The Archaeological Museum of Amphipolis, Greece.

Hello everyone and Happy Halloween!! 

Today is about the Amfipolis museum, in Greece. 

[1st post][2nd post][3rd post]. Let's take a look.

The Archaeological Museum of Amphipolis is a museum in Amphipolis, 

Central Macedonia, Greece. The museum is housed in a new building 

that was completed in 1995 (1976 the old one).

It is located in the archaeological site of ancient Amphipolis (a city founded in 437 BC), 

near River Strymon at close range of the Thessaloniki–Kavala national highway.

It stands lovely in the top of the new Amphipolis village. 

As we droved by, we spotted the quite famous Kasta Hill where archaeologists 

perform till now excavations. (you can see 2 photos here) We also saw the Hill from 

the museum's yard. The view is really amazing!

The hill is quite far from the building but it's so big you can spot it easily.

Now in the museum. 

One big blessing is not having people around (in general) you 

when you are trying to take pictures. Sometimes a certain amount of people helps 

to achieve a beautiful photo (crowed places / blurry faces etc) 

but most of the times i find them annoying. 

They block the view and they seem to enjoy it (i am so mean and they are still annoying!!).

But this time, the museum 

was all mine and for my camera only!

(so better pictures for you guys!)

The finds are displayed in chronological order and comprise the following groups: 

the prehistoric period (from Mount Pangaio and Ketil Tepes Hill); 

the Archaic period (from Kasta Hill and the Iron Age cemetery at Amphipolis); 

the Classical and Hellenistic periods (from the Archaic Gymnasium, the Hellenistic cemetery, the Hellenistic house, and from excavations on the archaeological site), 

the Roman period (mosaics from a Roman house and from excavations in the local cemetery); 

the Early Christian period (from five Early Christian basilicas at Amphipolis); 

and the modern era (from a chapel found at a low elevation near Nea Amphipoli).

The most important exhibits in the museum ;

are a seal and a number of figurines of the Neolithic period (6000–3000 bc), 

gold jewellery from the graves in the Kasta mound in the environs of Amphipolis, 

a figurine of a dancer performing the Peirihios Dance, 

three statues of Orestes and Electra (2nd cent. bc),

a female figure (4th cent. bc), 

and Aphrodite and Eros (2nd cent. bc)—

a bust of the local deity Attis (1st cent. bc), 

a full-length siren tearing her hair and beating her breast, [x]

a silver reliquary with the gold olive wreath that was found inside it, 

and a gold wreath from a male burial.

Inscribed grave stele

"Omg i want them.. but cameras everywhere :P"

Enlarge the picture below to read info about the coins 

during the Hellenistic Period.

Silver ossuary of the general Brasidas. 

Brasidas (Greek: Βρασίδας) (died 422 BC) was a Spartan officer 

during the first decade of the Peloponnesian War. 

The ossuary contained a gold wreath of olive leaves 

along with the Brasidas cremated body. It was found inside a cist grave 

cut into the natural soft rock under the Archaeological Museum 

and during it's contraction in 1976. 

According to the historian Thucydides 

(Greek: Θουκυδίδης c. 460 – c. 395 BC was an Athenian historian, 

political philosopher and general.) 

the Spartan general Brasidas in 422 BC was the only one buried with honours 

inside the wall of the city after the fatal battle of Amphipolis 

between Athenians (general Kleon) 

and Spartans (general Brasidas) and was worshipped in town as a hero 

and genuine oikist (founder).

Click to enlarge the picture to learn more about the Funerary Structures.

And here is in the foundations of the museum the Brasidas tomb. 

It had a lot of bugs (so many spiders!!!) so i captured it from a safe distance 

*while i was screaming silently*

but you can see here where they found the Silver ossuary.

A gold wreath from a woman's tomb. 

SO pretty!! 

These ladies had some amazing jewellery!

I have so many pictures from the museum 

but i narrow my options to a few "good ones" since i don't want to bore you 

with a loooong - endless post. 

Hopefully there are the best example of the beauty 

the museum has to offer to everyone and especially 

to history/ archaeology geeks like myself. 

Anyway, hope you liked my post 

and hopefully one day you may visit the site!

Now a few new things, since my last post, about the Amphipolis Tomb in Kasta Hill.

Illustration of Caryatids according to findings

The mosaic of the third chamber, 

representing the Abduction of Persephone by Pluto.

The missing Amphipolis sphinx head discovered inside the 3rd chamber (!) 

As well as the wings. The mystery is growing bigger. (all pictures are from google)

Next summer i will surely pay an other visit to the museum 

 and maybe on the site -- if that is possible.

But until then, enjoy the spooky day/ night!!!!

 And take care!!