From September 3, 2012 until the beginning of 2013 passengers and airport visitors of AIA will have the opportunity of a first ‘encounter’ with the exhibition of the National Archaeological Museum dedicated to the Antikythera Shipwreck.

This cultural initiative aims to present on the premises of Athens International Airport (AIA) photographs and informational material from the National Archaeological Museum’s magnificent temporary exhibition. It is part of the airport’s Art & Culture programme on which the airport company places special emphasis.

The National Archaeological Museum exhibition "The Antikythera Shipwreck – The Ship, the Treasures, the Mechanism" showcases for the first time almost all the finds recovered from the famous shipwreck.

The wreck was first detected by sponge divers from the island of Symi. Its recovery was the first successful large scale archaeological underwater enterprise worldwide. Its first phase (1900-1901) was undertaken by divers from Symi, assisted by the Greek Royal Navy under the guidance of Captain Dimitris Kontos. A second attempt was undertaken in 1976 by the Greek Archaeological Service, supported by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his oceanographic vessel Calypso. The finds date from the 4th to the 1st century BC. Bronze and marble sculptures, luxurious glass vessels, golden jewellery as well as a large amount of pottery and bronze couches formed part of the ship’s cargo. Amongst these, the famous Antikythera Mechanism, the earliest preserved portable astronomical and calendar calculator.