Iliou Melathron

Brief information

Iliou Melathron was built as a private residence, but even under its first owner it functioned almost like a small museum: two rooms on the ground floor were occupied by Heinrich Schliemann’s archaeological finds. So the present-day Numismatic Museum is not an accidental occupant here, but a continuation of the idea of displaying collections that was built into the house from the start.

The building appeared in 1878-1879 on University Street in the center of Athens. Ernst Ziller made it eclectic: its appearance combined Renaissance and neoclassical motifs. Later, the mansion also served as an art museum, the residence of the Supreme Court of Cassation, and premises of the Ministry of Culture. After being damaged, it was restored according to the original design, so its current appearance is connected not only with the 19th century, but also with the restoration of the 1990s.

What to notice first

The main clue for viewing it is that the house was not built as a neutral box for exhibits. You can compare the exterior eclecticism with the interior program: the Renaissance and neoclassical elements create a ceremonial appearance, while the paintings in the style of Pompeian frescoes shift attention toward antiquity and Schliemann’s personal theme.

Inside, three groups of details are especially important. The spacious hall shows that the house was designed not only for everyday living, but also for celebrations and scholarly gatherings. Scenes from the Trojan War in the paintings connect the interior with the owner’s main archaeological subject. The mosaic floors and fence elements with swastikas are important not as a later symbol, but as a borrowing from Trojan ornaments. This detail changes how the decor is read: even the floor pattern here works as a reference to excavations, not merely as decoration in a wealthy home.