Children and adults alike are bound to be impressed by both collections, as the fully functional instruments and models offer precious insights into everyday life in Antiquity, as well as a fascinating journey through scientific and technological achievements consolidated and applied only centuries later.
The collection housed in the Technology Museum is divided in quite a few interesting categories, including: various clocks; automata (theoretical precursors of modern robots); unbelievable inventions by famous scientists (the likes of Archimedes and Pythagoras); machines which were actually used in medicine, farming, construction, theatre, and sports; scientific instruments; the evolution of boats, and communication and encryption technology.
The Latsis Building, which houses the exhibits of the Museum of Instruments, is architecturally beautiful in its own right – a fine example of what nostalgic Greek expatriates may offer to their birthplace. All the instruments, complete with detailed information, have been carefully crafted according to images on vases and descriptions in ancient sources. Visitors are actually able to see the ancient hydraulic keyboard (a precursor of the organ), and listen to the most ancient complete musical composition, an epitaph composed by Seikilos around 150 BC.
