Lassithi Ierapetra Archaeological Museum

Location: Ierapetra
Don't miss: Museums guide (free admission dates and other useful info)

The Archaeological Museum of Ierapetra is housed in a historic building that used to belong to the Commercial Ottoman School, also known as Mehtepi. The museum was founded during the late 19th century during the Ottoman Occupation Period by the union Ierapetra Philekpaideftikos, as a first attempt in archeological conservation to help preserve the area's archaeological findings. Over the years, its collection has been housed in various buildings. The collection of the museum consists of findings discovered in the entire region of Ierapetra, including pottery, sculptures, figurines, vases, coins, marble inscriptions and tools. They date to various periods, from 3000 BC to 500 AD.

The objects displayed at the museum will familiarize you with some aspects of the culture and art of Crete during the Archaic, Geometric, Minoan, Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman Eras.

One of the most noteworthy exhibits of the museum is the clay sarcophagus. Found in the area of Episkope at Ierapetra, it is adorned with beautiful paintings depicting scenes from everyday life and dates back to 1450-1400 BC. Inscriptions of two of the most important treaties of the Ierapytnians are also part of the Museum’s collection. One of them records the alliance of the Ierapytnians with Antigonos of Macedonia and the other the treaty of equality of civil rights with the Arcadians. Other exhibits include a Minoan axe mold, a marble statue of a standing female figure, a marble headless statue of a woman dating to the Roman period, and a similarly dated marble head of a man.

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 08:30 to 15:00.