of schools from countries outside the EU. |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Free admission for children and young people up to 25 from EU countries, and for children up to 18 from countries outside the EU, on presentation of ID or passport. |
| Seniors | €5Reduced ticket for citizens of Greece and the EU over 65, from 1 October to 31 May. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and one companion (where the disability is 67% or more). |
Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October and the first and third Sunday of each month from 1 November to 31 March.
Other categories of visitors are also entitled to free admission or a reduced ticket, in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Culture.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The site is described as accessible for visitors with disabilities; in an open archaeological site, access to all points is not always possible.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
The site is about 5 minutes on foot from the village of Mesopotamos and about 40 minutes by car from Preveza.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
