Archaeological Collection of Yria

The Collection is situated at the archaeological site of Yria at Livadi, close to the Chora of Naxos. The on site Museum was established to house the finds from the sanctuary of Dionysus, a site of great archaeological and historical significance, as it is considered the cradle of the Ionic Order.
The cult activity in the area is testified from the Mycenaean times, from the 14th century BC, and continues without interruption to the end of the Roman era. It is however the Geometric and Archaic periods, that mark the importance of the sanctuary at Yria, which represents one of the earliest examples of the appearance of monumental architecture in open-air cult places, as early as in the beginning of the 8th century BC. Furthermore, the preserved temple of Dionysus we see today, dated in 575-550 BC, is the oldest stone temple of the Ionic order in the Greek region.
In the Museum, visitors can see the findings that the excavations of this important sanctuary brought to light. The exhibits mainly include architectural parts and artefacts related to the cult practices and conceptions, such as votive offerings.