Archaeological Museum of Ios: Exploring five millennia of Cycladic civilization

The exhibition spans four galleries and three activity rooms, incorporating the courtyard left of the Amiradakio, which has been transformed into an open-air display of ancient marble architectural members, statue bases and sarcophagi.

The Museum collections include antiquities recovered through excavations and surface surveys, as well as objects acquired through donations or simply handed over to the Museum by concerned citizens. Material from the former Archaeological Collection of Ios – initially established in 1904 by mayor Fragoulis Kortesis, an archaeology enthusiast – has been integrated into the museological design.

Highlights include finds from the prehistoric settlement of Skarkos (mid-3rd millennium BC), organized in themed sections exploring the location, urban planning and architecture, pottery, figurines, economy, diet and social organisation of the site. The large clay pithoi, featuring elaborate incised decoration, are of particular interest, as well as the specialised cooking vessels.

The Museum also boasts finds from the ancient city of Ios dating to the historical periods, including sculptures and a collection of inscriptions from the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman eras.