Posted on by GL Team

NAFPLIO Archaeological Museum

Nafplio Archeological Museum is a delightful venue. Its exhibitions include ancient objects ranging from Paleolithic to Roman eras. This is where you will see the bronze armor with boars tusk helmet from the Mycenaean period, similar to a vivid description from Homer’s Iliad.

Photo Gallery

A collection of Mycenaean ceramics at the Archaeological Museum of Nafplio
Glass vessels from the necropolis of Ancient Epidaurus and Arkadiko. 1st c. BCE
Two Linear B tablets dealing with land-tenure. From Tyrins lower town, 13-12 century BCE.
Mycenaean warrior’s full body armor made of bronze. The helmet is made of boar’s tusks, just like the ones described in Homer’s Illiad. End of 15th c. BCE.
Bronze helmet of the Corinthian type. 525-500 BCE
It was full of oil, and was won as the prize in the Panathenaic games in Athens. 530-520 BCE.
Obsidian arrowheads and bone tools.
The painting on this white ground lekythos depicts a visit at the grave scene. 420-410 BCE
Reconstruction of a child’s burial from the Mesolithic Era in the Nafplio Archaeological Museum.
Clay masks used in ceremonies from Tyrins Upper Citadel. 7th c. BCE

Description

Nafplio Archaeological Museum is located in the old Venetian navy arsenal, which was built in 1713.

It shelters artifacts from the Argolis area, in the northeast Peloponnese. It is an area with rich history going back to the Paleolithic era. Various settlements in the area were active at different times, and the museum’s exhibits are arranged in chronological order.

Finds from excavations at Franchthi cave are prominently displayed with large explanatory panels and illustrations. They include, reconstructions of stone-age burials and every-day objects such as jewelry, tools, and weapons from the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods (10,000 – 3,000 BCE).

The best known object in the museum is the Dendra Armor. It’s a full-body bronze armor and a helmet lined with boar’s teeth, and it belonged to a  Mycenaean warrior.

The Archaeological Museum of Nafplio also exhibits artifacts from the Tyrins excavations, from Palea Epidauros, and other excavations in the vicinity.

Practicalities

You will find the Archaeological Museum of Nafplio on the west end of Syntagma square, in the heart of the old city.

If you drive, park at the large parking lot at the port and walk ten minutes to the museum. Otherwise, you might be tangled in very narrow streets in Nafplio’s old town.

The museum is small  so you will easily stroll through its exhibits in about half an hour. Extensive signs with text and illustrations provide good explanation and give context to the artifacts.

Best place to stay is Nafplio town itself. Athena hotel is on the other end of the square within walking distance.

Click here for opening hours and ticket information

Other Places of Interest Nearby

Map

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