The Museum of Mirtos

The instigator and founder of the museum of Mirtos was the dear departed George Dimitrianakis. Being a teacher in Mirtos, George Dimitrianakis had noticed that the fields to the east of the village, more specifically the land under cultivation, was interspersed with vases, pieces of tools, pieces of statuettes and various small articles. Seeing this, he had the idea to gather what he could and decided to collect them in the school building, to protect them from damage, decay or theft. At the same time he informed the Curator of Antiquities. He believed that some day an official would take up the study of these finds and of the whole area. Indeed, in 1962, there came to Mirtos the Principal of the English Archeological School of Athens Sinclair Hood with two of his students, Peter Warren and Gerald Gadagan. Among other places they visited the Primary School of Mirtos. Their attention was attracted by the archeological finds which had been collected by the teacher, on which the characteristics of Minoan art were obvious. The archeologists observed the finds, took pictures of them and then asked to visit the places where these finds had been made. They were taken to “Fournou Korifi” and to “Pyrgos”. They explored the area, collecting and taking with them pieces of vases and whatever was visible on the topsoil. In 1967 due to their great efforts, excavations started and Minoan settlements were brought to light. In spite of the teacher’s tremendous efforts, very few of the valuable finds discovered, remained in Mirtos. Over the years George Dimitrianakis also gained possession of numerous objects of both historical and folkore interest. Thus the Museum of Mirtos slowly came into existence, housed in a classroom of the Primary School where it remained for 40 years. This museum contributed considerably to the reputation of Mirtos. After George Dimitrianakis’s death the museum was endowed by his heirs to the then Village Council of Mirtos which is now part of the Town Council of the Municipality of Ierapetra. Today the Museum is housed in this new building, which was given by the Parish of Ierapetra and Sitia (Hiera Mitropolis of Ierapitna and Sitia ). The construction of the museum, its layout and the provision of its equipment were possible as a result of funding from the Municipality of Ierapetra. The Museum started working in July 2001.