The Megisti Puzzle Museum, the first in Greece, has the largest collection of puzzles in Greece and one of the largest worldwide. It was founded by mathematician Pantazis Houlis and today has 5000 exhibits, many of which (about 800) are his own inventions, originals, and prototypes.
Kastellorizo has a strong tradition in puzzles, as evidenced by:
(1) the regular representation of Greece in the International Puzzle Party by two highly awarded Greeks, both from Kastellorizo,
(2) puzzle magazines from the 19th century that can be found in the Folklore Museum of the island, and
(3) the existence of countless puzzles in poem form in the Kastellorizian Newspaper of the 1960s.
In general, all of Greece has a historically proven tradition in puzzles, with the Dodecanesian sage and puzzle expert Cleobulus of Lindos, and the Ostomachion of Archimedes being the first three-dimensional puzzle of humanity, the Riddle of the Sphinx being one of the first verbal puzzles, the Labyrinth being the first Escape Room in history, while Pandora’s Box and the Gordian Knot are often used as names for today’s puzzles.
Since October 2020, the Megisti Puzzle Museum has been declared a European Center for Science, Technology, and Art STARTS (Science+Technology+ARTS). Link to the project that is in collaboration with STARTS:
http://www.kastellorizo.org/megisti/kastellorizo_net/STARTS.html
WHO IS PANTAZIS HOULIS?
Pantazis Houlis is a designer and producer of puzzles/games, known for his simple and unique ideas. He holds a degree in Mathematics (University of Crete), a master’s degree in Mathematics (Algebraic Graph Theory, UWA), and a PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Control Systems, UWA).
He designed his first puzzle (a “Pinball Labyrinth” prototype) in 1978 and his first board game (“Crazy Kong” prototype with 100 levels) in 1979, which he played with friends in elementary school. In 1991, he won the national competition “Kick Off II” organized by the well-known magazine Pixel, while he holds the world record for the popular 1980s arcade game “Tehkan World Cup”, as recorded in MARP.
For many years, he was an academic at the University of Western Australia, where he excelled in innovation research (including Biomedical Engineering) and also received teaching awards for his use and promotion of games during his lectures. Even today, he is cited in scientific papers of new publications due to his overall research.
He employs powerful mathematical programs (which he used when teaching his students) to create new games with unique mechanics and verified gameplay. During game workshops, he ensures that his games are fun, engaging, effective, educational, easy to learn, but almost impossible to master. In this way, his games retain their value as time passes.
Some of his designs (e.g., the Oginov Tumbler) have been showcased at Harrods in London, while one of his puzzles was included in Gary McAvoy’s novel “The Magdalene Reliquary.” Additionally, Pantazis’s multi-puzzle “Meander” (where the same six pieces plus the frame can create twelve radically different puzzles) was featured on the cover of the Russian edition of the magazine “Quantum Mechanics”.
Pantazis has also received numerous awards from significant institutions to honor his contribution to culture and education. His games and puzzles are completely different from the mainstream while maintaining their entertainment and educational value. For this reason, he is highly sought after and collaborates with Universities and Schools, while being invited to significant European programs, turning learning and teaching into a fun experience.
At the same time, he is a scientific advisor in nationwide competitions that include puzzles, such as the Alan Turing competition, with hundreds of schools and thousands of students. Often, his puzzles are used in the final.
He has strict rules when creating games or puzzles, so as not to fall into the same trap that many experienced designers do, namely endless instructions, chaotic and ineffective mechanisms, and excessive similarities to previous themes. Most of today’s games use impressive surfaces and artistic figures to hide such weaknesses.
He ensures that every game he creates uses small-sized instructions and, with a little mathematical magic, the complexity of the game becomes its main attraction. In recent years, it has been the mind behind new board games such as “Medousa” (2022, unique mechanics), “Plato’s Cave” (2024, a collaboration reason with the Aegean University), “Dodecathlon” (2024, teaching statistics from preschool age), and “Icarus’ Islands” (2025, based on TSP).
The production of these games is done through his company MaxxBrain, which focuses on efficient games that genuinely contribute to human society.
