Archaeological Museum of Nafplion: Mycenaean secrets in a Venetian monument

Alongside everyday tools from the Franchthi Cave in the Ermionida region, remains of food the inhabitants of the cave had actually consumed – such as sea shells and fish bones – are exhibited, illustrating the transition from a hunter-gatherer society to a production economy.

But let’s take things from the top. If you have ever visited Nafplion, then you have surely noticed the facade of the museum housed in the imposing three-storey Venetian Armoury on the west side of Syntagmatos Square. The first floor exhibits prehistoric finds, while the second floor exhibits objects from the historical periods.

The bronze Dendra Panoply, dating from the late 15th century BC, has pride of place; it is the finest surviving example of Mycenaean armour, a reproduction of which has been worn by marines in the Greek Armed Forces for archaeological research purposes.