Archaeological Museum of Argos Orestiko: In the Kingdom of Orestis

It is arranged into four sections preceded by a small introduction that contains information concerning the geography and the topography of the region, as well as the formation of the Museum collection.

The first section (1100-550 BC) features a significant collection of brass jewelry and ritual objects, spears, pottery, ceramics vessels, and reconstructions of burials.

The second section, “The Kingdom of Orestis 550-339 BC”, begins with a statuette of a banqueter dated to the Archaic period and continues with various early inscribed monuments, a marble sphinx and a partial funerary stele, as well as grave goods found in Classical-period burials. From 359 to 200 BC, Orestis was part of the Macedonian kingdom and some of its inhabitants joined the Macedonian phalanx. This section features the pike of a sarissa and a unique phalanx shield from the Paeonian army, as well as inscribed monuments.

The last section displays antiquities dated from the Roman conquest to 200 BC, until the founding of Diocletianopolis, in approximately 300 AD.

Orestis retained its administrative autonomy, as depicted in the survival of the local political formation, “Koinon of the Oresti”. Additionally, the political and religious identity of the Orestis was, to a large extent, maintained, as evidenced by their votives to the gods and the impressive variety of tombstones.