The
Archaeological Museum
of Astros is housed in a 19th century building, which was formerly used as a school (Karytsiotis school). After
the necessary alterations and restoration works, the building, that follows the local traditional architecture,
opened as a museum in 1985.
The Museum collections include sculptures, pottery, bronze artefacts, inscriptions, coins and a
number of various finds derived from the ancient sites of Kynouria, such as Thyrea and Anthene, the
hellenistic-roman cemetery at Ellinika and from one of the major sanctuaries of ancient Kynouria, the sanctuary
of Apollo Tyrita dated from the 8th to the 4th centuries BC.
Free-standing sculptures
and architectural parts, such as capitals, are also on display in the museum courtyard.
Among the most remarkable exhibits of the museum are the sculptures from the
roman villa of Herod Atticus (103-179 AD) in ancient Eva.
Herod was a great benefactor of art and a collector himself, as it is indicated by the sculptural works that decorated his
villa, which
resembled a museum. He owned both original works of the classical and hellenistic times and roman copies as well. In the Museum
of Astros are exhibited:
- Attic gravestone, depicting a seated woman and her standing daughter. 4th century BC with later interventions.
- Headless statue of Nereid. 5th century BC. It is considered as a work of the sculptor Xanthos.
- Votive relief with representation of Hermes and the Nymphs. Archaistic work of the time of August which copies an original of early
Classical date.
- Portrait of Herod Atticus. 2nd century AD.
- Portraits of Hadrian and emperors of the Antonini dynasty. 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.
