The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is a museum located in Heraklion on Crete. It is one of the greatest museums in Greece and the best in the world for Minoan art, as it contains by far the most important and complete collection of artefacts of the Minoan civilization of Crete. The museum holds the great majority of the finds from Knossos and other Minoan sites in Crete.
Collections
Room I
Covers findings from 6000 BCE to the pre-Palatial period, including:
- Neolithic fertility goddess
- Vasiliki ware
- stone jars from the island of Mochlos
- miniature clay sculptures
Room II
Covers findings from 2000 BCE to 1700 BCE in Knossos, Malia and several peak sanctuaries, including:
- Kamares ware pottery
- glazed plaques of Minoan houses (aka the “Town Mosaic”)
- peak sanctuary figurines
Room III
- Phaistos Disc
- Kamares ware pottery
Room IV
Covers findings from 1700 BCE to 1450 BCE, including:
- bull’s head rhyton from Knossos
- snake goddess figurines
- tools and weapons, mostly cast in bronze
- cups with Linear A inscriptions
Room V
Covers findings from 1450 BCE to 1400 BCE, including:
- ancient Egyptian trade objects
- clay model of a house
- examples of a Linear A and Linear B scripts
Room VI
Covers findings from cemeteries at Knossos, Phaistos and Archanes, including:
Room VII
Covers findings from 1700 BCE to 1300 BCE from smaller villas and sacred caves, including:
- bronze double axes
- the “Harvesters Vase”
- steatite vases from Hagia Triada
- gold jewelry from Malia
Room VIII – Zakros
Covers findings from 1700 BCE to 1450 BCE from the palace of Zakros, including:
- rock crystal rhyton
- bull’s head rhyton
- pottery with floral and marine motifs
Room IX
Covers findings from 1700 BCE to 1450 BCE in eastern Crete, including:
- terracotta figurines from Pisokephalo peak sanctuary
- seal stones
Room X – Mycenaean
Covers findings from 1400 BCE to 1100 BCE, including:
- clay figurines
- clay sculpture of dancers with a lyre player
Room XI – Dorian
Covers findings from 1100 BCE to 900 BCE during the arrival of the Dorian Greeks, including:
- weapons and tools, mostly of iron
- clay fertility figurines
- votive offerings
Room XII
Covers findings up to 650 BCE, including:
- pottery decorated with griffins
- artefacts and figurines from Kato Syme
Room XIII – Larnakes
Minoan larnakes (clay coffins) are on display here.
Room XIV – Hall of the Frescoes
- Frescoes from Knossos and Hagia Triada
- The Hagia Triada sarcophagus
Room XV & Room XVI
- More frescoes, including the famous “La Parisienne”
Room XX – Classical Greek, Greco-Roman
Sculptures from Classical Greek and Greco-Roman periods.
Visitor information
The museum is open April–September, Monday 12–7pm Tuesday–Sunday 8am–7pm, October–March daily 8am–5pm.
EU students can receive a discounted entry.
There is air conditioning within the building.
Some of the collection cannot be photographed due to publication or another reason. There are usually signs posted nearby the restricted items.
