Archeological Exhibit at Athens International Airport

Athens is famous for its amazing ruins and rich history, but less famous is this exhibition hall on the landside second floor of Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport. The exhibit plays host to around 172 artifacts unearthed during the airport’s construction.

According to archaeological evidence, Athens has been inhabited for over 11 millennia. During the Neolithic period, the area now home to the airport once belonged to a vast agricultural region. It’s no surprise that scores of ancient artifacts were unearthed during the construction of the airport.

The airport’s neat little museum has a fairly vast collection that spans several historical periods beginning in the Neolithic and Early Helladi, and concluding around the Post-Byzantine period. Visitors can view terra-cotta amphorae, pots, plates, spindle whorls, beads, tiles, Byzantine follis, and a hoard of 13th-century billon denier tournois just to name a few artifacts. 

In addition to those amazing artifacts, there is also a huge pithos (storage jar) from the Late Roman period that can be seen right outside the exhibition hall. The jar was excavated from the eastern part of the airport.

This quaint museum is a must for archaeology buffs. If you don’t have enough time to visit some of the museums around Athens, or are simply stuck in the airport for a short layover, this exhibition is a good place to explore the history of Athens.