The Museum was founded in 1883 by the "Philekpaideutikos Syllogos" ("Society of the Friends of Education"), under the presidency of Joseph Chatzidakis. Initially, when it was still simply a collection of antiquities, it was housed in two rooms near Ayios Minas. This space, however, soon proved to be too restricted to hold the precious objects that daily grew in number, especially after the proclamation of the independence of Crete in 1898. The collection therefore had to be moved to a large sector of the old Turkish barracks. At the same time attempts began to be made to build a proper Museum and to find a suitable plot of land for the purpose. Eventually, preference was given to the area formerly occupied by the monastery of Frangiskos. The building that was erected was demolished in 1937, however, since it was not proof against earthquakes, and its place was taken by the present Museum.
The rooms were opened to the public after the Second World War, with the material classified chronologically. The building has recently been extended.
The Museum houses ancient objects discovered at the most important archaeological sites in Crete: Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Tylissos, Gortys, Ayia Triada, Mokhlos, Gournia, Zakros, in a great number of tombs, in the caves of Karnares, the Idacan cave, the Diktaean cave, the cave of Eileithyia, and so on.
The most interesting and best preserved of the finds are exhibited in the 20 rooms of the Museum. Minoan art is nowhere better represented, and this makes the Museum unique and has made it known the whole world over.
The visitor should be aware that about two hours are needed to see the Museum properly.
Ex. 1. Answer the questions:
1. When was the Heraklion Archaelogical Museum founded?
2. Where was The Heraklion Archaeological Museum built?
3. What objects does the Museum house?
4. What makes the Museum unique?
5. How many hours are needed to see the Museum properly?
Ex. 2. Remember the following words and word combinations:
a collection of antiquities; precious objects; to be opened to the public; cave; to exhibit; the visitor should be aware; to erect; archaeological sites; to represent; to demolish.
Ex. 3. Make-up sentences using the following words. The first word is underlined.
1. hours, two, About, the Museum, needed, properly, are, see, to.
2. was, The, demolished, 1937, building, in.
3. recently, building, has, extended, been, The.
4. houses, ancient, objects, The Museum.
5. represented, Minoan, nowhere, better, is, art.
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