The archaeological Museum in the city of Heraklion in Crete is one of the largest museums in Greece and the best Museum of Minoan art in the world. The Museum exposition represents the most notable and complete collection of artifacts of the Minoan civilization of Crete. The Museum displays and other periods of the history of Crete from the Neolithic period to the Greco-Roman period), but artifacts of the Minoan period are the basis for the exhibition.

The first archaeological collection of the city of Heraklion, marked the beginning of the modern Museum, was founded in 1883 under the direction of archaeologist Joseph Hatzidakis and presented a small collection of antiquities. In the years 1904-1912 for the Museum was constructed in a separate building, but because of three devastating earthquakes in 1926, 1930, 1935, the building was almost destroyed. Museum Director Spyridon marinatos have made a huge effort to find the means to convince the local residents and authorities in the construction of the new building. Construction began in 1937 under the leadership of the Greek architect Patroklos of Karantinos on a place destroyed by an earthquake (1856) Catholic monastery of St. Francis. During the Second world war the Museum was badly damaged, but the collection of antiquities managed to maintain and in 1952 she again became accessible to visitors. In 1964 the building was attached to another wing.

The Museum has a lot of variety of items: pottery, figurines, sculptures, jewelry, weapons and tools, household utensils, seals, ritual artifacts, and more. One of the main attractions of the Museum is unique Phaistos disk terracotta ancient inscriptions, which are still not deciphered. The Museum presents a wonderful collection of different frescoes (1600 to 1400 BC.e.), the most famous of which are "the Prince with the lilies", "Parisienne" and "Play with the bull. A special place in the exposition is occupied by the two women porcelain figurines, the so-called "Goddess with snakes", found during excavations in 1903 and Dating from 1600 g. to n.e. A masterpiece of Minoan jewelry art pendant is "bees" found in the Cretan city of Mallie. Also of interest are bilateral bronze ritual axe "the Axe Arkalochóri" (1500-1450 yy. to n.e.) and a bronze dagger with a gold hilt (1800-1700 yy. to n.e.).

In November 2006, the Museum building was closed for restoration. The most valuable artifacts were exhibited in a specially designed Annex (temporary exhibition). In August 2012, after a long renovation, the Museum opened to visitors.