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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.