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The Historical and Folclore Museum
The historic Oikonomou House, which today is home to the Historical and Folklore Museum of Ermioni, is one of the town's most important landmarks. This two-storey 18th-century mansion hosted the sessions of the Third National Assembly in 1827, during which important decisions were made that shaped the course of the Greek War of Independence. Today, visitors can explore the history of the building, view artefacts from the War of Independence of 1821, and discover the everyday life, traditional occupations, and cultural heritage of old Ermioni through the museum's rich collections. Official site: https://mouseioermionis.com/
The story of the monument
Η Οικία Οικονόμου
Γνωρίστε την ιστορία και την αρχιτεκτονική του ιστορικού κτηρίου.
Η Γ΄ Εθνοσυνέλευση
Ανακαλύψτε τα γεγονότα του 1827 και τις σημαντικές αποφάσεις που πάρθηκαν στην Ερμιόνη.
Το Μουσείο σήμερα
Δείτε τις συλλογές, τα σημαντικότερα εκθέματα και τον πολιτιστικό ρόλο του μουσείου.
Πηγές & Βιβλιογραφία
Δείτε τις πηγές και τη βιβλιογραφία που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για τη συγγραφή του άρθρου.
The Oikonomou House
A short walk from the Church of the Taxiarches stands the historic Oikonomou House, one of the most important old houses in Ermioni. Today it houses the Historical and Folklore Museum, but almost two hundred years ago it was the home of Vasilis Oikonomou, a community elder and a fighter in the Greek War of Independence.
According to historical sources, the house was built in the early 18th century. It is a two-storey stone mansion with a tiled roof, simple façades, and a characteristic external stone staircase leading to the upper floor.
The house was divided into two levels. The ground floor contained the utility rooms and the areas used by the family in their daily life. The upper floor housed the main living area of the house, where guests were received and important gatherings took place.
It was there that the large hall of the house was located, which Nikolaos Dragoumis described as a “long hall.” In this hall, in 1827, the representatives of the Greeks gathered to continue the proceedings of the Third National Assembly.
The residence also had a large courtyard and a spacious terrace overlooking the Bay of Ermioni. From there, according to historical accounts, many local residents watched with great interest the events that took place during the sessions of the Assembly.
Over the years, the historic house suffered extensive damage and was eventually demolished. Later, the property was expropriated and efforts began to rebuild the historic residence. The initiative was undertaken by the Ermionikos Association, while the project was carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture with the sponsorship of the Voudouris Foundation. Since 2000, the building has housed the Historical and Folklore Museum of Ermioni, preserving the history and traditions of the area.
The Third National Assembly of 1827 (Resumed Session)
In January 1827, Ermioni became one of the centres of the Greek War of Independence. The Third National Assembly, which had begun in Epidaurus in April 1826, was interrupted after the fall of Messolonghi. Theodoros Kolokotronis then proposed that its proceedings should continue in Ermioni, considering it the most suitable and safest location.
The Oikonomou House, owned by Ermioni’s community elder Vasilis Oikonomou, was chosen as the venue for the Assembly. Besides having a large and spacious hall, the house belonged to one of the most prominent members of the local community. At first, the nearby Church of the Taxiarches had been considered as the meeting place, but it required repairs and was not considered suitable. As a result, the representatives gathered in the large hall of the house, which Nikolaos Dragoumis described as a “long hall”.
Dragoumis gives us a vivid picture of the meetings. The representatives did not sit on chairs or benches, but on the floor, often crowded together, while those who wished to speak simply stood up, as there was no special platform or podium. The house also had a large terrace overlooking the Bay of Ermioni. From there, many local residents watched the proceedings with great interest, showing how closely the local community followed the events of the Revolution.
The first meetings took place between 18 January and 10 February 1827. On 11 February, the representatives first gathered in the nearby Church of the Taxiarches, where they took the customary oath, before returning to continue their proceedings.
“I swear in the name of the Holy Trinity and of my Country neither to propose nor to vote for anything contrary to the interests of the Nation, moved by self-interest or passion; not to show favour to any person, and not to disregard what is lawful and just.”
A total of 17 sessions were held in Ermioni.
Within this hall, important issues concerning the future of Greece were discussed. The representatives made decisions that helped continue the struggle for independence, strengthened Georgios Karaiskakis, supported the unity of the army and the fleet, and paved the way for the election of Ioannis Kapodistrias as the first Governor of Greece. At the same time, they laid the foundations for the Constitution that was adopted shortly afterwards at Troezen.
On 17 March 1827, the proceedings in Ermioni came to an end. A few days later, the National Assembly continued at Troezen, beginning with its 18th session and recognising the meetings held in Ermioni as a continuation of the Assembly.
Today, as visitors enter the great hall of the Oikonomou House, they can imagine the representatives of the Revolution discussing, debating, and making decisions that contributed to the creation of the modern Greek state.
The Museum Today – A Celebration of Local Folk Heritage
Today, the historic Oikonomou House is home to the Historical and Folklore Museum of Ermioni, a place that keeps alive the history, traditions, and everyday life of the region. The museum was founded in 2000 and has since been continuously enriched through new donations and historical artefacts.
Its collections are divided into two main sections.
The Historical Collection (Upper Floor)
On the upper floor, where the sessions of the Third National Assembly were held, visitors can see exhibits related to the Greek War of Independence. The collection includes portraits of fighters of 1821, weapons, military decorations, medals, personal memorabilia, and other valuable artefacts that commemorate the struggle for freedom.
The Folklore Collection (Ground Floor)
The ground floor presents the everyday life of the people of Ermioni in earlier times. On display are traditional costumes, woven textiles, household objects, tools used by farmers, sailors, sponge divers, and shepherds, as well as works by the Ermioni folk artist Anthoula Lazaridou-Douroukou. Through these exhibits, visitors discover the occupations, customs, and way of life of the local people.
a) First Room on the Left
In the first room on the left, visitors will find the museum’s library, which contains books and archival material on the history of Ermionida and the Greek War of Independence. It is a valuable resource for researchers, teachers, and students.
At the back of this room is the section dedicated to the equipment used by sailors in earlier times, as well as a collection of natural sea sponges. Many sailors from Ermioni travelled to the Barbary Coast to harvest sea sponges, making sponge fishing an important part of the town’s maritime tradition.
b) First Room on the Right
Turning right at the entrance, visitors enter a room where the first exhibit they encounter is a well-preserved and fully operational traditional loom.
Continuing through this room, you will find yourself in the kitchen of a traditional Greek household from another era. Spoons, forks, cooking pots, plates, flat irons, and many other everyday household items transport visitors back to the daily life and customs of the people of Ermioni many decades ago.
In the same room, you will also see the tools used by a local shoemaker.
c) Main Ground Floor Hall
In the main hall on the ground floor, you will admire, on the left-hand side, traditional costumes from the Ermioni area, worn on different social occasions and reflecting the wearers’ social and economic status.
On the right-hand side of the hall, you will find the section dedicated to dowries, undergarments, and traditional wooden cradles.
The Courtyard of the Oikonomou House
In the museum courtyard stands the bust of Theodoros Kolokotronis, honouring his decisive role in bringing the Third National Assembly to Ermioni. From here begins the stone staircase leading to the upper floor.
Around the Oikonomou House
In the garden beside the house stand the busts of the brothers Giannis and Stamatis Mitsas, who distinguished themselves during the Greek War of Independence, as well as the bust of Antonis Mitsas.
