Antikythera: Sailing into history, sinking into myth

Beneath turquoise waters near the small island of Antikythera, a tale of ancient tragedy continues to unfold. Discovered by sponge divers in 1900, the 1st-century BCE shipwreck remains one of antiquity’s most intriguing mysteries.

Recently showcased at the Laskaridis Historical Library in Piraeus, new artifacts spark vivid scenes of the past: sailors nibbling on olives, playing board games, and strumming melodies aboard a weatherworn vessel, unaware of the impending storm that would dash them against unforgiving rocks.

Among the wreck’s treasures are sculptures, amphorae, and remnants of the legendary Antikythera Mechanism – a marvel of ancient engineering. The exhibition also reveals human remains, ship timbers, and personal items like jewelry, offering poignant glimpses of lives cut short. Decades of exploration, from Jacques Cousteau’s dives to modern collaborations with Swiss archaeologists, reveal the ship’s story bit by bit.

The exhibition, a testament to humanity’s enduring quest for knowledge, offers an evocative window into ancient seafaring life and innovation. “The Antikythera Shipwreck: 124 Years of Underwater Archaeological Research” runs until mid-January 2025.

Source: Ephorate of Underwater Antoquities