The Archaeological Museum of Agios Nikolaos
The Museum was founded in 1969 to house the many new archaeological finds from excavations in eastern Crete. Its halls and central atrium contain artefacts from the whole of Eastern Crete, an area extending from Mallia as far as Zakros.
These are displayed in chronological order from the Neolithic period (5700- 2800 B.C.) to the end of Roman times (100B.C.-400A.D.). Its showcases are decorated with more than 1500 vases from the third millennium B.C., and copper finds (the most ancient found in Crete).
The museum's most important exhibit is without doubt the skull of the young athlete crowned with a gold wreath, found in the 1st century AD Roman cemetery at Potamos. The gold wreath has been preserved as it was, fastened to the skull.
In the young man's mouth a silver coin was found, which, according to tradition, was used as the fare for Charon the ferryman to take him across the waters of the Acherusian Lake to Hades.
Archaeological Museum of Agios Nikolaos
74, Constantine Paleologou Street
Map of Archaeological Museum
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 08:30 - 15:00
Admission: 3 €
