New museum for Pella archaeological

New museum for Pella archaeological site

The archaeological site in Pella has finally acquired a new museum covering an area of 6,000 square metres, which opened its doors to the public for the first time last week. Situated in the northeast corner of the site, near the contemporary town of Pella, the museum represents the culmination of efforts by archaeologists and local residents stretching back 40 years.

On display are archaeological artifacts found on the site, split up into five separate modules with different themes but not physically separated in closed galleries but visually connected with one another, with the exception of that devoted to grave artifacts found in cemeteries.

These start with exhibits illustrating daily life, such as floor mosaics or a reconstructed mural from a room used for symposiums in a local home. The exhibition then shifts to artifacts illustrating the economic and other public activity of the time, such as a reconstructed pottery workshop, before moving on to religion and finally, after following a steady upward route, the displays devoted to the royal palace and Alexander the Great.

The route ends on an upper balcony that gives visitors a panoramic view of the entire exhibition and may serve to house temporary exhibitions in the future.

In addition to the main galleries covering an expanse of 2,500 square metres, the new museum also possesses rooms for screening video and other uses, a gift shop, cafeteria, offices, laboratories and store rooms.

The new museum was built with funds from the 3rd Community Support Framework and had a total budget of 14 million euros, which included the installation of shelters covering the archaeological site, visitors' paths and unification of the site through the construction of an road going around the site for use by vehicles.