Herakleion Museum [antikvár]

INTRODUCTION The Herakleion Museum The Herakleion Museum contains a unique collection of finds from excavations carried out in all parts of Crete. The exhibits come mainly from the prehistoric Minoan era (which takes its name from the legendary Cretan king, Minos) and form a valuable record of the artistic, social and economic life of the island during the ancient period. Thus the museum is considered unique because of its content. The original Herakleion Museum was built between 1904 and 1912 at the urging of two Cretan archaeologists, losif Hadzidakis and Stephanos Xanthoudides, Ephors of the Archaeological Service. It continued in use until 1937 when work began on the present earthquake-proof building. During World War II, the Museum suffered considerable damage, but, thanks to the precautions taken by Professor N. Platon. the collection survived. In 1951 the task of rearranging the exhibits was begun by Professor Platon. and in 1952, the collection was once again on display to the public. In the new wing that was added in 1964 the present Director, S. Alexiou. completed the arranging of the exhibits. The Museum is divided today into 20 galleries containing finds from palaces, houses, tombs and caves, arranged in groups according to period and provenance. The exhibits include examples of pottery in a variety of practical yet imaginative shapes; stone carving; seal engraving - one of the miniature arts at which the Minoans excelled; miniature sculpture of great sensitivity; gold work remarkable for the excellence of its technique and the variety of its subjects; metalwork -household utensils, tools, weapons and sacred axes, carefully and ingeniously made; and. finally, frescoes, which, with their harmoniously drawn figures and colourful compositions, give us an insight into a world characterized by tenderness, vitality, sensitivity and charm, a wodd which took a simple yet intense joy in life and nature. Excavations in Crete Excavations began in Crete in the second half of the 19th century. In 1878. Minos Kalokairinos, an antiquarian from Herakleion, discovered the Palace of Knossos and did some preliminary excavation work there. In 1884, the Society for the Promotion of Education under its President, losif Hadzidakis, collaborated with Halbherr in excavating the Idaean Cave and the Cave of Eileithyia at Amnisos, and at both these sites a wealthy of votive offerings were found. In the same year, the "Law Code." an important ancient text, was discovered at Gortys.