Archaeological Site and Museum of Kolοna Aegina

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Patriarchou Grigoriou E 1, Egina 180 10, Greece

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Patriarchou Grigoriou E 1, Egina 180 10, Greece

Archaeological Site and Museum of Kolοna Aegina

The Archaeological Museum of Kolona Aegina was the first museum founded in the free Greek State, in 1828. Until 1982, it was housed in the Enyard School. Today it is located next to the Archaeological Site of Kolona. It has three rooms with exhibits of historical value from all periods of the island’s long history, from the Neolithic period to the Roman period. However, the most outstanding and interesting exhibits are: the representation of a two-storey proto-Hellenic dwelling with a copper foundry, pottery, local sculpture from the Archaic period (7th – 5th century BC), inscriptions and fragments of the pediments of two Archaic temples of Apollo and Aphaia. In fact, in one of its rooms, part of the Kapodistrian Collection of Reliefs, mainly from the Rineia, is exhibited separately.

In the archaeological site of Kolona, all periods of the long history of the island are represented from the Neolithic settlement remains to the first Christian centuries. The place flourished particularly during the Bronze Age (2,600-2,500 BC), as well as during the Archaic Age from the 7th century BC, when it became the acropolis of Aegina and a place of worship. The settlement was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt about 10 times. The northern walls are preserved, the construction of which dates back to around 1600 BC, while some ruins dating back to around 1300 BC. On the southern side of the area there are remains of Byzantine buildings and high up on the hill there are remains of priests’ residences. The last period of prosperity came in the Hellenistic Period, under the leadership of the kings of Pergamon. The settlement ceased to be inhabited at the end of the first millennium AD.

The temple of Apollo on the site dates back to the Archaic period, 6th century BC. It was pavilion and Doric in style. The hill on which the site is located was called Colona by the Venetian sailors. Perhaps because the columns of the Temple of Apollo helped them orientate themselves, as they seemed to be miles out to sea.

The Archaeological Museum of Kolona Aegina was the first museum founded in the free Greek State, in 1828. Until 1982, it was housed in the Enyard School. Today it is located next to the Archaeological Site of Kolona. It has three rooms with exhibits of historical value from all periods of the island's long history, from the Neolithic period to the Roman period. However, the most outstanding and interesting exhibits are: the representation of a two-storey proto-Hellenic dwelling with a copper foundry, pottery, local sculpture from the Archaic period (7th - 5th century BC), inscriptions and fragments of the pediments of two Archaic temples of Apollo and Aphaia. In fact, in one of its rooms, part of the Kapodistrian Collection of Reliefs, mainly from the Rineia, is exhibited separately. In the archaeological site of Kolona, all periods of the long history of the island are represented from the Neolithic settlement remains to the first Christian centuries. The place flourished particularly during the Bronze Age (2,600-2,500 BC), as well as during the Archaic Age from the 7th century BC, when it became the acropolis of Aegina and a place of worship. The settlement was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt about 10 times. The northern walls are preserved, the construction of which dates back to around 1600 BC, while some ruins dating back to around 1300 BC. On the southern side of the area there are remains of Byzantine buildings and high up on the hill there are remains of priests' residences. The last period of prosperity came in the Hellenistic Period, under the leadership of the kings of Pergamon. The settlement ceased to be inhabited at the end of the first millennium AD. The temple of Apollo on the site dates back to the Archaic period, 6th century BC. It was pavilion and Doric in style. The hill on which the site is located was called Colona by the Venetian sailors. Perhaps because the columns of the Temple of Apollo helped them orientate themselves, as they seemed to be miles out to sea.

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