Nestled in the heart of Mykonos, in the historic area of Tria Pigadia, the Aegean Maritime Museum, is a cultural institution dedicated to safeguarding and celebrating Greece's profound connection to the sea.  Established in 1983 and opening its doors to the public in 1985, the Aegean Maritime Museum is a private non-profit institution focused on the preservation, study, and promotion of Greek naval history and tradition, particularly that of the Aegean's merchant fleet.

The museum's historical significance is multifaceted, beginning with its visionary founder, Georgios Drakopoulos, a native of Mykonos. His pioneering efforts in establishing the museum were recognized with an award from the Academy of Athens in December 1987. The physical home of the museum itself also carries a rich history. It is housed in a traditional 19th-century Cycladic building that once belonged to the legendary Captain Nikolaos Sourmelis. Captain Sourmelis played a crucial role in aiding the Cretans during their struggle against the Ottomans, using his merchant ship, the "ENOSIS," to provide significant assistance. This historical residence imbues the museum with an authentic connection to the maritime past it strives to preserve.

A Treasure Trove of Naval History

The museum boasts one of the most significant collections of naval history in Greece. Its extensive exhibits span a vast timeline, from the pre-Minoan era to the early 20th century. Visitors can explore a diverse array of artifacts, including: ship models, historical maritime documents, rare engravings and maps, ancient artifacts, nautical instruments, fittings, and tools, coins with naval themes, dating from the 5th century BC to the 5th century AD.

Further enriching its offerings is a continuously expanding naval library, which houses approximately 5,000 rare editions, manuscripts, and photographic archives. The museum's outdoor space also features marble replicas of tombstones from Delos and Mykonos, depicting scenes of shipwrecks and sailors lost at sea, adding a poignant dimension to the exhibits.

Preservation of living historical exhibits

The Aegean Maritime Museum holds the distinction of being the first museum in Greece to undertake and complete the rescue and preservation of living historical exhibits. These remarkable artifacts include:

• The "Armenistis" Lighthouse of Mykonos (built in 1890)

Perched on the northwestern tip of Mykonos, the Armenistis Lighthouse was one of the largest and most iconic lighthouses of the Aegean. It was first lit on September 19, 1891, built in response to a maritime tragedy that shocked both Greece and the international community.

In 1887, the British steamship Volta ran aground on the northern coast of Mykonos. The accident claimed the lives of 11 out of 22 crew members, sparking international outcry. In the aftermath, the then–Prime Minister of Greece, Charilaos Trikoupis, ordered the construction of a lighthouse at Cape Armenistis to ensure that such disasters would not be repeated.

The original lighting mechanism, built by Sautter Lemonier and awarded at the Paris International Exhibition, operated with kerosene. The system vaporized the fuel and, through a specially designed optical assembly, produced a powerful light visible up to 30 nautical miles away. The beam stood 184 meters above sea level and 12 meters above the base of the building, providing sailors with a much-needed beacon of safety in the once treacherous waters of the central Aegean.

For nearly a century—from 1890 until 1983—the Armenistis Lighthouse shone continuously, guiding countless ships safely through the region.

In 1983, the lighthouse was modernized and automated, replacing the old optical system with more efficient technology that no longer required the presence of a lighthouse keeper.

Fortunately, the story of the original mechanism did not end there. In 1987, the Aegean Maritime Museum requested its preservation. After extensive restoration work, the historic device—complete with its lenses, pulleys, lamps, and fittings—was relocated to the museum’s lush garden, where it is proudly displayed and in working order once again.

•  The Aegean type sailing ship "Evangelistria," built in 1940

The “Evangelistria” is one of the last authentic Aegean sailing vessels of the traditional perama type. It was built in Syros in 1940 by the renowned shipwright Mavrikos and his sons, commissioned by the Mykonian captain Antonis K. Bonis.

With a capacity of around 90 tons, an overall length of 20 meters, and a beam of 6.38 meters, the vessel was a remarkable feat of craftsmanship. It carried two masts with sails totaling 220 square meters. In its prime, the Evangelistria was not only a reliable merchant ship but also a magnificent presence on the Aegean Sea, turning heads wherever it appeared.

