Mykonos Archaeological Museum

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

The Archaeological Museum of Mykonos was established in 1902.
It was set up to preserve findings recovered from the Purification Pit (a hole that contained numerous urns and vessels of offerings), which dates back to 426-425 B.C.

The pit was unearthed in 1898 by the renowned scholar D. Stavropoulos from the picturesque islet of Rheneia.

The museum was designed by the famous architect, Alexandros Lykakis. Constructing the building that houses the museum was an idea of the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Archaeological Society of Athens.

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Land for the project was offered by the Municipality of Mykonos. The building is conspicuous by its distinct neoclassical features. The spacious room east of the museum was built in 1972 to make room for numerous additional historical relics and vestiges of the past. Countless intricately designed vases are on display at the museum, with some dating back to prehistoric times.

The collection of vases belonging to the Hellenistic period is also noteworthy of their presence. One of the museum's principal attractions is the rather artistically done-up pithos (ancient pot) that skillfully depicts scenes from the Capture of Troy. The remarkable urn was unearthed in 1961 while a well's digging took place in Mykonos.

The pithos artistically portrays the fall of the Trojan army from the quintessential Trojan Horse. The body of the pot depicts soldiers going on the offensive against innocent women and children. Scholars believe that the item dates back to the 7th century BC. There is also the massive Archaic amphora that is conspicuous with intricately designed embellishments.

The grave stele of Glykon, incidentally discovered in the sea, is also noteworthy. The victim is seated on the rocks, in a poignant and thoughtful mood staring blankly in the direction of the ship's prow. An inscription is written on the pedestal - Glykon, son of Protogenis, virtuous, fare thee well.

The grave stele of Tertia Horaria is also a part of the exhibition. The deceased woman is seated and extends her parting hand to her husband, who is positioned right in front. There is also an image of a slave child with the jewelry container of her deceased lady. That grave stele was on top of a marble sarcophagus with the inscription Tertia Horaria written on it. It is believed to date back to the 2nd century BC.

There is also the statue of Hercules from Rheneia. The statue was found in 1899 and depicts a nude Hercules holding a club and lion skin in his left hand. It is of the finest variety of Parian marble. The quintessential Cycladic frying pan with its intricate adornment was unearthed from a Mykonos grave and is believed to belong to the early Cycladic era.

One of the museum's best-known artifacts is the Archaic Hydria, which is embellished with intricately designed floral patterns and images of horses. It is just one among the many vases from the Purification Pit. The marvelous red-figure hydria is well worth a look and is conspicuous by the stature of a flying Nike.

Ancient Greek civilization was known for using clay to shape artistic figures. The Archaeological Museum of Mykonos boasts a superb clay figurine of a beautiful woman wearing the traditional chiton and himation. This rare clay figurine was discovered at Rheneia and dates back to the 2nd century. The statue of a dead man wearing a traditional dress is of interest, too.

How to get there

The Archaeological Museum is located in Town, just a 3-minute walk away from the Old Port central bus station and 5 minutes from a parking lot.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus, or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the port, airport, or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver at the following numbers: 0030 694 764 1474, 0030 22890 22400, or booking your taxi online.

Car rental: There's the option of renting a car and picking it up directly from the airport, port, or your hotel. Using a rental car allows visitors to discover the Archaeological Museum and many other places of interest at their own pace.

Public transport: Note that there are two central bus stations in Mykonos Town: Fabrika and Old Port. Several buses depart from Fabrika to Platis Gialos during the day. Itineraries might change according to the season. Check the official timetables here.
Tip: Since buses don't always stop at every scheduled stop of their itinerary, our advice to visitors is to inform the driver about their final destination in advance.