Description of the attraction
Athens is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Europe. This is a real paradise for the curious tourist. A huge selection of various museums will satisfy the most sophisticated traveler.
Connoisseurs of folk music can visit the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments. The museum building is located in the old mansion of the famous politician Georgios Lassanis, built in 1842 near the Roman agora. The house belongs to the historical monuments of the city. In 1991 the museum was opened to the public.
The museum's collection includes over 1200 of the most diverse Greek folk musical instruments. The oldest exhibit dates back to the middle of the 18th century. This unique collection was put together by the renowned musicologist Fivos Anoianakis. In 1978 he donated it to the state.
Most of the collection is available for permanent viewing. Each instrument has a detailed description and the ability to listen to its sound. The rest of the instruments are kept in the funds of the museum, they are available to researchers and appear at temporary or traveling exhibitions.
On the first floor of the museum, membranophones are displayed. These include tumberlecs (percussion instrument), daulia (a type of drum), defi (tambourines). Also on the ground floor there are aerophone instruments (wind instruments): suravels, floggers, mandurs (flutes), tsabuns, gedis (bagpipes), zurnads (oboes). On the second floor you can see chordophon instruments (strings): laghuts (lutes), mandolins, cymbals, guitars, tamburads. The third floor is occupied by idiophonic instruments such as masses (cymbals), kudunii (bells), simandras. A special place in the museum's exposition is occupied by a unique 19th century lute made of ivory and a tortoise shell.
The main goal of the museum is to preserve the traditional heritage and popularize Greek folk musical instruments. The museum also has a research center and its own library.