Finally, Pantazis has been involved in research regarding the Ostomachion (the oldest recorded puzzle in human history created by Archimedes), where by reading ancient texts, he corrected three erroneous cuts that were incompatible, concluding that the solutions are actually 5003 (instead of 536).
Now he has returned and lives permanently in his place of origin, a remote Greek island, where in 2020 he founded the Megisti Puzzle Museum.
Since the autumn of 2021 and onwards, he has been organizing the Kastellorizo Puzzle Festival with Eleni Grammatikopoulou, known for her extensive experience in the field of Science communication, a huge cultural and educational event of national significance that attracts many schools, universities, and educational institutions.
THE PUZZLE MUSEUM IS EVOLVING
Following high demand, the Puzzle Museum has been offering puzzles for sale since May 2022. These are essentially impressive puzzles exclusively available from the Puzzle Museum, crafted in small production runs by Pantazis Houlis. Despite the difficulties and high production costs, the prices are very attractive, while the products stand out due to their quality. There are about twenty puzzles available to purchase. The existence of an e-shop is possible in the future, but nothing replaces the interactive experience of purchasing through physical presence.
The puzzles by Pantazis Houlis are noted for their originality and innovation on a global scale, and aside from the International Puzzle Organization, they have already been recognized by schools and universities, as they help make many challenging areas of education more understandable, appealing, effective, and enjoyable. The puzzles made at the Puzzle Museum of Megisti are also a reason it stands out, as they are not available anywhere else.
At the same time, as a regular member of the International Puzzle Organization, new educational puzzles (and games) will always be presented first in Greece, worldwide. This applies to puzzles available on the market, as well as to puzzles that, for various reasons, do not end up being released on the market. They await you to explore this wonderful world, made for both young and old.
The Puzzle Museum constitutes a huge private investment on the island of our hearts. While those daring enough to come in the winter will find that the visit is always richer in time and themes. We remain always dedicated to the brave Greeks, our fellow locals, and the Santrapeia School, with whom we endure the harsh winters together.
The guided tour of the Puzzle Museum is not an intelligence test (IQ test). It is a free experiential presentation that lasts at least an hour, during which each visitor enjoys exotic mechanisms and educational ideas beyond imagination. Of course, if visitors wish to engage with some puzzles (even outside the guided tour), they are always welcome due to the interactive nature of the Museum.
It operates year-round and has positively astonished visitors of all ages, as well as a large number of distinguished Greek and foreign visitors who come to the island solely for the Puzzle Museum. Although there are only four other Puzzle Museums in other countries (covering all kinds of puzzles), this one in Kastellorizo is the only interactive one.
The Puzzle Museum has no specific operating hours. Visitors must contact in advance for the tour/presentation at a specific time (phone: +30 6980865814 via WhatsApp, email: museum@megisti.net). Ideally, small groups of 4 people (minimum number) to 10 people (maximum number) should come.
The Puzzle Museum is always operational in our beloved Kastellorizo – except for short periods to participate in conferences and puzzle exhibitions, in order to stay updated on all new creations. And it is always open for tours into a magical new world, the world of puzzles!
For location, phone, photos, reviews, click the links below:
Google maps: Megisti Puzzle Museum
Tripadvisor: Megisti Puzzle_Museum-Kastellorizo_Dodecanese_South_Aegean
Facebook: Pantazis Constantine Houlis
The organization of the Riddle Festival brought significant publicity and recognition to the important role of puzzles. Pantazis Houlis was invited and gave a series of lectures at famous clubs, schools, and universities, showcasing the puzzles and their history, capturing the keen interest of both young and old. Everyone experienced unique and creative moments playing and solving puzzles.
This proves that Kastellorizo can export its own culture. Strengthening this belief, many Puzzle Festivals have already been organized in Kastellorizo, and the festival is now also travelling outside the island (it has already been to Patras, Athens, and Xanthi), with invitations from other cities in Greece and abroad.
After the organization of the 1st Puzzle Festival, its founder Pantazis Houlis was invited and gave a series of lectures presenting the puzzles and their history, inspiring the undivided interest of young and old. They spent special and creative moments playing and solving the puzzles. This proves that Kastellorizo can export its own culture!
