Description of the attraction
In the south of Greece, 12 km from Mycenae, there is one of the most ancient European cities - Argos. Its continuous history goes back over 5000 years. There are many attractions in Argos that are worth visiting.
The Archaeological Museum of Argos is interesting for its extensive collection of exhibits. Antique artifacts presented in the museum will acquaint visitors with a rather impressive period of history, from prehistoric times to the Roman era.
The museum consists of two parts. The first is the Kallergis Museum, built back in 1830, was the residence of the Greek general and politician Demetrios Kallergis (1803-1867). In 1932, the heirs of the Kallergis family donated the building to the city of Argos. On October 25, 1955, the building, together with the adjacent territory, was officially transferred to the state for transformation into a museum, which was opened in 1957.
The construction of the second part of the museum was supervised by the French Archaeological School (Athens). It was opened in 1961.
The exhibits displayed in the museum were found during excavations of ancient Argos and the surrounding areas. Most of the artifacts were found in the ancient agora, in the area of the ancient Roman theater, as well as during excavations of Mycenaean graves. The American School of Classical Studies has contributed its trophies from the excavations of Lerna to the museum's collection.
The museum has a large collection of vases, including a vase with tall, almost vertical handles, decorated with geometric lines, images of horses and waterfowl. Of interest is a vase with two horizontal and two vertical handles depicting dancing women, snakes and birds. A special place in the exhibition is occupied by a vase depicting the struggle between Theseus and the Minotaur in the presence of Ariadne, the famous ancient Greek vase painter Hermonax, dating from 460-450. BC. Also, a very interesting fragment of a vase with the image of Odysseus and his companions, blinding the Cyclops Polyphemus; it dates back to the 7th century BC.
The museum has many sculptures, among them the statue of Hercules. This is a copy of a statue made by Lysippos for the marketplace of the city of Sikyon; refers to the Roman period. Of particular interest is a miniature clay figurine of a nursing woman. It is one of the oldest sculptural representations of the human body found in Europe. Similar figurines were found during excavations of graves and settlements of the Mycenaean period of the 14-13th century BC.
You can also look at a bronze cuirass and helmet from the 8th century BC, and a jug of Minoan origin, found during the excavations of Lerna (15th century BC).
In the courtyard of the museum you can admire an interesting Roman mosaic depicting symbols of the 12 months and Dionysus (5th century AD).
The collection of the museum is of great historical importance.
