During the construction of the metropolitan railway of Athens (1993-2000) an extended part of the ancient city of Athens was revealed.

This was the biggest excavation ever conducted in Greece bringing to light more than 50,000 movable articles. The excavation brought to light ruins, which date from prehistoric to modern times and iclude tombs, bath houses, private and public builidngs, parts of the ancient aqueduct and also part of the canalized Eridanos river. Sections of this excavation as well as some of the findings are now exhibited in six of the metro stations, which have been designed as archaeological museums. At the same time the ancient ruins meet modern art, since works of contemporary Greek artists are exhibited in all metro stations.