For decades, it served as a vital link between the islands of the Aegean, transporting essential goods and supplies. During World War II, despite the dangers of wartime, the Evangelistria continued to sail, delivering food and provisions to the islands and even reaching as far as Thessaloniki.

A symbol of maritime tradition and resilience, the Evangelistria remains a testament to the artistry of Aegean shipbuilding and the seafaring spirit of Greece.

•  The cable steamship "Thales of Miletus," built in 1909

The vessel that would later be known as “Thales of Miletus” was originally built in 1909 at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. in Virginia, USA, under the name Joseph Henry, commissioned by the U.S. Government. In 1947, the ship was transferred from the United States to Greece, handed over to the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE), and renamed Thales of Miletus.

As the first Greek cable-laying ship, the Thales of Miletus played a vital role in modernizing communications across the Aegean and Ionian Seas. It was tasked with laying and maintaining submarine telephone cables between the Greek islands—a mission it carried out tirelessly until its retirement in 1983. During its long service, the ship laid 140 new cables and performed repairs on more than 630 existing lines, ensuring the steady flow of communication in an era when reliable telephony was still in its infancy for many island communities.

The Thales of Miletus holds a special place in maritime history as the oldest surviving cable ship in the world. Remarkably, it still preserves its original engine room, complete with two authentic steam propulsion engines. It also remains the oldest vessel registered in the Greek Shipping Registry with exceptionally high technical specifications for its time.

Today, the ship stands not only as a monument to Greek maritime and telecommunications history but also as a floating museum. Beyond its historic steam-powered cable-laying machinery, visitors can find fascinating exhibits that trace the evolution of telecommunications from the early 20th century. Onboard displays include optical telegraphs, radar equipment, and other instruments that mark milestones in the field.

Both the "Evangelistria" and "Thales of Miletus" are meticulously maintained and can be visited as floating museums.

Modernization and a Dynamic Future

Recognizing that cultural heritage is not a static imprint of the past but a dynamic axis of identity and development, the museum recently underwent a comprehensive modernization. This project, spearhead by the Museum itself and supported by a programmatic agreement between the Ministry of Culture, the Municipality of Mykonos, , included:

• Renovation of infrastructure while respecting its traditional 19th-century Cycladic architecture.

• Upgrading internal functionality and improving conditions for exhibiting and preserving artifacts.

• Introduction of new technologies, including the digitization of collections and the creation of a virtual tour via its new website.

• Implementation of a "phygital" approach, blending physical and digital spaces to offer an authentic and experiential visit.

This modernization effort, with significant technical, administrative, and political support from the Municipality of Mykonos, ensures that the museum can project its naval tradition to a global audience, from Mykonos to the most remote corners of the planet. It reinforces Mykonos's role as a hub of culture, history, and modern creativity leaving a legacy for future generations. Beyond its physical presence, the museum actively participates in international conferences, exhibitions, and events -such as Maritime Week, and engages in significant publishing activities related to Greek maritime history.

Through its extensive collection, unique live exhibits, and recent embrace of digital technologies, the Aegean Maritime Museum stands as a dynamic and revitalized institution, dedicated to preserving and showcasing Greece's rich maritime heritage and continually evolving to share its rich history with the world.

I.L.

All photos from Aegean Maritime Museum's Facebook page

The post The Aegean Maritime Museum: Charting Greece’s Enduring Naval Legacy appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

The decarbonization of the small islands that have not been already included in the program to interconnect the country's islands to the mainland electrical system - operated by the Independent Power Transmission Operator (ADMIE), will move forward using hybrid systems (wind and photovoltaic stations combined with batteries) along with a series of "green initiatives." The "greening" of the 40 non-interconnected islands will contribute to the goal of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) to reduce the share of liquid fuels in the electricity generation mix.

