Laninga's Travel Blog

Athens has a lot of museums. A lot.  We didn’t have enough time for all so we just visited the New Acropolos Museum and the Archaeological Museum.   We could have spent days in either one.

The New Acropolis Museum is considered one of Athens most important museums.  Beautifully laid out, and still respecting the excavations underneath.  In fact, you can still observe the ongoing excavations, either through viewing openings or transparent  floor panels.  Much of the Acropolis’ treasures are on display in this museum.

The National Archaeological Museum houses some of the most important artifacts from a variety of archaeological locations around Greece from prehistory to late antiquity. It is considered one of the greatest museums in the world and contains the richest collection of artifacts from Greek antiquity worldwide.  Of special interest was the Antikythera mechanism,  an ancient analog computer designed to predict astronomical positions for navigation as well as predicting the cycles of the Ancient Olympic Games.

Acropolis museum, at night

Pieces of the frieze

Parthenon carvings

Parthenon carvings

Parthenon carvings

Parthenon carvings

Parthenon busts

National Archeaological museum

Detailed figurine some 5,000 years old

Gold burial decorations

This statue is some 8 feet tall

Tall statue of a virgin holding her robe

Men spent much of their time in the gym, and showed off by running around nude (really!)

Artemision Bronze (God of the Sea), either Zeus or Poseidon

Depicting s killed warrior and his sad slave

Massive bronze statues

World’s first analog computer