National Archaeological Museum
Greece’s identity and its rich culture can be largely attributed to its deep and fascinating history. This can be seen through multiple archeological sites and museums in the country, with one of the most outstanding ones being the National Archaeological Museum.
The National Archaeological Museum is the biggest museum of Athens and one of the most important in the world. It is situated in a majestic neoclassical building created by L. Lange and Ernst Ziller in the 19th century. The exhibits cover a large chronological and geographical span offering sample from many different periods and places of Greece.
The main collections of the museum are:
- Prehistoric Antiquities
- Sculpture
- Metalwork
- Vases and Minor Arts
- Egyptian Antiquities
- Cypriot Antiquities
the prehistoric collection
The Prehistoric Collection consists of unique works of art, representative of the major civilizations that flourished in the Aegean Sea from the 7th millennium to around 1050 BC. It includes works of the Neolithic period and the Bronze Age from mainland Greece, the Aegean islands and Troy.
The most significant exhibits include the treasures of the royal tombs of Mycenae, the Linear B tablets, the enigmatic Cycladic marble figurines and the excellently preserved wall paintings of Thera that comprise large pictorial compositions.
Sculptural Collection
The Sculpture Collection, with its rich and unique exhibits, presents the evolution of ancient Greek sculpture from 700 BC to the 5th century AD. The core of the Collection was formed in 1874 when sculptures from the temporary archaeological collections of Athens were gradually transferred to the Archaeological Museum that was under construction. The neoclassical building also housed most of the antiquities retrieved by accident.
The gradual handing over of antiquities recovered during excavation or acquired by the Archaeological Society (1884-1893) and also the relocation to the Museum of the most significant sculptures of the provinces contributed decisively to the enrichment of the Collection which nowadays numbers approximately 16.000 sculptures . The works come from sanctuaries, necropolises and public buildings in Attica, Eastern Sterea Ellada, the Peloponnese and the Aegean islands. In addition, a significant number of sculptures come from Thessaly, Western Greece, Macedonia, Thrace and Cyprus.
Metalwork
The Bronze Collection of the National Archaeological Museum constitutes one of the richest collections of original works made of bronze in the world. The majority of the them were unearthed during the major systematic excavations conducted in the late 19th and the early 20th century. Other antiquities were handed over, confiscated, purchased or donated, with the collection of the antiquarian politician K. Karapanos (1902) and its counterpart of 903 medical tools of the doctor K. Lambros (1899) being the most prominent ensembles. The metal artefacts consist in male and female figurines in various representations, mythological creatures and animals.
In addition, vases and vessels of every kind, weapons and the finds retrieved from the Shipwreck of Antikythera, including the famous Mechanism, a scientific instrument of the 1st century BC used for astronomical and calendar forecasts comprise significant groups of objects.
Through these sculptures and objects of minor arts one can delve into the development and evolution of ancient toreutics and metalworking, distinguish the multiple artistic trends, the accomplishments and the interaction between various workshops and, simultaneously, approach the daily life of the people with their traditions, practices, cults and religious beliefs, from the Geometric to the Roman period.
Vases and minor arts
The Vase and Minor Arts Collection was formed in the late 19th century. Today, approximately 6.000 objects are on display. The initial core of the Collection (Rooms 49-56) includes around 2.500 exhibits that display the uninterrupted evolution of the Greek pottery and painting from the 11th to the 4th century BC, represented by the major workshops (Attic, Boeotian, Corinthian, Laconian, island-Ionian).
Furthermore, exhibits from significant sanctuaries, such as Sounion in Attica, Thermos in Aetolia, the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia in Laconia, the Heraion at Perachora in Corinthia and the Heraion of Argos in Argolis are put on show. Recently, the exhibition programme of the Collection was completed (Rooms 57-63) with the display of the Stathatos Collection, the Vlastos-Serpieris Collection, the Hellenistic and glass vases, the figurines as well as the gold and silver vessels and jewellery.
Egyptian antiquities
The Egyptian Collection holds a prominent position worldwide due to the richness, the quality and the rarity of its artefacts. The core of the Collection consists of the significant donations by two Greek expatriates from Egypt and art lovers, Ioannis Dimitriou and Alexandros Rostovich, that were bequeathed to the National Archaeological Museum in 1880 and 1904 respectively. The Collection was further enriched with donations by the Greek Archaeological Society in 1894, the government of Egypt in 1893 as well as smaller individual donations and objects retrieved in excavations in Greece.
Cypriot antiquities
The Collection of Cypriot Antiquities was gradually formed from the 19th century onwards with artefacts purchased by the Archaeological Society (1879) and donations bequeathed by collectors (1880, 1895, 1897). Its enrichment continued in the early 20th century with acquisitions and donations as well as through an official exchange programme of antiquities (1928).
Today, the Collection of Cypriot Antiquities of the National Archaeological Museum amounts to around 850 works that represent all time periods of Cypriot history and art, from the Early Bronze Age (circa 2500 BC) to the Roman Period (4th century AD).
National Archaeological Museum
v
28th October av.
106 82, Athens, Greece
Telephone: +30 22650 82312
email: [email protected]
Website: www.namuseum.gr
OPENING HOURS
November 1st – March 31st
Tuesday: 13:00 – 20:00, Wednesday until Monday: 08:30 – 15:30
April 1st – October 31st
Tuesday: 13:00 – 20:00, Wednesday to Monday: 08:00 – 20:00
National Archaeological Museum
Entrance Ticket
from 14€
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