Description:

The former museum, which was built within the archeological site in 1961 with funds from the Ministry of Education, hosted the excavation findings for more than three decades (1972-2008). Between 1999-2001, with financing from the Second Community Support Framework and the Directorate of Execution of Museum and Cultural Buildings’ Works of the Ministry of Culture as implementation body, the modern museum was erected. It was delivered in 2006, after the completion of the enhancement works of the surrounding space, to the then newly founded 33rd Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classic Antiquities (www.lgepka.gr), so that the latter could proceed with the antiquities exhibition. The new museum opened its gates to the public in 2009.

The new building complex, with a total area of 2,150 sq.m, consists of two main exhibition rooms of 200 sq.m each, a multi-use room, administration offices, conservation laboratories, storing rooms, visitor service rooms (ticket desk, museum shop, café) and guests’ rooms.

The exhibit rooms

The exhibits reflect all the dimensions of the human presence and activity during the long-lasting existence of the city in both Roman and Early Christian times. Special emphasis lies on the important position of the city between two empires and two capitals and its evolution through time, as it becomes evident from the civic and private life.

The first room is dedicated to the founding and evolution of the city over time (founding, infrastructure, civic life, cults), and its gradual transition into the Early Christian city with its powerful fortification, the impressive basilicas and the intense Christian life. In the second room, on the other hand, emphasis is laid on the daily life of the inhabitants, as this is traced through their occupations and activities (trade, shipping, workshops), and their habits and perceptions of death. In order to provide the highest possible degree of comprehensive information to the visitor, apart from the aforementioned rooms, corridors as well as the outer, open-air and semi-sheltered spaces of the museum will be used to exhibit the decline, the depopulation and the final abandonment of the city, but also the re-discovery and re-organization of this place into a visitable archaeological site.

After completion of the antiquities exhibition, the 33rd Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classic Antiquities aims at connecting the Museum to both the routes’ network of the archeological site of Nicopolis and the daily cultural life of the city and the modern cultural activities, thus setting off its actual educational role, by also implementing suitable educational programs.

Many of the old museum’s exhibits have got the place they actually deserve.

Marble statue of a funerary lion. Third century BC.

Marble statue of Athena from the Odeon’s area. Roman replica of the second century AD.

Marble sarcophagus (second-third century AD).

Marble portrait of Octavian Augustus.(first century BC-first century AD)