The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, one of the largest and most visited museums in Greece, houses and displays in its fully renovated exhibition the outstanding material remains of the ancient civilizations that developed in Crete over seven millennia, from the Neolithic era to the late Roman period. This detailed archaeological-historical guide with its wealth of illustrations is based on the findings of modern scholarly research. Like a second Ariadne’s thread, it escorts the Museum visitor and the reader among the exhibits, guiding them through the beguiling labyrinth of Cretan archaeology. It traces the evolution from the Neolithic communities to the Minoan civilization – Europe’s first advanced culture, whose most famous creations are on display in the Museum. The complex structures, cultural reach and mythic echoes of this civilization are brought to life. The important collections of historical times are also described in this guide, as they represent the creative side of Crete as part of the Greek and then the Roman worlds. Also included in this presentation are short illustrated overviews of the main archaeological sites which have yielded particularly valuable exhibits.

Archaeologist Giorgos Rethemiotakis is an Honorary Director of the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. He holds a PhD in Archaeology from the University of Crete with a thesis on «Anthropomorphic Clay Figurines in Crete, from the Neopalatial to the Sub-Minoan Periods». As Director of the Heraklion Museum (2010-2014) he organised the radical re-exhibition of all of its Collections. He has served as a member of the Local Council of Monuments of Crete and as vice-president of the Association of Greek Archaeologists.