As one crosses the alleys of the port and approaches the center of the ancient city of Thassos, Almost effortlessly he turns his gaze into a robust building, with a simple neoclassical look and many windows. It is the island’s archaeological museum.
It is the oldest museum of the AMTH Region and despite the fact that it carries almost a century of life (founded in 1935), it is still a modern space in which Thassos’ past is not simply exposed, But ‘breathes’, narrating to the visitor important moments from the brilliant story of a place that flourished on many levels. Its complete remodeling and expansion between 1989-20, created a modern and hospitable 1,500 square meter space, which hosts more than 2300 objects.
From the courtyard of the museum, overlooking the sea, the visitor realizes that he enters a place that will travel him to the very important history of the island. The courtyard exhibits several large marble objects. Sarcophagi, altars, millstones, presses, large semi -levy sculptures, and architectural members give a first picture of the big production of ancient Thassos, Based on the renowned white marble that was mined, and is mined to this day, in the quarries of the island. In the center of the courtyard a colorful mosaic floor was placed from a Roman villa.
The Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Kavala, Stavroula Dadakis, proved to be the best guide in this unique stroll in the rich history of the island, as reflected through the interesting exhibits presented. Speaking to RES-EIA, notes that ‘the design of the new permanent report, Inaugurated in 2010, it was based on the idea that a large modern museum in direct contact with a visiting archaeological site should operate vertebrals and provide multiple ways of approaching its themes. “
The impressive kouros that welcomes the visitor
With the opening of the heavy, metallic, old door cut, the visitor is confronted with one of the most impressive exhibits. It is a colossal statue – the famous Kouros of Thassos – almost 3.5 meters high, that holds a ram in his hands. It is one of the most typical examples of 6th century archaic sculpture. The imposing project, the symmetry, as well as the expressiveness of his face “welcome” the visitor in an almost mystical way.
“It was found in 1911, when the French school began systematic excavations on the Acropolis. It was reused in five pieces in antiquity as a building material in the part of the Byzantine wall. Was transported with the primitive means of that time and was initially set up next to the church. In the same room is the archaic relief with a goddess on a conch that was repatriated as a product of theft, as well as the head of the Skopa School, a donation of a collector. This is a votive relief of 490 BC. representing two young girls from the left to bring gifts to a goddess sitting in a conch, “Mrs Dadakis explains to RES-EIA.
Continuing, the exhibition narrative evolves at the beginning based on the long historical periods: the prehistoric, archaic, classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Early Christian period of the island.
Impressive is the room with the prehistoric ceramics, which, although humble in appearance, tell stories of use, ritual and artistic evolution. Among them, small figurines and vessels that testify to the human presence on the island from the depths of prehistory. The exhibition is enriched by faithful representations of a home of the late copper and a stone -built family grave of the Iron Age from the settlement in Kastri Theologos, and the stone athlephic columns are impressive, most of which were found in the sized arms.
The light coming from the large openings of the roof and windows creates an almost sacred setting. People of all ages, Greeks and foreigners, move slowly, with a concentrated look, sometimes on the information plates, sometimes in the details of the impressive marble sculptures. A Romanian kid asked his mother why he lacks the hand of a statue, and she, with a smile, whispered that things are like time, leaving nothing untouched.
Imposing statues and humble testimonies of everyday life
Mrs Dadaki underlines How every year the museum receives a large number of visitors, Mostly during the summer months, when traffic on the island is great. In recent years there has been a significant increase in visitors: 20,000 people visited the Museum last year, and for 2025, until July, about 6,000 visitors passed from the island’s archaeological museum.
Designs, three -dimensional representations, photographs and information texts enlighten the form, evolution and operation of Thassian houses. In one of the rooms are visible and parts of ancient houses preserved in the basement of the museum. At this point in the city there has been a continuous habitation since the 5th century BC. Until the 5th century AD
Objects from home equipment (cookware, symposium householding, tools, tools) illustrate the daily life and activities of the people who lived. The report is rich with sculpture projects, Angiography and Koroplasty, with representations of men and women in typical manifestations of their daily lives.
One of the most interesting exhibits of the museum is the particularly imposing statue of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, who benefited the city. There are also busts with portraits of Claudius, July Caesar and Lefkios Caesar.
The museum’s sculpture that “traveled” around the world
In themes modules are fully presented The religious life of the Thassians and the findings that concern it. The visitor realizes that the inhabitants of the island honored particularly deities, such as Apollo, Athena, Dimitra and the daughter, Neptune, Artemis, Hercules, Theagenis, Kyveli and many eastern deities. Also, there are typical areas of the island’s economic life, based on its abundant wealth sources. The production of production is reflected in the representative sets of coins of Thassos, which cover all times.
‘Basic crop, Mostly in classical and Hellenistic years »Mrs Dadakis points out in RES-EIA, “was that of the vine. Thassos produced higher quality wine, famous in the then known world. The process of producing and selling wine was under narrow state control. This is evident both by laws that were saved in inscriptions, as well as the seals to the amphorae, in which they were considering the wine for its aging and selling it. “
Thassos was and remains an island rich in marble deposits. It is expected, then, that a room is entirely dedicated to marble sculpture, which is a particularly blooming art in Thassos. From The most important exhibits, that of Aphrodite with dolphin, which has traveled as a loan Around the world, the head of Alexander the Great, coming from one temple in honor of him, as well as the Sphinx.
The visit to the museum ends with the passage to the palate, from which visitors can admire the back of the impressive statue of Kouros. The Archaeological Museum of Thassos is not just a place of guarding antiquities. It is a living set of memory and aesthetics, linking local history to the wider Greek and Mediterranean culture. Through his exhibits, He gives a voice to those who lived, created, worshiped and mourned thousands of years ago. As you leave, the visitor feels that he didn’t just see a museum. Talk to the history of the place itself.