Greece’s National Archaeological Museum Joins the Digital Age

Athens is a city with thousands of years of history blending seamlessly with the modern world, and thanks to its latest digital advancements, National Archaeological Museum of Athens takes things a step further with the introduction of new digital technologies designed to enhance the visitor experience.

© Eugenia Lazaris

The museum has a reputation as one of the most significant museums in Greece, holding the largest collection of artifacts from around the country, including items like the gold Mask of Agamemnon and the Antikythera Mechanism, a device considered the world’s oldest analogue computer.

The museum has been hard at work to maintain its tradition of preserving Greece’s heritage while working to embrace the future and needs of an ever-changing world. Work is underway to introduce a new website, which will work alongside the museum’s existing website, allowing visitors to plan visits by booking specially curated virtual tours to allow them to experience the parts of the museum they are most interested in. The museum is developing a total of 32 different tours and will offer nine of those options at any given time. Using this service, visitors can also create a personalized virtual folder to keep the memories of favorite exhibits to view later at leisure.

© Eugenia Lazaris

Digital information stations, sponsored by Greek national airline Aegean Airlines, will provide audio devices, offering access to self-led tours in six different languages along with sign language and options for those with hearing loss. Soon to come is an app for mobile devices to  work with digital stations placed at the most significant exhibits throughout the museum. This virtual service will send videos directly to visitors’ mobile devices when they are near exhibits to give them in-depth information about what they are viewing.

The museum was built in the 19^th century and is in the process of designing and building the necessary upgrades to keep up with modern demands. Ultimately, the museum will reflect the city it calls home, perfectly blending old with new and creating a space where Athenians and visitors alike can interact with the city’s past.