Archaeological Museum of Iraklio

The outstanding Archaeological Museum of Iraklio is second in size and importance only to the National Archaeological Museum in Athens because of its unique and extensive Minoan collection. The museum recently underwent a major restoration.

The collection covers Cretan civilization from Neolithic times until the Roman empire and includes pottery, jewellery, figurines and sarcophagi, as well as some famous frescoes, mostly from Knossos and Agia Triada. All testify to the remarkable imagination and advanced skills of the Minoans. Among the highlights are the famous Minoan frescoes from Knossos, including the Procession fresco, the Griffin Fresco (from the Throne Room), the Dolphin Fresco (from the Queen's Room) and the amazing Bull-Leaping Fresco, which depicts a seemingly double-jointed acrobat somersaulting on the back of a charging bull.

Other frescoes include the lovely, recently restored Prince of the Lilies, as well as two frescoes from the new Palace period - the priestess archaeologists have dubbed La Parisienne and the Saffron Gatherer.

Also on display from the palace at Knossos are Linear A and B tablets (the latter have been translated as household or business accounts), an ivory statue of a bull leaper and some exquisite gold seals.

From the Middle Minoan period, the most striking piece is the 20cm black stone Bull's Head, a libation vessel, with a fine head of curls, gold horns and lifelike painted crystal eyes. Other fascinating exhibits from this period include the tiny, glazed colour reliefs of Minoan houses from Knossos, called the town mosaic.

Finds from a shrine at Knossos include figurines of a bare-breasted snake goddess.

Among the treasures of Minoan jewellery is the beautiful, fine gold bee pendant found at Malia depicting two bees dropping honey into a comb.

The prized find from Phaestos is the fascinating Phaestos Disk, a 16cm circular clay tablet inscribed with pictographic symbols that have never been deciphered.

Examples of the famous elaborate Kamares pottery, named after the sacred cave of Kamares where the vases were first discovered, include a superbly decorated vase from Phaestos with white sculpted flowers.

Finds from the palace at Zakros include the gorgeous crystal rhyton vase that was found in over 300 pieces and painstakingly put back together again, as well as vessels decorated with floral and marine designs.

The spectacular Minoan sarcophagus from Agia Triada, a stone coffin painted with floral and abstract designs and ritual scenes, is regarded as one of the supreme examples of Minoan art.

Other significant pieces from Agia Triada include three celebrated vases. The Harvester Vase, of which only the top part remains, depicts a light-hearted scene of young farm workers returning from olive picking. The Boxer Vase shows Minoans indulging in two of their favourite pastimes - wrestling and bull-grappling. The Chieftain Cup depicts a more cryptic scene: a chief holding a staff and three men carrying animal skins.

Finds from Minoan cemeteries include two small clay models of groups of figures that were found in a tholos tomb. One depicts four male dancers in a circle, their arms around each other's shoulders. The dancers may have been participating in a funeral ritual. The other shows two groups of three figures in a room flanked by two columns, with two large seated figures being offered libations by a smaller figure. It is not known whether the large figures represent gods or departed mortals.

Another highlight providing an insight into Minoan life is the elaborate gaming board decorated with ivory, crystal, glass, gold and silver, from the New Palace period at Knossos.