What Is The Archimedes’ Museum?
Archimedes’ Museum is situated in Ancient Olympia, Greece and is a unique thematic museum dedicated to the great mathematician, engineer, physicist, astronomer and inventor of the ancient Greece and the ancient Greek technology of his time.
Archimedes was a genius of his time and passed on valuable insights into ancient science. He became the launching point for the development of modern science and was the innovator of many inventions. Applying concepts of infinitesimals and the method of exhaustion he managed to prove a range of geometrical theorems.
The museum is permanently hosted in the middle of Ancient Olympia in a two-floor building that was approved by the municipality of Ancient Olympia. This was unanimously agreed upon by the board of directors of the city of the Ancient Olympia and supported by both the trade association and the Hotel owners of the city.
History
The museum dedicated to the great Greek scientist Archimedes of Syracuse was officially inaugurated in 2014. It was an initiative of engineer Kostas Kotsanas who has also established other museums in Greece.
Kotsanas created replicas of Archimedes’ inventions, which are exhibited at the museum. This includes 24 replicas of his inventions such as Archimedes’ hydraulic screw, the dioptre, the Roman scale, burning using mirrors, the odometer, the nautical odometer, the mechanical and hydraulic paradox, the giant cranes and powerful war machines, the way to check the purity of gold, Archimedes’ accurate mechanical planetarium, and the famous Antikythera mechanism.
The museum aims to highlight even the most unknown aspects of Archimedes’ scientific work. It shows that the technology of the ancient Greeks was not that far from the beginnings of modern technology as we know it today.
Kotsanas was born in 1963 in Algieri – Selina, Achaia and he studied in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Patras, Greece.
He has dedicated his life to the study of ancient Greek culture, especially in the field of ancient Greek technology. Besides Archimedes’ Museum, he has also set up, at his own expense and with his personal exhibits, the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology and the Museum of Ancient Greek Musical Instruments and Toys, operating in Katakolo.
Approximately 350 functional models of ancient Greek inventions are displayed in the museums and their aim is to reveal an unknown aspect of ancient Greek civilisation and to prove that the technology of the ancient Greeks, just before the end of the ancient Greek world, was extremely similar to the beginning of our modern technology. All of these have attracted Greek and foreign visitors over the years.
Interest For Today
Archimedes did not only have a great influence on modern technology, especially with many of his inventions still being used today, but he also inspired Da Vince and influenced Galileo and Newton.
The main aim of Archimedes’ museum is to feature in authenticity and trustworthiness, this unknown perspective of that wise man of ancient times and to prove that that the technology of the Ancient Greeks during the 3rd century BC was amazingly similar to the beginning of our modern technology.
Visitors will have the opportunity to see replicas of his inventions and to interact with them. Most exhibits are complemented by rich audio-visual material (in Greek and English), such as descriptive labels and giant posters with information, detailed diagrams, photos, and complete bibliographical references.
Archimedes’ Museum in Olympia is part of a larger group of related educational exhibitions, which include the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology and the Museum of Ancient Greek Musical Instruments and Toys.
Archimedes’ Museum has also received some awards:
- 2018 – Flight Network award 10 of Europe’s Best Kept Secret Museums
- 2017 – Colour of Elis award
- 2017 – Kotsan Museum Shop Award
- 2017 – TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
Hours of Business
- Summer: 1 April – 30 October from 10:00-20:00
- Winter: 1 November – 31 March from 10:00-15:00
Tickets
- Free entrance
Contact information
- Address: Praxiteli Kondyli 9, Ancient Olympia
- Telephone number: +30 6979547178
- Telephone number for school visits: +30 6931831530
- Email: kkotsanas@hotmail.com
How To Get There?
The Archimedes Museum is permanently hosted in the heart of the modern city of Ancient Olympia. It can be reached by public transport or private vehicle. There is ample parking in the area.
