In the mid to late 90s, Athens built extensions to their subway system. As they dug for stations and vent shafts and tunnels they uncovered a massive number of artifacts, walls, wells, streets, water pipes and more -- by one estimate 50,000 objects.

A number of the metro stations in central Athens have archeological exhibits. Let's take a look. Mouse over the station names for more info.

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A major source of information is "Athens: The City Beneath the City: Antiquities from the Metropolitan Railway Excavations." a 2000 publication of the Greek Ministry of Culture.

Syntagma The entire street in front of the Parliament building was excavated. The dig revealed occupation as far back as the 11th century BC. Over 300 graves were found, including one of a dog. The area contained a long water pipe, bronze foundry and a bath house. A number of gold objects were found.

The first two pictures show how the exhibits are placed into the wall. Of course, they were not found in exactly this position.

The site of the Acropoli station was excavated from 1993-96. It was found to be inhabited from 2000BCE. Graves and pottery were fond but no religious sanctuaries.

In Classical times there were streets here and a water and sewer system. During the Byzantine era corn storage bins occupied the area.

In the station itself now are a series of cast reproductions of statues from the left side of the east pediment of the Parthenon. The statues are (from left) Helios, his horses, Dionysos, Demeter and Kore and standing figure.

The site of the Evangelismos station was excavated in 1995. A major water conduit was found along with pottery works and a kiln.

In one of these pictures you can see the segmented water pipe.\

As with the other exhibits these are not in their original position as found but have been moved and their context recreated.

Significant excavations went on around Monastiraki, but my sources were hard to sort out. It appears they may have moved the location of the station to avoid the ancient cemetery (the parts of it not in the Kerameikos site).