In the context of the latest revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) Directive, adopted in 2018, Greece achieved a special arrangement, securing free CO2 emission allowances for the decarbonization of the islands, which it must use until 2030. In light of this, the Ministry of Environment and Energy has launched the Island Decarbonization Fund, which will collect the funds from the auctions of these unused pollutant allowances, are estimated to range between €1.8 billion and €2 billion. In fact, with a leverage of 50%, it is estimated that around 4 billion euros will be directed to projects and actions for the decarbonization of the islands’ economy. Another fund, in the order of 450 million euros, is intended for the acceleration of interconnection of the islands that is implemented by the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO-ADMIE).

Part of the funds of the Decarbonization Fund will be used to finance electrical interconnection projects of the islands in order to speed up the implementation of the ADMIE’s planning, but also in energy saving projects., such as hybrid systems that will replace oil PPC units, prioritization of electric transport, renewal of the marine fleet with low-pollution technologies, energy efficiency and circular economy projects, sustainable waste and water management, green transformation of agriculture and tourism, etc.

GR-eco Islands, another government initiative set in motion in 2021, with the aim provide the islands with renewable energy sources and advance projects for green economy, energy autonomy and sustainable mobility, will also play a key role in the decarbonization of Greek islands. The actions of the “GR-eco Islands” initiative which will include the financing of waste management projects, water and energy production through energy communities, etc. will be financed by a 100 million euro fund secured by the NSRF 2021-2027, but in the second year the Decarbonization Fund will also participate in funding, alongside the private sector.

The initiative has already been kicked off in the islands of Tilos, Agios Efstratios, Astypalaia and Halki, and will be extended to 36 more small islands: Symi, Agathonisi, Megisti, Arkioi, Marathi, Kasos, Pserimos, Gyali, Lipsi, Telendos, Nisyros, Megalonisi, Onousses, Psara, Fourni, Thymaina, Amorgos, Anafi, Donoussa, Heraklia, Antiparos, Schinoussa, Ios, Sikinos, Koufonisi, Folegandros, Thirasia, Kythnos, Kimolos, Serifos, Sifnos, Kea, Antikythira, Gavdos, Ereikoussa and Othoni. The initiative is moving forwards, and priority is given to the small islands of the Aegean, where polluting energy production units operate and which meet the criterion of double insularity – i.e. access to them is not direct through the mainland, but only through another island.

As for the actions that can be supported with the Fund’s resources, they first of all concern the change of energy model on non-interconnected islands. The electrification of road and sea transport is also a priority; as far the islands’ ​​connection to the mainland is concerned, priority is given to the development of new and the modernization of existing port infrastructures as well as to the modernization of the boat fleet that services intra-island routes.

Resources from the Decarbonization Fund will also be allocated to support of the "Saving Energy" (Exoikonomo) and "Moving Electric" (Kinoumai Ilektrika) existing programs, as they become adapted to the needs of the islands. Households, as well as tourism and hospitality units will be able to participate in the energy saving actions. As far as electric mobility is concerned, the replacement of conventional vehicles with electric ones will be subsidized, focusing on the rental cars fleet in the tourist island areas, as well as in the installation of battery chargers.

As far as the installation of hybrid systems is concerned, based on the revised NECP plan, Hybrid power generation systems will be promoted on those islands that remain non-interconnected, i.e. units that combine Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and energy storage, while RES projects will be supported on those that are interconnected. 240 MW of power are planned to go “green” by year 2026, of which 120 MW will be from the non-interconnected islands of Megistis, Antikythera, Gavdos, of Erekoussa and Othoni, and the other 120 MW of from hybrid power plants to be installed in Crete. These hybrid stations will use pumped storage systems with accumulators for storing energy from wind turbines or from photovoltaic panels.

The decarbonization of the islands is at the heart of the investment interest of Greek and foreign companies. Among the investors are the German company Accusol, which cooperates with Siemens and has secured licenses for the installation of hybrid units on 9 Greek islands, the pioneer in hybrid technologies Siemens - Gamesa, Eunice, which promotes projects similar to the one operating in Tilos and in other islands, as well as the French company Akuo which participates in the Halki project.

I.L. with information from Kathimerini and Oikonomikos Taxydromos

Interconnection the islands to the electric grid of the mainland | Photo: Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO-ADMIE)

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