Senior Sailor Says…
The Viking Ocean Cruises motor coach pulled up in front of an unassuming building—the Archaeological Museum—in Corfu, Greece. From the outside, you’d never guess that it houses one of the greatest collections of Greek artifacts.
Built from 1962 to 1965, it was initially intended to house the archaeological finds from the Temple of Artemis in Corfu. In 1994, it was expanded with the addition of two more exhibit halls that display the more recent finds at the ancient citadel of Corfu.
The collection was discovered from the island’s markets, private homes, and harbors spanning from the 7th century BC to the 4th century AD.
One of the prized possessions is the Gorgon pediment from the temple of Artemis in Corfu. It is the oldest stone pediment in Greece, dated to 590-580 BC.
We admire The Lion of Menecrates. This is the work of a famous Corinthian sculptor of the Archaic period. Dated to the end of the 7th century BC.
The funerary stele of Philistion, daughter of Agenos and Arpalis, with the approximately translated inscription as: Greetings Philistion. You went twenty-three years old in the underworld and left your mother Arpalis in mourning, your husband Aristandros a widower and confused, and the children cold as orphans. [You], the glorious blood of Agenos, having chosen for yourself the last sleep, this bitter, pitch-dark tomb has accepted you.
A large collection of terracotta statuettes of Artemis was found in large quantities in the small temple of Artemis at Kanoni in Corfu city.
There are four cases with coins found in excavations at various sites of Corfu.
After our guide explains each display and artifact, we board the motor coach again and head to Corfu Old Town and the Fortress. The city’s area has a rich history, shaped by conquerors and by royalty seeking tranquility.
The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its narrow streets and alleyways lead to one of Europe’s largest public squares and to a lovely promenade once reserved exclusively for the local aristocracy.
A visit to the Archaeological Museum is one of the many optional tours available while visiting Corfu. For anyone interested in ancient history and eager to see its fascinating aspects, this is a tour you are sure to enjoy.
For more information about “Empires of the Mediterranean” and its tour opportunities, click here. To learn about all the Viking Cruise agendas, click here.
