In a unique historic Art Nouveau building at the very heart of Athens, 200m from Syntagma Square you may visit two special museums. The building which once belonged to the family of Queen Aspasia Manou, wife of Alexander I, now hosts the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology and the Museum of Ancient Greek Musical Instruments and Games.
In a total area of 700 square meters, you will have the opportunity to get to know a relatively unknown aspect of Ancient Greek culture through the permanent exhibition “Ancient Greece – The Origins of Technologies” which includes approximately 100 selected exhibits, from the robot-servant and the "cinema" of Philon to the automatic theater of Heron, and from the Hydraulic Clock of Ktesibios to the Antikythera Mechanism.
At the same building houses the Museum of Ancient Greek Musical Instruments and Games with 42 fully functional, reassembled musical instruments, such as the helicon and the sixth string of Pythagoras, the lyre of Hermes, the guitar of Apollo, the Homeric phorminx, the harp of Sappho, the Ptolemaic helicon, the Pan flute, the hydraulis of Ktesibios and others.
Additionally, Kotsanas Museum presents a specific space for periodical exhibitions, each time dedicated to different aspects of the admirable technology of the Ancient Greeks, such as the Archimedes exhibition or Ancient Greek games, Ancient Greek automations, Ancient Greek shipbuilding, Ancient Greek siege engines, Ancient Greek astronomy and many others.
At the same time, the museum premises provides, at varying levels, educational programs and workshops, within the framework of the museum philosophy, such as workshops in the fields of robotics, arts, natural sciences, mathematics, and others.
Guests will also be able to purchase from the Museum Shop, handmade models, copies of the exhibits of the museum made by Marios Kotsanas, such as an exact replica of the Antikythera Mechanism, the portable "clock" notebook of Parmenion, the fourth quadrant of the Hipparchus, ancient Greek ships, toys, musical instruments, and other items.
Are you ready to explore Kotsanas Museum?
LOCATION: Pindarou 6 & Akadimias, Kolonaki, Athens 10671
DAYS / HOURS:
WINTER TIME: Weekdays & Weekends 10:00-18:00
SUMMER TIME (June-July-August): 09:00-20:00
SCHEDULED GUIDED TOUR: 10 €/person (the duration of a tour is one hour) Minimum number of participants: 4 visitors – entrance fee is included in the price)
GENERAL ADMISSION: 5 €, including tour-demonstration of selected exhibits.
REDUCED TICKET*: 3.5 € for children & youths aged 6-17 years old, students**, teachers, multi-child families, over 65 years old, military personnel, unemployed
*Proof of ID required
** Valid for students of Greek Universities, students of foreign Universities are entitled of reduced ticket with the International Student Identity Card
In case of a guided group tour the visitors should pay for the general admission
FREE ENTRY: * School monitors & organized groups, children up to 5 years old (Accompanied by adults), ICOM members, people with special needs, tour guides, journalists
*Proof of ID required
Museum Kotsanas is a non-profit organization and all revenues are made available to museum and education activities.
Facebook: @KotsanasMuseumOfAncientGreekTechnology
Instagram: @kotsanasmuseum
T: +30 211 411 0044