The Heraklion Archaeological Museum, one of the largest and most visited museums in Greece, hosts and exhibits in its fully renovated showcase the extraordinary material remnants of the ancient civilizations that developed on Crete for over seven millennia, from the Neolithic period to the late Roman period.

This detailed archaeological-historical guide, with its wealth of illustrations, is based on findings from contemporary scientific research. Like a second thread of Ariadne, it accompanies the Museum visitor and the reader through the exhibits, guiding them through the enchanting labyrinth of Cretan archaeology.

It follows the evolution from Neolithic communities to the glorious Minoan civilization – the first advanced civilization in Europe, whose most famous creations are displayed in the Museum. The complex structures, cultural influence, and myths of this civilization come to life. The significant collections of historical times are also described in this guide, as they represent the creative side of Crete as part of the Greek and later Roman worlds.

This presentation also includes brief illustrated overviews of the main archaeological sites that have yielded particularly valuable exhibits.