Byzantine and Christian Museum [Museum Profile]

Where: Athens (22 Vasilissis Sofias Ave)

In a few words:
Based in Athens, the Byzantine and Christian Museum’s collection focuses on religious artefacts of the Early Christian, Eastern Roman Empire and medieval periods of the southern Balkan peninsula, as well as other regions that were conquered by the Eastern Roman Empire.

 

Why:
The Byzantine and Christian Museum’s not only exhibits religious artefacts of the Early Christian, Eastern Roman Empire and later medieval periods, but it also acquires, receives, preserves, conserves, records, documents, researches, studies, publishes and raises awareness of this period.

 

 

Some info on medieval Greece:
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire in the East during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, which had been founded as Byzantium). During most of its existence, the multiethnic feudal empire was the most powerful economic, cultural, and military force in Europe. Both “Byzantine Empire” and “Eastern Roman Empire” are historiographical terms created after the end of the realm; its citizens continued to refer to their empire as the Roman Empire and to themselves as “Romans”.

 

 

What you will see:
The museum has over 25,000 artefacts in its possession. The artefacts date from between the 3rd and 20th century AD, and their provenance encompasses the entire southern Balkan peninsula, as well as other regions that were conquered by the Eastern Roman Empire. The size and range of the collections and value of the exhibits makes the museum a veritable treasury of Eastern Roman Empire and post-Byzantine art and culture.
The permanent collection is divided as below:

1. From the ancient world to Byzantium
2. The Byzantine World
3. Intellectual and Artistic Activity in the 15th century
4. From Byzantium to Modern Era
5. Byzantium and modern art

 

 

Opening hours:
Monday – Sunday: 8am – 8pm

Closed:
1st January, 25th March, Good Friday (open: 12am-5pm), Easter Sundat, 1st May, 25th-26th December

Ticket prices (2017):
Full admission:
Full admission: €8

Reduced admission:
Reduced admission: €4
Not available from 1st of November to 31st of March
Reduced admission applies to the below categories:
1. Parents accompanying primary school children on educational visits
2. EU senior citizens over 65 on presentation of their passport or ID card
3. University students upon presentation of their student identity card.

Free admission:
Visitors under 18 years old (by showing their ID or passport)\

Special ticket package:
Full admission to four archaeological museums: €15
Reduced admission to four archaeological museums: €8
Valid for 3 days for the below museums in Athens:
1. National Archaeological Museum
2. Epigraphic Museum
3. Byzantine and Christian Museum
4. Numismatic Museum

Official website:
byzantinemuseum.gr