Paros Archaeological Museum

In the capital town of Parikia, a short walk from the ferry port, a modest museum holds most of what survives from the ancient island of Paros, which in antiquity was a wealthy centre of marble, trade and poetry. The Archaeological Museum of Paros opened in 1960 and brings together finds from Paros itself and from the neighbouring islands of Antiparos and Despotiko, ranging from the Neolithic period to Roman times. It is small enough to see in under an hour, but it holds some pieces of real importance.

The oldest star is the so-called Fat Lady of Saliagos, a stylised marble figure from a Neolithic settlement on a tiny islet between Paros and Antiparos, dated to about 5000 BC. It is among the earliest known figures of its kind in the Cyclades, and the museum's display of Cycladic figurines shows how the later, more abstract style developed. Marble from the island was used for figures like this, and pottery and tools from the same period show how people lived on the islands long before the age of Greek cities.

From the Archaic and Classical periods come some fine sculpture in the local marble, including a statue of Nike, the winged goddess of victory, found on the island, and a large pediment showing a Gorgon, a reminder of the scale of the temples that once stood here. Paros was the home of the poet Archilochos, a seventh-century soldier-poet known for his sharp, personal verse, and the museum holds a marble relief associated with his cult, along with part of the Parian Chronicle, an inscription that listed events in Greek history year by year. Hellenistic and Roman rooms contain sarcophagi, inscriptions and a mosaic floor.

The museum consists of two exhibition rooms and an atrium with architectural fragments, which makes it easy to follow. Labels are in Greek and English. A visit works well early or late in the day, as an alternative to the beach, and it fits naturally with a walk through Parikia to see the Church of the Hundred Doors and the Venetian castle walls built with ancient marble.

Visitors will find that opening days and hours are set by the Ministry of Culture and are usually closed on Tuesdays, so it is worth checking the current schedule locally. Ticket prices are modest, and some days are free.