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Archaeological and Historical Museum

Rethimnon's Archeological Museum occupies a building almost directly opposite the entrance to the fortress. This was built by the Turks as an extra defence for the entry, and later served as a prison, but it's now entirely modern inside: cool, spacious and airy. It's worth a look,especially if you're going to miss the bigger museums elsewhere: there's Minoanpottery and sarcophagi, and lots of Roman coins, jewellery, pots and statues, all of them from Rethimnon province. Take a look beneath the central atrium at an unusual unfinished Roman statue of Aphrodite. The sculptor's chisel marks are plainly visible, allowing you to glimpse the goddess's features - never completed - emerging from the stone. 

The museum contains the following collections:

  • Late Neolithic (3500-2900 B.C.) and Early Minoan (2800-2100 B.C.) finds from the caves Gerani, Melidoni, Margeles and Helenes
  • finds from the buildings at Apodoulou, Monastiraki and the peak sanctuary at Vrysinas, dated to the Middle Minoan period (2100-1600 B.C.)
  • Late Minoan finds (1600-1100 B.C.) from the cemeteries, the most representative being that of Armenoi
  • finds of the Geometric (1000-700 B.C.) and Archaic (700-500 B.C.) periods from Eleutherna and Axos
  • finds from Stavromenos and Argyroupolis (ancient Lappa) dated to the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods.
     

The most important items of the exhibition are:

Clay larnax decorated with a hunting scene. Found at the Late Minoan cemetery of Armenoi (1320-1200 B.C.).
 


 

Figurine of the Minoan goddess. The statuette represents the well-known Minoan female deity with upraised hands. It was found at Pangalochori and dates from the Late Minoan period (1320-1200 B.C.).
 

Marble statue of Aphrodite. Roman copy of a Greek original, found at Argyroupolis. Dated to the 1st century A.D.
 

Marble violin-shaped figurine. It was found in the Gerani cave and dates from the Late Neolithic period (3600-3200 B.C.).
 

Clay model of a shrine. Preserved only in the upper part, it represents the upper floor of the shrine. It was found at Monasteraki and dates from the Middle Minoan period (1800-1700 B.C.).
 

Stone model of an offering table. The fragment preserves part of a Linear A inscription. It was found at the peak sanctuary of Vrysinas and dates from the Middle Minoan period (1700-1600 B.C.).
 

Pyxis strainer from Stavromenos. Clay footed vase with a lid and perforated base. The surface is decorated with painted rows of spirals and floral patterns. Dated to the Late Minoan period (1500-1450 B.C.).
 

Head of a terracotta female figurine. Found at Axos and dated to 530 B.C.
 

Part of a marble funerary stele. It bears the relief representation of a warrior carrying a shield. It was found at Eleutherna and is dated to the second half of the 6th century B.C.
 

Part of a marble funerary stele. A standing naked athlete is depicted, accompanied by his dog. It was found at Stavromenos and dates from around 460 B.C.

 

Rethymnon
The City
The Old Town
The Old Harbour
Archaeological Museum

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