Archaeological Museum of Chalkis "Arethousa"

Archaeological Museum of Chalkis "Arethousa" The new Archaeological Museum of Chalkis "Arethousa" is housed in an industrial building that is declared a monument, is an exhibit itself and is a witness to the industrial activity of the early 20th century in the area of Agios Stefanos, where is the mythical source of Arethousa, from which took its name. In the thematic exhibition of the new museum, diachronic issues of Political Organization, Economy, Cultural Identities and Cult are developed over time and representative exhibits from the prefecture of Euboea and Skyros are presented. The exhibition is enriched with an interactive tour map of places of archaeological interest in Euboea and Skyros, documentaries and multimedia applications through which the interaction with the visitor is achieved. The Museum is accessible to the disabled. There is also a museum shop of the Organization of the Management and Development of Cultural Resources. Political Organization The aspects of political organization, as these evolve from the 3rd millennium BC, through historical times, the Medieval fiefs up to the Ottoman period, feature in this exhibition section. There stand out the Bronze Age Euboean sites with town planning, the emergence of cities and city-states, the mints of Euboea and Skyros and the appearance of new social groups. Highlighted exhibits from the rich burials in the Heroon of Toumba at Lefkandi indicate the prosperity of Euboea and the developed trade contacts with east Mediterranean in the 10th century BC, a period of economic depression in the rest of mainland Greece. The political landscape of antiquity changes in the Hellenistic times with the monarch as the predominant figure who concentrates all powers. King in the Hellenistic period, imperator in Roman times, by divine right emperor in the Byzantine era and sultan in the Ottoman period. The strong presence of the Venetians on the island is reflected on coins and sculptures of the Latin Rule. Economy The section includes objects that are associated with the primary sector of economy and the Lelantine plain, a region rich in raw materials, especially clay, a field of dispute between Chalkis and Eretria. It also brings to the fore the sector of raw materials processing. Important have been the quarries of Euboea, where the Karystian stone was extracted. Moreover, there are on display raw materials and objects relating to the processing of metals, from Prehistory up to the Roman period. Particular emphasis is placed on Palamari of Skyros, an important trading post in the history of bronze circulation and processing in the third millennium BC. In addition, the sea trade from the Classical to Byzantine times is presented, and exhibits relevant to commercial activity. The strategic position of the Venetian Negroponte, the later Ottoman Egriboz, is highlighted. Cultural Identities The cultural communication and interaction networks include exhibits that are classified into three major periods (Prehistory, Antiquity, Byzantine empire ? Latin Rule ? Ottoman empire) and three geographical regions (Aegean, Mediterranean, Europe). Among them stand out Cycladic figurines, Euboean and Attic vases, a lintel of the Byzantine period, the statue of the Mother of God holding Christ-child, a work of west art from Agia Paraskevi, and Ottoman tobacco pipes. Multimedia applications link the cultural identities of the past with those of the present. The textile that covered the burnt bones of the man in the Heroon at Lefkandi is of great interest. It was transported from the National Archaeological Museum and is exhibited for the first time in Euboea 40 years after it was found. Cult The exhibits presented relate to the cult in Euboea from the prehistoric time until the prevalence of Christianity. Figurines and ritual vases are presented from prehistoric Euboean sites. The exhibits featured aspects of historical period related to deities of the Greek pantheon whose cult was widespread in Euboea. Moreover, there are on display finds from Aulis, the Mycenaean cemetery at Mikro Vathy and the sanctuary of Artemis Aulideia. There follows the introduction of eastern deities into Euboea, such as Isis, Cebele and Serapis, as well as the phenomenon of deification of mortals and heroes. This section concludes with the prevalence of Christianity. Colonisation ? Alphabet The Second Colonisation (8th-6th century BC) is an organized expedition of a metropolis to North Aegean, South Italy, Sicily and the Black Sea. The Euboeans travel across the Mediterranean and pioneer in the founding of colonies in North Greece, South Italy and Sicily. Euboean pottery items circulate throughout the Mediterranean, as the characteristic skyphos with pendant semicircles in the exhibition. One of the most important achievements of the ancient Greek civilization is the alphabetic script that was introduced at the end of the 9th or the first half of the 8th century BC, a result of trade contacts with the Phoenicians. Euboea is considered to be the birth place of the Greek alphabet. Commercial contacts with the West and the founding of colonies lead to the spread of the alphabet. The Euboean alphabet is adopted by the Etruscans and then by the Romans, from whom derives the Latin alphabet that is used up to date. Here, we see on display a loom weight and parts of vases with engraved inscriptions (graffiti) in the Euboean alphabet. History of the building-monument-museum Distinct position in the exhibition holds the museum building itself, a monument of industrial heritage, erected in the area of Agios Stephanos which is linked with industrial activity. The old distillery and factory for the manufacture of liquors with the brand name ?Arethousa? operated in the early 20th century, and today houses the new Archaeological Museum of Chalkis. Iconographic material and archive sources «enliven» the period of industrialization of Chalkis, but also the development of the building through time. The distillery firm linked its name with the myth of the nymph Arethousa and the homonymous nearby spring. According to the Chalkidian version of the myth, the beautiful Arethousa made love on the shores of Euripus with Poseidon and was transformed by Hera into a spring. Ancient writers inform us about this spring. The local myth seems to have been created during the Archaic times if not earlier, to justify the naming of the city?s best known spring after the nymph.