The astonishing National Archaeological Museum of Athens

Posted On: Oct 11th, 2015 at 12:11

Day ten: Athens – the final day
A visit to Athens, or Greece for that matter, is not complete without a visit to the National Archaeological Museum.
The wonders on show are nothing more than perfection in art, weaponry, pottery, jewellery and every day items. The amount of gold on show is staggering. I found myself mesmerised by both the female gold jewellery that was buried with those who had passed on, especially from the Mycenaean culture, and also the statues where craftsmanship from that day has never been surpassed. It’s almost as if skilled craftsmen and stone masons fell from the sky some time in the past and were fully versed in their craft from the beginning, and today we can only marvel at their achievements. Certainly hand-skilled crafts like this are almost a thing of the past. Today they would cost so much money that most of our items are mass produced, and any such items remain the manifestation of the state, or those so rich they have gold toilet seats!
My time in Greece has been awesome. I shamelessly took 5,725 photographs in ten days – an average of 572 per day. Most of these will go into my travelogues and these posts are simply a glimpse of what is to come. I hope you have enjoyed seeing these photos and will await the travelogues which will likely begin towards the end of the year, when I’ve finished the Turkey section.
In the meantime feast your eyes upon these wonders from the museum and our ancient ancestors.
So, now it’s back to reality and back to some hard work. I am three weeks behind on my current Oxford Uni course – The Fall of Rome – and have already requested an extension for my first assignment! 😮 Thankfully my tutor was also in Greece while I was there so it seems I am currently his favourite student!

Gold cup found at Mycenae, in grave V of grave circle A. Delicate and hand crafted, probably used as a drinking vessel during ceremonies. Dating to the 16th Century BC

Stunning gold necklaces and bracelets from the chamber tombs at Mycenae. 15th-12th centuries BC

Beautiful Mycenaean pottery dating to the middle of the 15th Century BC

Bronze statue, probably of Zeus. The mould is so accurate it looks like it’s been crafted around a real person. 460 BC.

Part of the Antikythera Mechanism. This incredible feat of engineering is part of a clockwork gear mechanism that could predict the movement of the stars. Although it’s thought the technology was years ahead of its time, ancient Greek writers talk of similar devices. This artefact was found on a shipwreck off the coast of Antikythera about a hundred years ago. Despite several deaths due to the dangers, divers are still searching the wreck to this day. Dates to 150-100 BC

Mesmerising statue of Aphrodite, god of love, desire and beauty. This version was made in the 2nd Century AD and was a copy of another version made 600 years earlier.

The Artemision Jockey. This astounding bronze statue even shows the stretched veins and muscles in the face of the running horse. Its detail is such that one can almost imagine it could only have been made from a photograph of a running horse. The accuracy of its features are so striking, and the expression of the boy is equally astonishing. Dating to about 140 BC