The Antikythera Shipwreck revisited: New findings and insights from a legendary maritime treasure

For the first time, more than 80 objects from the Antikythera Shipwreck are exhibited at the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation in Athens, in the most complete temporary exhibition to date, presenting the results of the latest research, from 2012 until today, and providing fascinating information about the ship, its equipment, cargo and occupants.

The shipwreck of Antikythera, with its famous Mechanism and rich cargo, was discovered almost 124 years ago. The Antikythera Mechanism, widely believed to be the world’s first computer, was among wreckage retrieved from a shipwreck off the coast of the Greek island Antikythera on May 17, 1901. A year later, it was identified by Greek archaeologist Valerios Stais as containing a gear. Since then, the Mechanism has had a lasting impact on scientists and thinkers across the world.

For the first time ever, over 80 artifacts from the Antikythera Shipwreck are on display at the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation in the most comprehensive temporary exhibition to date. This exhibition showcases the results of modern research conducted from 2012 up to the most recent discoveries of 2024. Visitors will gain insight into the ship, its equipment, cargo, and the people who were on board.

*A bronze hand from the shipwerk of Antikythera. Credit: Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation*

Among the exhibited artifacts are bronze rings used for sail management, lead rings that released the ship’s five anchors, and remnants of the vessel’s wooden hull. These objects provide crucial new information about the ship’s rigging, presented for the first time after 12 years of excavation. The exhibition also features spears, amphorae, metal and glass objects, jewelry, and an extensive collection of ceramics, revealing details about the ship’s cargo and its journey, which included stops at major ports of the era such as Kos and Rhodes.

A particular highlight of the exhibition is the collection of large fragments from marble and bronze statues. One standout piece is a marble head of Hercules adorned with a vine wreath, believed to be part of a headless Hercules statue of the Farnese type, currently housed in the National Archaeological Museum. This statue was recovered in 1901 by Symian sponge divers.

*Left to right clockwise: The marble head of Hercules, amphorae fragments, a human skull *from the shipwerk of Antikythera*. Credit: Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation*

Additionally, human bone fragments are displayed, shedding light on the people who were aboard the ship. Other objects, including pipe fragments, pillars, and olive pits, provide glimpses into life during the voyage.

Titled “The Antikythera Shipwreck: 124 Years of Underwater Archaeological Research,” the exhibition is arranged in sections on the ground floor of the Historical Library at the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation. The first room displays parts of the ship and its rigging, while the lobby of the main hall focuses on the shipwreck’s occupants and daily life on board. The main exhibition hall showcases artifacts from the ship’s cargo.

The exhibition is organized with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities and is curated by esteemed archaeologist Angeliki G. Simosi.

A fully illustrated color catalogue accompanies the exhibition, and guided tours will be available throughout its duration. In addition, to engage young visitors, the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation has developed an educational workshop, “A Dive into History,” inspired by the completion of the subsidized program “From the Aegean to the Ionian: A Sea of Knowledge.“

As part of the exhibition, the Foundation has also collaborated with the Karpos team to create an interactive educational workshop titled “A Dive into Maritime Archaeology: An Interactive Story Game in the Greek Seas,” designed for children aged 10–14. Participants will tour the exhibition and engage in group activities using digital and audiovisual tools to explore the concepts and methods of maritime archaeology. Through hands-on exercises in observation and photography, they will discover fascinating shipwrecks and learn how archaeologists uncover long-lost treasures.

The Antikythera Shipwreck, with its legendary Mechanism and its wealth of artifacts, became a submerged “monument” to cultural heritage 124 years ago. Its discovery marked the beginning of underwater archaeology in Greece. As research continues, new findings promise to captivate and inspire us.