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Archaeological Museum of Amphipolis

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The Archaeological Museum of Amphipolis is a museum in Amphipolis, Central Macedonia, Greece. It is located in the archaeological site of ancient Amphipolis (a city founded in 437 BC), near River Strymon at close range of the Thessaloniki–Kavala national highway and within the walls of the ancient city itself. In the museum, finds from Amphipolis and its surroundings are exhibited. The excavations took place mainly in the period from 1956 to 1984, under the direction of the late archaeologist Dimitris Lazaridis. After his death (1985) his daughter, Calliope Lazaridis, continued the work until 1989.

Outside view
Museum of Amphipolis (Basement)

There are also finds from ancient Argilos and Eion, the port of ancient Amphipolis, together with wall panels relating the history of ancient Amphipolis and the surrounding area. Also, an 18th-century historians’ correspondence about ancient Amphipolis, along with photographs of the unearthing and restoration of the Lion of Amphipolis, in 1913.

Location

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The museum is located about 600 meters north of the acropolis, right at the entrance to the modern village of Amfipoli.

The building

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The construction of the museum stretched between 1984 and 1995. It was built in two-storey construction and is divided into several areas. In addition to the exhibition rooms, there are offices, a conference room and a warehouse. On display are finds from the area of ancient Amphipolis and its surroundings; The artefacts were found in sanctuaries, settlements and tombs. The museum contains many items related to the history and civilisation of Amphipolis dating from the Archaic into the Byzantine period. It is well laid out and with labels and information panels.

Arrangement of the finds

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Basement

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Silver ossuary and gold crown of Brasidas
  • Prehistoric era
  • Early historical period
  • Classical and Hellenistic time
  • The sanctuaries
  • Public and private life
  • tombs
  • The early Christian period
  • The Byzantine period
  • Temporary exhibitions

Upper floor

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  • The history of Amphipolis
  • The history of the colonization of the surroundings of Strymon river
  • The history of neighboring places like Argilos, Eion and Brea
  • The evolution of the Macedonian kingdom and some of its kings

Important finds

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  • Figures from prehistoric times
  • Gold jewelry from the Kasta tomb
  • A clay bust of a female deity, found in a tomb from the Hellenistic period
  • The stele into which the Ephebic law was carved
  • A silver vessel and a golden branch of olive leaves
  • A golden wreath (grave offering from the 4th century BC)
  • A head of Aphrodite (Roman replica)
  • Capital from the Basilica C of Amphipolis
  • A gold coin of Justinian (Byzantine epoch 527 to 565 AD)
  • Gold coin (stater) of Alexander the Great
 
Alexander Tetradrachme Amphipolis

The Macedonian coinage

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Due to precious metal mines on the peninsula of Halkidiki and the Pangaion Mountains, enough raw materials were available for coinage. In the first half of the 5th century BC Alexander I introduced coinage in the Macedonian Kingdom. By extending his kingdom to the east, Alexander I brought more mines, located in the vicinity of Philippi, under his control. [1] The yield from these mines alone was estimated at one TalentSilver (about 26 kg) per day. Depending on the sufficient availability of the raw material silver, the coins were either made of pure silver or of a silver alloy mixed with other metals. From the 5th century BC BC, two currencies existed in parallel. Heavier and more valuable coins for foreign trade and smaller, lower value, for payments within Macedonia. Towards the end of the 5th century, the smaller pieces of silver were gradually replaced by bronze coins. Phillip II continued to expand the Macedonian state, gaining control over more mines. In addition to the mint in Pella another was built in Amphipolis. From this time, gold coins were also made to the Attic standard (see Attic talent), which was introduced by Philip II.[2][3]

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  •  
    Frescoes on display
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    A sirens statue
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    First floor exhibits
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    Inscribed grave stele

References

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  1. ^ "Herodotus, The Histories, Book 5, chapter 17, section 2". www.perseus.tufts.edu/.
  2. ^ Hellenic Republic, Ministry of culture and sports, Onassis Foundation USA: Gods and Mortals at Olympus. Edited by Dimitrios Pandermalis, page 146, ISBN 978-0-9906142-2-7
  3. ^ Brill's Companion to Ancient Macedon, Studies in the Archaeology and History of Macedon 650 BC – 300 AD, Chapter 8, Sophia Kremydi, Coinage and Finance Online PDF
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40°49′31″N 23°50′55″E / 40.825216°N 23.848653°E / 40.825216; 23.848653

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