ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

 

The museum was designed by Aris Konstandinidis and its construction lasted from 1963 until 1966. It first opened to the public on August 1, 1970. It contains five rooms and two atriums; in rooms A, B, and C finds from the region of Epirus are exhibited. Room D is now closed but until the early 1990's contained a collection of Byzantine, post-Byzantine and Popular art. In room E, works of Greek artists of the 19th and 20th centuries are temporarily exhibited. The two atriums contain architectural members and inscriptions from various archaeological sites of the area. A guide book to the Ioannina Museum was written by Ioulia Vokotopoulou and was published in 1973.

Some of the most important exhibits of the museum are:

Flint biface "handaxe" of the Acheulean type. It was found at Kokkinopelos and preserves patina on the surface (lenght: 0,215 m.). Dated to the Lower Palaeolithic Period, ca. 200.000 B.P.

 

 

Prehistoric vase. Kantharos-shaped cup from grave 5 of tumulus A at Merope-Pogonion (district of Ioannina). Traces of black paint are preserved on the lower part of the body (h. 0,184 m.). Dated to the end of the 11th or the beginning of the 10th century B.C.

 

Bronze beaked jug. The upper attachment of the handle ends in a capped female head between two disks bearing incised rosettes. It was found in the south cemetery at Vitsa, Zagori and dates to ca. 540-520 B.C.

 

Silver-plated gold ring from Kerassona. The representation on the bezel depicts the mythical scene of Orestes slaying Klytaemnestra. The letters "KLYT" are visible. Dated to the end of the 5th century B.C.

 

 

Marble funerary statue of a lion from Michalitsi (district of Preveza). Impressive is the thick mane and the animal's expression. Dated to the second half of the 4th century B.C.

 

 

Bronze hammered helmet found in House H at Vitsa. Its form is reminiscent of the phrygian caps and is decorated with palmettes on the crest. Dated to the second half of the 4th century B.C.

 

 

Bronze statuette from Dodona. It represents a naked boy holding a dove in his left hand (h.0,16 cm.). Dated to the 3rd century B.C.

 

 

Clay plate from the It is decorated with incised linear patterns on the wide rim, and white painted floral patterns on the rest of the surface ("West Slope" style). Dated to the 3rd century B.C.

 

 

Limestone funerary stele from Plaisia (district of Ioannina). The floral and pictorial decoration is organized in five horizontal bands. An inscription records the names of the dead woman and her father. Dated to the end of the 3rd or the beginning of the 2nd century B.C. Dimensions: 1,52 x 0,58 x 0,15 m.

 

Marble sarcophagus from Ladochori (district of Thesprotia). The relief decoration on the walls depicts scenes from the Iliad and the lid has the shape of a funeral bed with the reclining figures of the dead couple. Dated to the 2nd century A.D.

 

 

Address: 25th Martiou Square

Tel . 2651033357 ,2651031908 ,2651025490