Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology in Athens

Greece › Athens › Museums › Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology
Updated: August 22, 2022
By Santorini Dave

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Wooden machines on display in a museum space.

The family-friendly Museum of Ancient Greek Technology in Athens offers loads of fun interactive models and exhibits for all ages.

Tickets: GetYourGuide.com (Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.)

Located in the trendy Kolonaki neighborhood of central Athens, the Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology is housed in a beautiful three story Art Nouveau building that was originally the home of King Alexander of Greece (1893-1920) and his wife, Princess Aspasia of Greece and Denmark (1896-1972). The non-profit museum opened its doors to the public in 2018 by Kostas Kotsanas, who has dedicated his professional life to the study of Ancient Greek culture, specifically ancient Greek technology. Originally from Seliana, a village in the Peloponnese region, he studied mechanical engineering before opening three museums; the other two are located in Katakolo (Peloponnese), Ancient Olympia, and Crete.

The permanent collection on display at the museum comprises reconstructed Greek inventions from the period of 2000 B.C. up to the end of the Ancient Greek world (323 B.C.), and includes operational and interactive technological models of hydraulic technology, measuring instruments, steam engines, a copy of the Antikythera mechanism (believed to be the world’s first computer), and medical and military technology. Over 100 working interactive models are on display, all created by Kotsanas himself. The collection is displayed over three floors, accessible by stairs and elevator.

There is an additional museum-within-a-museum, accessible from the main museum’s foyer, dedicated to Ancient Greek musical instruments and toys. This exhibit’s collection includes reconstructions of items such as Ktesibios’s organ, considered to be the first keyboard instrument in the world, Pythagora’s syntonon, Herme’s lyre, Homer’s phorminx and Apollo’s guitar, to name a few. A third museum space is devoted to Ancient Greek weapons and armor.

Guided tours of the museum are given by staff at no extra cost and available in English and Greek; discuss this option when purchasing your ticket at the museum. The museum maintains an excellent online shop with items for sale that include replicas of ancient inventions and books. Located in central Athens, about 400 meters from Syntagma Square and metro station.

Museum of Ancient Greek Technology Hours and Information

  • Hours: 10am – 6pm daily June to October, 9am – 5pm daily November to May.
  • Website: kotsanasmuseum.com
  • Location: Pindarou 6
  • Telephone: +30 21 1411 0044
  • Admission Fee: General Admission 5€ per exhibition, or 10€ for all 3 exhibits. Children under 5 are fee.
  • Parking: Street parking, nearby pay lots.
  • Nearest Metro: Syntagma

Museum of Ancient Greek Technology

Exterior of a yellow Art Nouveau building with iron balconies

The Museum of Ancient Greek Technology is located in central Athens, not far from Syntagma Square.

Marble doorway with a scientific model on a pedestal.

It’s actually three museums in one, with separate spaces for exhibits dedicated to ancient technological advances, musical instruments and toys, and weapons and armor. Visitors are welcome to experience only one exhibit, or all three.

Museum gallery dedicated to technological advancements

Interactive exhibits include over 100 models of ancient technology from the period of 2000 B.C. to 323 B.C.

A man reads a sign on a museum wall.

Plenty of signs describe the models in Greek and English, and guided museum tours are available.

Display of ancient technology in a museum gallery

Model of a wooden pulley machine

Wooden and brass technological models on display

Glass vials and beakers filled with different colors of liquid

Wooden machine on display in a museum

Museum entryway with entrance desk and large copper urn-like instrument

Small wooden model of a ship

Small wooden model of a ship's prow

Suit of armor displayed in a museum

Ancient Greek armor and weapons.

Brass suits of armor displayed together at a museum

Brass breastplates lined up alongside one suit of armor

Museum display of ancient instruments

Exhibit of Ancient Greek musical instruments and toys.

Replicas of ancient lyres on display.

Ancient harp displayed in a museum

Percussive instruments in a museum display case

Model of a brass hydraulic organ

Ancient Greek stringed instruments hanging on a wall

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About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave Author Bio. Santorini Dave was started in 2011 by a guy who loved Greece, travel, and great hotels. We're now a small team of writers and researchers on a mission to deliver the most helpful travel content on the internet. We specialize in Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece and recommend the best hotels, best neighborhoods, and best family hotels in top destinations around the world. We also make hotel maps and travel videos. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.