In the beginning of the 4th century BC Thessaly is tormented by incessant civil conflicts among its powerful aristocratic lineage which gave way to the rising power of the kingdom of Macedonia under king Phillip B’ (359-336 π.Χ.), to invade and finally take over the region. The Macedonians will remain up to the 1st half of the 2nd cent. BC and Thessaly will become the battlefield of conflicts between the Macedonians and the Romans. The attitude of the Thessalian cities towards the two opponents fluctuated between the two rivals accordingly, along with the intervention of other forces, such as the Aetolis. The inscriptions exhibited at the Museum shed light upon aspects of this agitated state in the territory of Thessaly which will end up with its final conquest by the Romans at the battle of Pydna, in 167 BC. On the other hand, the economy, the trade and the tendency towards wellbeing, follow their own rules, as shown by the relevant findings.
The portraits from the imperial times as well as objects crafted from “green Thessalian stone” come to shed new light on the new status as this is being shaped as from the 2nd cent B.C. and on.
Special reference is made to various worships which are a point of reference to people’s life. The Apollonian Triad consisting of Apollo, Artemis and their mother, Leto, appear to have been the most important protecting deities worshipped in Thessaly. Widely spread were also the worship of Asclepius, Aphrodite, En(n)odia, Hecate, Poseidon along with the so called Eastern Deities: the Mother of the Gods-Kiveli, Isis and Sarapis.
The subsection dealing with the presentation of the two ancient theatres in Larisa, A' and B', holds a distinct position as these had been places where theatrical dramas, musical contests, animal fights and gladiator fights were held, but most probably also places where the Thessalian League assembled, signifying the public life of the city.
