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The admission ticket for the National Museum

A typical room in the Archaeological Museum. Several, like this one, have
the advantage of natural light.

We had heard of the quality of Athens' museums but we deliberately saved them to last.

We'd spent the first part of our stay outdoors, exploring the streets and the Acropolis, looking for the places we particularly wanted to visit. Then we were off to Patmos. Finally, it was time to get more background information.

We spent half a day at the National Museum and then two half-days at the Archaeological Museum. It definitely wasn't enough time!

Both museums are uncluttered and well lighted. Most important, the works are generally accessible rather than merely on display behind a barrier. There are attendants, to be sure, but they are not obtrusive.

The lack of a decent camera was the only negative aspect of our time in the museums.

In both museums the displays of artifacts and art were almost mind-numbing... room after room of them. Given how long ago these works were created (over two millennia), is remarkable and no less so is the work itself, the details and the craftsmanship. The at upper left is probably a representation of Neptune but one can't be sure since what would have been a trident is missing from his right hand. At upper right we have one of our favorites, Eros, Pan and Venus. The impression they artist conveyed is more a playful moment than something erotic. Venus is about to playfully slap Pan with a sandal, while Eros laughs. At lower left is one of the very common youth statues. We were struck by the expressive face and the detailing of the hair in this example. And, finally there's an early work that impressed us by its simple humanity. Even though we couldn't get the light right with our disposable camera, we include it.... the representation of a child clutching his puppy reminded us that some things don't change, even after 2,000 years.

One can hardly speak of the gold of ancient Greece without mention of Heinrich Schliemann and the fabulous "Schleimann Gold" of fact and legend. Truth is, Schliemann earned the right to be called "The father of Greek archeology." But those who followed in the digs he started are more likely to call him "The butcher of Greek archeology" for his penchant to dig relentlessly through layer after layer looking for evidence of his singular preoccupation, the city of Troy, destroying whatever else might be in his path. In the process of his digs he collected many ancient gold objects in both Greece and Turkey. They were on display in Berlin when WW2 broke out and were taken by the Russians as war reparations. They remain in Moscow to this day, hidden for many years and now only occasionally displayed. Schlieman's life, in any case, is a tale worthy of an Indiana Jones film. Read more

The objects shown here were found by other archeologists or just fortunate citizens and are on display at the Athens Archeological museum.