Villa Arbusto

In the scenic villa Arbusto built in the eighteenth century on the hill in Lacco Ameno by Carlo d’Acquaviva, Duke of Atri, you will find the hospitality of the archeological museum of Pithecusae. It includes Greek and Roman artifacts, objects unearthed during excavations carried out on the island by the great archeologist Bucchner, a German scholar who chose to live and work in Ischia. The discovery of Pithecusae, the Greek colony founded by the Euboeans in Lacco AMeno in the eighth century BC, is all due to Bucchner’s work.

Among the most important pieces located in the museum is the Cup of Nestor, also known as a kotyle, decorated with geometric motifs and dating back to the eight century BC. It is inscribed with a three line epigram that alludes to the famous cup described in the Iliad of Homer, “Nestor’s cup I am, good to drink from. Whoever drinks this cup empty, straightaway the desire of beautiful-crowned Aphrodite will seize.” The funny thing is that this kotyle was found at the funeral of a ten year old boy. From a scientific point of view, the important thing is that the verses of Nestor’s Cup, in addition to being one of the oldest examples of Greek writing in our possession, are also the first known fragments of poetry dating back to the time of Homer and preserved in their original form, the same as that of the famous epic poem.

Among the most important pieces located in the museum is the Cup of Nestor, also known as a kotyle, decorated with geometric motifs and dating back to the eight century BC. It is inscribed with a three line epigram that alludes to the famous cup described in the Iliad of Homer, “Nestor’s cup I am, good to drink from. Whoever drinks this cup empty, straightaway the desire of beautiful-crowned Aphrodite will seize.” The funny thing is that this kotyle was found at the funeral of a ten year old boy. From a scientific point of view, the important thing is that the verses of Nestor’s Cup, in addition to being one of the oldest examples of Greek writing in our possession, are also the first known fragments of poetry dating back to the time of Homer and preserved in their original form, the same as that of the famous epic poem.

• The museum is open Tuesday – Sunday (Closed Monday)
• Winter Hours: 9:30am to 1pm and 3pm to 7pm
• Summer Hours: 9:30am to 1pm and 4pm to 8pm