Herakleidon Museum

The Herakleidon Museum is a small museum on Iraklidon Street in Thissio, Athens, focused on the science and technology of ancient Greece. Its EUREKA exhibition uses models, videos and interactive displays to explain inventions such as timekeeping devices and construction cranes. Look for the demonstration of an ancient wine-pouring mechanism, and ask the guides on each floor about the instruments. The restored neoclassical setting and inner courtyard make this a compact indoor stop between visits to nearby archaeological sites.

A museum of ancient Greek technology

The Herakleidon Museum was founded in 2004 as a private initiative by Pavlos and Belinda Fyros. Since 2008, it has operated as a non-profit civil company. The museum is housed in a restored neoclassical building at 16 Iraklidon Street, in the historic Thissio district.

Since 2018, its permanent exhibition, EUREKA: Science, Art and Technology of the Ancient Greeks, has been presented in collaboration with the Association for the Study of Ancient Greek and Byzantine Technology. The museum’s work connects science, art, technology and mathematics, with educational programs that also cover subjects such as archaeology and artificial intelligence.

Models, demonstrations and explanations

The displays explore how ancient Greek technology worked, from timekeeping devices and astronomy to construction cranes and the equipment used at Athens’ port and naval yard. Drawings, models, short videos and audio explanations give context to the inventions. A demonstration of a wine-pouring mechanism in an automaton is one of the interactive highlights.

The museum is compact, so it can fit into a shorter visit or provide an indoor break while exploring Thissio. Guides are available on the floors to answer questions and demonstrate some scientific instruments. Free audio guides and volunteer-led tours can add detail to the exhibits. The museum also runs educational programs for students at different levels.