The National Archaelogical Museum

The Cycladic Civilization, from the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea, in the Early Bronze Era, 3200-2000 BC. It’s history is known from cemeteries and graves that contained goods. They were prominent in sea trade and gold and silver working. Their objects can be found from Greece to Crete.

The Neolithic Civilization was a farming community with a mix of agriculture and stick breeding. They affected Greece at the beginning of the 7th millennium BC and lasted more than 3 millennia, 6800-3300 BC. They expanded everywhere across Greece. They were equipped with household goods, ceramic vases and metalworkings.

Bovine head with gold horns and rosette. The muzzle has a pouring hole.

Ceramic vase on the bottom and a bronze frying pan above.

Jewelry recovered from graves 16th century BC

Vase from mid 3rd Millenium BC, the slender neck implies it was to hold liquid.

Gold and Silver Tableware, 16th century BC

The jewelry exhibits were amazing. It had to take a lot of work to hammer and mold the gold. Ladies in public rituals would wear colorful costumes made of linen or wool. Long hair was an indication of wealth or social class but was often tied up or in a bun. The ivory handles of the mirrors indicate that young girls kept their hair short. The favorite type of jewelry was necklaces made of various materials and beads. They wore flower shaped earrings, rings and hair pins. Noble women had ivory jewelry boxes and bronze mirrors with ivory carved handles.

The bronze mirror with the ivory handle.

There were so many ancient statues. The girls really impressed me with their knowledge of Greek Mythology and the different Gods and Goddess. Kiersten was quite fond of Athena the Goddess of hunting. We found more Aphrodite’s than we could count. I thought the Egyptian display was very interesting with sarcophagus and the mummy tombs. 

Woman bearing offerings for a deity

Violins

Eros

Zeus

Poseidon

After we left the museum we took our time walking the streets of Athens. We stopped and had lunch and then hit the shops in the tourist district. I grabbed a few tapas bowls that I envision using for olives. Hattie got a snow globe, while Leah and Kiersten picked our Greek Gauze dresses. I picked out a beautiful bronze statue of Aphrodite. The girls had fun posing in front of the Acropolis in their dresses.