Among the most important exhibits of the museum are:
 The
sculptured ornaments from the Temple of Zeus.
There were 42 figures decorating the 2 pediments of the temple, 12 metopes and
the lion-headed water spouts running along the lengths of the temple. It is one
of the best surviving ensembles from ancient Greek works of art. They belong to
the "austere style" and date to the 1st half of the 5th century B.C.
The eastern pediment depicts the chariot race
between Pelops and Oinomaos, and the central figure which dominates the work is
of Zeus. The western pediment depicts the abduction of the Lapith women by
Centaurs, and has Apollo as its central figure. The metopes bear the relief
representation of Hercules' labours. These sculptures were made during the 5th
century B.C.
 Hermes
of Praxiteles
One of the masterpieces of ancient Greek art. Hermes, as Pausanias informs us,
is depicted carrying the infant Dionysos. Made from Parian marble it stands
2,10m in height. It is thought to be an original of the great sculptor and it is
dated to ca. 330 B.C.
 Nike
of Paionios
The statue depicts a winged woman. An inscription on the base states that the
statue was dedicated by the Messenians and the Naupactians for their victory
against the Lacedaemonians (Spartans), in the Archidamian (Peloponnesian) war
prabably in 421 B.C. It is the work of the sculptor Paionios of Mende in
Chalkidiki, who also made the acroteria of the Temple of Zeus. Nike, cut from
Parian marble, has a height of 2,115m, but with the tips of her (now broken)
wings would have reached 3m. In its completed form, the monument with its
triangular base (8,81m high) would have stood at the height of 10,92m. giving
the impression of Nike triumphantly descending from Olympos. It dates from 421
B.C.
 Zeus
and Ganymedes
A terracotta statuette depicting Zeus carrying off young Ganymedes. Probably an
acroterion of a temple, dated to 480-470 B.C.
 Bronze
breast-plate with incised decoration.
On its lower part there is an engraved scene of Zeus and Apollo with his
'kithara', while other figures are also represented.
Probably the work of an island bronze-smith
around the dates of 650-625 B.C. Museum number M394.
 The
Helmet of Miltiades
Dedication by Miltiades, as the inscription informs us "Miltiades dedicates to
Zeus". It is the same helmet worn by the Athenian general in the battle of
Marathon, where he defeated the Persians, and thus offered it to Zeus as a sign
of gratitude.
 Bronze
battering-ram
The only surviving besieging instrument of its kind from Antiquity. On all sides
of the battering-ram there are symbolic depictions of rams heads, from where
indeed it got its name. 5th century B.C. Museum number B2360.
 Bronze
horse
It is dated in the transition between the Geometric to the Archaic period. It is
unique for its monumentality on comparison with the small scale of other
artefacts from the Geometric period. Museum number B1741.
 Little
bronze horse
Formerly harnessed to a quadriga (a chariot pulled by 4 horses). A beautiful
little piece, probably the work of an Argive sculptor showing the grace of the
animal. Ca. 470 B.C. Museum number 1000.
At the museum there is a shop selling books, postcards and slides supplied by
the Archaeological Receipts Fund.
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