Potamianos Museum of Waxen Images

About the museum

The Potamianos Museum of Waxen Images is in Zoniana of Mylopotamos, a mountain village at an altitude of 630 metres on the northern foothills of Psiloritis, 43 km from Heraklion and 52 km from Rethymno. The figures were made by the sculptor Dionysios Potamianos, who comes from Athens, together with his wife. His love for Crete and his wish to teach its history to younger generations led him to create the figures of important personalities of Cretan history, in a work that lasted 25 years.

Across an area of about 700 m², 87 wax figures are displayed in 14 tableaux. Visitors see figures such as Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco), Nikos Kazantzakis, Vitsentzos Kornaros and Eleftherios Venizelos. There are also references to the island's mythology, with Minos, Theseus and Ariadne, and to historical events from Byzantium and the Venetian rule to the Arkadi holocaust.

The museum is suitable for school trips and can be combined with a visit to the nearby Sfendoni cave and to the traditional village of Anogeia.

Highlights

• 87 wax figures in 14 tableaux
• Figures of Cretan history: El Greco, Kazantzakis, Kornaros and Venizelos
• Mythology of Crete: Minos, Theseus and Ariadne
• Historical events from Byzantium to the Arkadi holocaust

Permanent exhibition

• Κέρινα ομοιώματα από την ιστορία και τη μυθολογία της Κρήτης – Fourteen tableaux with 87 figures of personalities of Cretan history, of mythology and of historical events from the Venetian rule to the Arkadi holocaust.

Admission & discounts

The price applies to general admission.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

Zoniana is 43 km from Heraklion and 52 km from Rethymno.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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Plan your visit