The Archaeological Museum of Sparta today hosts thousands of finds from the province of Lakedaimonos as well as other areas of the prefecture of Laconia.
In its halls, findings from the Neolithic to the late Roman era are exhibited. The most important place is occupied by the findings of the great sanctuaries of Sparta. The museum visitor has the opportunity to admire finds from the most important prehistoric sites of Laconia, works of sculpture from the Archaic to Roman times, as well as finds from rescue excavations among which the sections of mosaic floors from the Roman times occupy a prominent place Sparta. Finally, the museum exhibition includes a few epigraphic texts which illuminate some aspects of the history of Sparta.
In the seven rooms of the museum, a small part of the numerous finds kept in it is exhibited.
In room I, inscribed columns from Roman times are exhibited, in which iron scythes were embedded. These are vows of the winners of the competitions of the sanctuary of Standing Artemis. The columns show the name of the winner and the events in which he excelled.
Hall II includes finds from the sanctuary of Orthia Artemis. On display are examples of the devotees' offerings to the goddess made of ivory, stone and clay as well as lead figurines, considered offerings of the poor. Of particular interest are the votive clay masks, perhaps imitations of the wooden ones, which were probably used in ceremonies in honor of the goddess.
In the same room we still see finds from the sanctuaries of Athena of Chalkioikos, Amyklaios Apollonos and Menelaion. Also in a prominent position are the large relief burial amphorae found in the excavations of Sparta.
In hall III, works of sculpture mainly from Roman times are exhibited, such as portraits, parts of marble sarcophagi, while in the center of the hall is the head of the statue of Tychi of the city. Parts of Hellenistic and Roman mosaic floors are also exhibited in the same room. An important place is occupied by the clay effigy of five people from the area of Akrotiri of Malea.
In room IV, in the small attic of the Museum, finds of prehistoric times from various parts of Laconia (Geraki, Melathria, Epidauros Limira, Peristeri, Angelona, Amykles) are exhibited. An important position is occupied by the finds of the Mycenaean tombs of Pellana, where a rich cemetery of the Mycenaean times has been uncovered.
In room V, a few samples are exhibited from the large total number of mosaic floors that adorned the luxurious homes and public buildings of Sparta during the Roman era. Among the figurative representations of these mosaics, the representation of Achilles in Skyros (early 4th century AD) and the beheading of Medusa (3rd century AD), mermaids, representation of Aphrodite and others stand out.
In room VI, an important place is occupied by the architectural members of the temple of Apollo in Amykles, the work of Bathycles from Asia Minor, who combined in an exquisite way the Ionic and Doric elements, in a special type of building, where the worship of the Doric Apollo and of the Prodorian deity of Hyacinthus. In the center of the hall is the amphiglyphic pyramidal stele depicting pairs of figures (Orestes-Clytemnestra and Menelaus-Helen), while one can see a large number of the series of heroic laconic reliefs with the representation of a pair of deities, reliefs with the representation of the Dioscuri and of their symbols and a small part of the votive offerings of the sanctuary of Alexandra - Kassandra in Amykles.
In room VII, some samples of Laconic sculpture are exhibited. In the center is the figure of the Spartan warrior, named Leonidas, who was found near the Sanctuary of Chalkio Athena. An important place in this room is occupied by the famous Damonon column, which lists victories in competitions. In the same room, inscribed grave markers of dead warriors, the statue of Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth, and the giant head of Hera or Helen are exhibited.
Source: MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND SPORTS
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