What Is The Archaeological Museum Of Sitia?

The Archaeological Museum of Sitia is in Sitia of Crete, in Greece. It has been in operation since 1984 and house finds of the Minoan-era from eastern Crete. This includes sites at Sitia, Palekastro, the islets of Mochlos and Psira, the necropolis of St. George, the palace of Zakros, the Hellenistic town of Xerokambos, Ziros, Makrigialos, Lefki island and ancient Itanos.

The museum was inaugurated in 1984, a hundred years after the first official excavations in the province by the Italian Archaeological School.

History

The Archaeological Museum of Sitia was created after 50 years of gruelling efforts by the institutions and people of the city, to house and protect the important archaeological finds from the entire province of Sitia. Much of the finds were transferred to the Museums of Ayios Nikolaos and Heraklion.

The museum was founded by the well-known Cretan archaeologist Nikos Papadakis and inaugurated in 1984 by Melina Mercouri. There are plans to expand the museum following the implementation of the city’s expansion plan.

Besides the exhibition halls, the museum has storerooms, laboratory facilities, workshops, and offices for the scientific, administrative, and janitorial staff, scholars, and a small archaeological library.

Going through the main entrance, the visitor enters the antechamber with the ticket desk and the museum shop on the right and the lavatories at the front. The main exhibition area is on the left divided into four sections through boards bearing information material in five languages.

Interest For Today

The excavation findings in the Archaeological Museum of Sitia cover a period of about 4000 years, from the Late Neolithic Era (3500 BC) to the Late Roman Period (500 AD) and all the items are organized according to the area of origin.

One of the most important items is the Palekastro Kouros, a gold and ivory statue which was originally damaged by fire. It was found in three parts and made from hippopotamus ivory that probably came from Egypt. The head is carved from serpentine, the eyes made of rock crystal, the internal bowels made from wood and the clothes consisted of gold leaf. The statue is considered one of the masterpieces of Minoan art and is about 54 cm tall.

Some of the items found in the museum are:

• An extensive collection of Minoan Pottery from the archaeological sites of Eastern Crete.
• Rhyton which is a libation vessel in the shape of a bull, with painted decorations.
• Stirrup jar from the Minoan settlement on the islet of Pseira that bears marine style decorations.
• Pithoid jar from the Palace at Zakros which bears painted decorations.
• Geometric amphora from the cemetery of Aghios Georgios.
• Terracotta figurine of a woman, known as the “Tanagraia”.
• Black figure kantharos with west slope decoration.
• Clay plaques of the Daedalic type, that are decorated with relief human figures on a chariot, possible portraying Pluto, and Persephone.
• Linear A clay tablets from the archives room of the Palace at Zakros.
• Base with a funerary epigram on both sides, referring to the death of Leon and his son, Thenas.
• Handmade vases and obsidian blades from the Proto-Minoan cemetery of Agia Fotia.
• Minoan figurines from various shrines.
• Stone sacred horns used for worship of the bull-shaped rite with two streams that surround them and the multi-vessel with the five cups.
• The bronze bucket from the area of ​​Praisos.
• A bronze axe used by the Lithuanians.
• Minoan clay sarcophagi of various sizes and designs decorated with the rhythm of the sea.
• A well-preserved ensemble that composes a grape press that consists of the linen, the vintage vase and the pitho that was stored.
• Large vessels with sea and floral decoration
• Household utensils such as pots, fruit jars, basins, etc.
• Decorated stone cups, tools, and lamps.
• Jewels from the tomb of the Lithuanians and the amphora with the concentric circles.
• Votive clay figurines and embossed tiles from the sanctuary of the city of Sitia. They were found in depositors of the sanctuary which was not located. Characteristic are the inserted heads with the Egyptian style in the headdress that was adapted to bottle-shaped bodies and the presence of female deity in various poses.
• A variety of ceramic finds such as pottery with selected pieces of a beetle decorated with “Western Climate”, a lantern, a rocket, and a two-silk lamp with a printed masked theatre mask.
• A series of figurines come from places of worship in homes.
• Coins which are cuts of Rhodes, Kalymnos, Ierapytna and Knossos and show the relations of the city with Crete and the Dodecanese.
• One exhibition presents a series of findings from the excavations of the Greco-Roman settlement of the island of Libyan Koufonisi, which is ancient Lefki. It is mainly objects of daily use of the inhabitants of the island which was famous for the fishing and processing of purple of the well-known ostrich from which the precious dye came: vessels, lamps, pan, pencils and copper needle for nets, olives as well as plaster and pieces of marble from their homes.
• The base with the colossal head of the Roman emperor Andrianos from Makry Gialos.
• A small aquarium with a collection of pottery from the sea of ​​Koufonissi from an ancient shipwreck.

Hours of Business

• Winter: 1 November – 31 March from 08:30 – 15:30
• Summer: 1 April – 31 October from 08:30 – 16:00
• Tuesday: closed

Holidays

• 1 January: closed
• 6 January: 08:00 – 15:00
• Shrove Monday: 08:00 – 15:00
• 25 March: closed
• Good Friday: 08:00 – 15:00
• Holy Saturday: 08:00 – 15:00
• 1 May: closed
• Easter Sunday: closed
• Easter Monday: 08:00 – 15:00
• Holy Spirit Day: 08:00 – 15:00
• 15 August: 08:00 – 15:00
• 28 October: 08:00 – 15:00
• 25 December: closed
• 26 December: closed

Tickets

Full: €3, Reduced: €2

Free admission days:

• 6 March (in memory of Melina Mercouri)
• 18 April (International Monuments Day)
• 18 May (International Museums Day)
• The last weekend of September annually (European Heritage Days)
• 28 October
• Every first Sunday from 1 November to 31 March

Contact information

• Address: National Road Siteia-Piskokefalos, Τ.Κ. 72300, Siteia (Prefecture of Lasithi)
• Coordinates: 35°12′16.92″N, 26°6′19.08″E
• Telephone: +30 28430 23917
• Fax: +30 28430 23917
• Email: efalas@culture.gr

How To Get There?

The Archaeological Museum of Sitia is located at the beginning of the road that leads from Sitia to Ierapetra passing through Piskokefalo. The museum house is designed around a small patio. Visitors can get to the museum by bus or private vehicle.

Opposite the Museum is an intercity bus station serving members of the public without personal transport.