The Archaeological Museum of Mykonos sits in a neoclassical building near the old harbor in Chora. It’s small — the collection fills a handful of rooms — but the objects it contains are genuinely significant: finds from Delos and the neighboring island of Rheneia that span the Archaic through Roman periods. The prize piece is a large storage amphora (pithos) from the 7th century BCE decorated with scenes from the Trojan War — one of the oldest narrative representations of the myth known to survive.
The Collection
The museum’s holdings include pottery, sculpture, jewelry, and household objects from the Cycladic Bronze Age through the Roman period, with particular strength in the material from Delos excavations. The proto-Attic pithos with the Trojan War reliefs — probably dating to around 670 BCE — is displayed prominently and justifiably: the narrative scenes, including the Trojan Horse and the blinding of Polyphemus, are among the earliest surviving examples of Greek mythological narrative in visual form.
The sculpture collection includes grave markers and small votive figures from Delos and Rheneia. The Roman-period funerary reliefs from Rheneia are particularly well preserved.
Practicalities
The museum is located on the northern edge of Chora’s old harbor, a 5-minute walk from Little Venice. Opening hours are typically Tuesday through Sunday, 8:30–16:00 in summer, with reduced hours in low season. The entrance fee is modest — €4 as of recent seasons. Allow 45 minutes to an hour. The museum is not air-conditioned; visiting in the morning before the heat builds is more comfortable.
Practical Tips
- Visit on an afternoon when the main sites are too crowded or on a day when Delos is closed (Monday).
- The label information for the key objects is in Greek and English — the English translations are readable and informative.
- Combine with the Maritime Museum nearby for a complete picture of the island’s history — both can be done in a half morning.