Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
The Archaeological Museum houses findings from Thessaloniki and the surrounding areas, dating back from the Neolithic era to the late Roman era.
Modern and Contemporary era (1912 - )
1962 Opening date.
1980 Expanded.
2003 Declared a monument of modern architecture.
2006 Restoration completed.
Ottoman era (1453- 1912)
Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)
Roman era (30 BC- 330 AC)
Hellenistic era (322- 31 BC)
Classical era (478-323 BC)
Archaic era (800-479 BC)
Geometric era (-1100- 800 BC)
Prehistory (-1100 BC)
What I can see
The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki houses findings from Thessaloniki and the surrounding areas, dating back from the Neolithic Era (7000 BC) to the late Roman era (4th century AD). It consists of nine rooms. Some of the most striking exhibits are: architectural parts of the archaic temple of Thermi, the headstone of Agenor, the marble column of a kore holding a dove, a kouros and a kore, brought to Thessaloniki by refugees from Redestos, a Frejus-type copy of Aphrodite, the copy of Athena by Phedias, the head of Poseidon, the statues of Augustus and Hadrian and the so-called “gold of the Macedonians”, which highlights the richness and aesthetics of the era. Recently, five more thematic sections have been added, through which the visitor can become familiar with ancient Macedonia. The design of the museum’s building itself was inspired by the ancient residence, as evidenced in the two courtyards, as well as by the ample natural light that floods into the rooms. It is an architectural example that combines the modern with the classic, and the architectural trends of the time with local references.
What I can't see
The museum’s antiquities have finally found a home here following several moves through the years. Since the annexation of Thessaloniki by the Greek state, several buildings hosted the findings. They were first stored in the Government House (currently, the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace) and the Idadie Ottoman School (formerly Faculty of Philosophy of AUTH). In subsequent years, they were housed in Karabournaki and then in the Rotunda and the White Tower. Their last stop before they found a permanent home in the museum was the Yeni Mosque, the city’s first ever museum. They are now sheltered in a contemporary space with a strong anthropocentric character, which focuses on the daily lives of people from all historical periods. It is worth noting that until recently, the famed treasures of Vergina were housed here, before being transferred to the Museum of Vergina.
Info
- Address: 6 Manoli Andronikou St.
- Postal Code : 54621
- Phone: +30 2310 830538
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.amth.gr
Bibliography
http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/1/gh151.jsp?obj_id=3332
Last visit 9/6/2014
Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki (2013), Η Ιστορία- Το κτήριο, [History- The building]
http://www.amth.gr/el/to-mouseio/to-ktirio
Last visit 9/6/2014
Grammenos D.V., (d.u.), Το αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Θεσσαλονίκης, [The archaeological museum of Thessaloniki], I.S. Latsis Foundation
Zafeiris Ch., (1997), Θεσσαλονίκης Εγκόλπιον, ιστορία, πολιτισμός, η πόλη σήμερα, γεύσεις, μουσεία, μνημεία, διαδρομές, [Thessaloniki Handbook, history, culture, the city today, flavours, museums, routes], Athens: Exantas
Ζafeiris Ch., (2014), Θεσσαλονίκη, η παρουσία των απόντων, η κληρονομιά Ρωμαίων, Μουσουλμάνων, Εβραίων, Ντονμέδων, Φράγκων, Αρμενίων καιΣλάβων, [Thessaloniki, the presense of the absent, the heritage of Romans, Muslims, Jews, Doenme, Franks, Armenians and Slavs], Thessaloniki: Epikentro
Kalogirou Ν., (1997), Η πρώτη μεταπολεμική περίοδος, [The first post- war period], in Liontis K. Κ., (1997) (ed), Αρχιτεκτονική της Θεσσαλονίκης, [The architecture of Thessaloniki], in Epta Imeres, Kathimerini, p.p. 30-31
Kolonas V., (2012), Η αρχιτεκτονική μιας εκατονταετίας: Θεσσαλονίκη 1912-2012, [The architecture of a century: Thessaloniki 1912-2012] University Studio Press
