Kavousi. 3rd-2nd c. BC This gold ring from Kavousi, dating from the Hellenistic period, is a simple but striking piece of jewellery. It has a circular bezel made of a thin gold sheet, incised with a smiling Cupid holding a wreath in his right hand and a torch in his left. Cupids are popular subjects …

Gold ring Read More »

Gortyn, Temple of the Egyptian Gods. 180 – 190 AD Hellenistic sculpture of the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC in Crete is represented by few known works. In the following Roman period, on the contrary, large numbers of statues were produced. Most of them are copies and reproductions of famous Classical and Hellenistic works, intended …

Marble statue group of Isis-Persephone and Sarapis-Hades Read More »

Archanes. c. 810 BC This model of a circular building from Archanes, probably a shrine or a tomb, is unique of its kind. It was previously in the Giamalakis Collection. Although it is dated to the Geometric period, it preserves many elements of Minoan cult. Through the doorway, which was closed by a separate door …

Clay model of circular building Read More »

Agia Pelagia. 450-425 BC Towards the end of the 6th century BC, relief funerary stelae appeared on Crete. These are flat stone slabs used as grave markers, on the pattern of the Attic stelae. This marble funerary stele of a young archer is crowned with a pediment and plain acroteria at the upper corners. A …

Funerary stele of young archer Read More »

Arkades. 700- 600 BC This richly painted oenochoe, a wine jug, is dated to the 7th century BC and is one of the most important examples of Archaic Cretan pottery. The pictorial scenes on the vessel are especially interesting. The main scene, on the tall cylindrical neck, depicts two lovers in intimate conversation. They may …

Jug with painted decoration Read More »

Arkalochori. 525-500 BC The Archaic pithoi of the 7th and 6th centuries BC are high-capacity storage jars forming a distinct category of vessel produced by specialised pottery workshops. The complex relief ornaments were made separately in moulds and attached to the surface of the pot, or impressed with stamps. They include fantastical creatures, animals and …

Pithoid jar Read More »

Chersonesos. 160 – 140 AD This mosaic floor, which is preserved in excellent condition, is made of multicoloured stone tesserae with details in coloured glass, using the technique known as opus tessellatum. The mosaic is framed by a braided guilloche motif delimiting four octagons, each containing concentric circles decorated with a running spiral in the …

Mosaic Read More »

Knossos, Tekke. 9th c. BC Small gold ingots, gold rods and a gold sheet, part of a pre-numismatic hoard that also contained intact pieces of jewellery and parts of ornaments made of gold, silver, amber, rock crystal, ivory, faience and glass (the jewellery is on display in Room XIX, case 187). All these valuable objects …

Part of a pre-numismatic hoard Read More »

Tymbaki. mid-2nd c. AD This funerary relief of the Roman period found at Tymbaki was probably set into the wall of a funerary monument known as a columbarium. Most of the scene is preserved, depicting the male members of a family in a ship. The passengers are travelling to the legendary Isles of the Blessed, …

Funerary relief of a ship carrying male family members to the Isles of the Blessed Read More »

Ierapetra. 50-25 BC This bronze statue of a standing adolescent is a chance find from Ierapetra. It is slightly smaller than life size and is set on a low base. The youth is standing frontally, left leg straight and right leg bent and turned to the side. He is wrapped in a mantle that covers …

Bronze portrait statue of a mantled youth Read More »