National Archaeological Museum, Athens
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The National Archaeological Museum (
History
The first national archaeological museum in Greece was established by the governor of Greece
The current location was proposed and the construction of the museum's building began in 1866 and was completed in 1889 using funds from the
The initial name for the museum was The Central Museum. It was renamed to its current name in 1881 by Prime Minister of Greece Charilaos Trikoupis. In 1887 the important archaeologist Valerios Stais became the museum's curator.
During
In 2023, the Greek government approved plans for a 20,000 square metre underground extension to the museum. The extension is expected to be completed by 2028 and will also feature a rooftop garden.[4]
The building
The museum has an imposing neo-classical design which was very popular in Europe at the time and is in accordance with the classical style artifacts that it houses. The initial plan was conceived by the architect Ludwig Lange and it was later modified by Panagis Kalkos who was the main architect, Armodios Vlachos and Ernst Ziller. At the front of the museum there is a large neo-classic design garden which is decorated with sculptures.[2]
Expansions and renovations
The building has undergone many expansions. Most important were the construction of a new east wing in the early 20th century based on the plans of Anastasios Metaxas and the construction of a two-storeyed building, designed by George Nomikos, during 1932–1939.[2] These expansions were necessary to accommodate the rapidly growing collection of artifacts. The most recent refurbishment of the museum took more than 1.5 years to complete, during which the museum remained completely closed. It reopened in July 2004, in time for the Athens Olympics and it included an aesthetic and technical upgrade of the building, installation of a modern air-conditioning system, reorganisation of the museum's collection and repair of the damage caused by the 1999 earthquake. The Minoan frescoes rooms opened to the public in 2005.[5] In May 2008 the Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis inaugurated the much anticipated collection of Egyptian antiquities and the collection of Eleni and Antonis Stathatos.[6]
In 2020, there was renewed discussion regarding the need to further expand the museum to adjacent areas. A new plan was made for a subterranean expansion at the front of the museum.
In 2023, the Greek government approved plans for a 20,000 square metre underground extension to the museum. The extension is expected to be completed by 2028 and will also feature a rooftop garden.
Collections
The museum's collections are organised in sections:[7]
Collections | ||
---|---|---|
Section | Rooms | Sample inventories |
Mycenaean )
|
3–6 and 48[8] |
|
Sculptures Collection
|
7–34 |
|
Vase and Minor Objects Collection (Including Stathatos and Vlastos-Serpieris collections) | 42[9] and 49–56[10] |
|
Santorini Collection | 48 | |
Metallurgy Collection | 36–39 |
|
Egyptian and Near Eastern Antiquities Collection | 40–41 |
|
Epigraphical Museum | 1, 9 & 11 |
|
Prehistoric collection
The prehistoric collection displays objects from the
Neolithic era and early and mid-Bronze Age collection
There are ceramic finds from various important Neolithic sites such as
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Gold treasure from Polichni
-
Clay vase with polychrome decoration
Cycladic art collection
Cycladic collection features the famous marble figurines from the Aegean islands of Delos and Keros including the Lutist. These mysterious human representations, which resemble modern art and inspired many artists such as Henry Moore,[11] came from the 3rd millennium BC old cemeteries of Aegean islands along with bronze tools and containers.
-
Harpist figurine from Keros
-
Cycladic frying pan from Syros
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Flying-fish wall painting fragment from Phylakopi Melos
Mycenean art collection
Mycenean civilization is represented by stone, bronze and ceramic pots, figurines, ivory, glass and faience objects, golden
Heinrich Schliemann finds
Mycenean collection includes also the magnificent 19th-century finds of Heinrich Schliemann in Mycenae from the Grave Circle A and the earlier Grave Circle B. Most notable are the golden funerary masks which covered the faces of deceased Mycenean nobles. Among them, the most famous is the one that was named erroneously as the mask of Agamemnon. There are also finds from the citadel of Mycenae including relief stelae, golden containers, glass, alabaster and amber tools and jewels. Other features include an ivory carving of two goddesses with a child, a painted limestone head of a goddess and the famous warrior's vase dating from the 12th century.
Egyptian art collection
The
Stathatos collection
The Stathatos collection is named for the donors and major Greek benefactors Antonis and Eleni Stathatos. The collection features about 1000 objects, mainly jewels as well as metal objects, vases, and pottery from the Middle
Artists and artifacts
Some of the ancient artists whose work is presented in the museum are Myron, Scopas, Euthymides, Lydos, Agoracritus, Agasias, Pan Painter, Wedding Painter, Meleager Painter, Cimon of Cleonae, Nessos Painter, Damophon, Aison (vase painter), Analatos Painter, Polygnotos (vase painter), Hermonax.
Collections include sculpture work, Loutrophoros, amphora, Hydria, Skyphos, Krater, Pelike, and lekythos vessels, Stele, frescoes, jewellery, weapons, tools, coins, toys and other ancient items.
Artifacts derive from archaeological excavations in
The museum houses the archaic terracota statuette
New exhibits
Two of the newest exhibits of the museum include a 4th-century BC golden funerary wreath and a 6th-century BC marble statue of a woman, which were returned as stolen artifacts to Greece in 2007 by the
Museum highlights
- Antikythera Ephebe
- Antikythera mechanism
- Aphrodite of Syracuse
- Apollo Omphalos
- Armed Aphrodite
- Artemision Bronze
- Atalante Hermes
- Bronze Statuette of Athletic Spartan Girl
- Bust of Antinous
- Capitoline Venus
- Daidala
- Diadumenos
- Dipylon inscription
- Funerary naiskos of Aristonautes
- Funerary Stela of Demokleides
- Great Eleusinian Relief
- Group of Aphrodite, Pan and Eros
- Heracles of Antikythera
- Hermes Criophorus
- Hermes of Aegium
- Jockey of Artemision
- Kouroi and Korai:
- Lemnos stela
- Lenormant Athena
- Lycosoura Artemis
- Lycosoura Demeter
- Mantineia Base
- Marathon Boy
- Mask of Agamemnon
- Mycenean Warrior Vase
- Nestor's Cup
- Nike of Epidaurus
- Nike of Megara
- Ninnion Tablet
- Pitsa panels
- Poseidon of Melos
- Rhyton in the shape of a bull head
- Theseus Ring
- Varvakeion Athena
- Wall frescoes from Tiryns and Santorini
Library of archaeology
The museum houses a 118-year-old library of archeology with rare ancient art, science and philosophy books and publications. The library has some 20,000 volumes, including rare editions dating to the 17th century.[15] The bibliography covers archaeology, history, arts, ancient religions and ancient Greek philosophy, as well as Ancient Greek and Latin literature. Of particular value are the diaries of various excavations including those of Heinrich Schliemann. The collection of archaeology books is the richest of its kind in Greece. The Library has been recently renovated with funds from the Alexander S. Onassis Foundation. Its renovation was completed on 26 May 2008 and is now named after Alexander Onassis.[16]
Museum activities
- Conservation laboratories
- Photographic archive and chemistry laboratories
- Organises temporary exhibitions in the museum and abroad
- Hosts a large number of archaeology related lectures in its lecture-hall annually
Access
The museum is accessible by the
See also
- Ancient Greek sculpture
- Ancient Greek technology and innovation
- Art in Ancient Greece
- Gorgon
- Greek terracotta figurines
- Kouros
- List of museums in Greece
- List of museums with major collections of Greek and Roman antiquities
- Pottery of ancient Greece
- Typology of Greek vase shapes
- Valerios Stais
References
- ^ "Ministry of Culture and Sports | National Archaeological Museum". odysseus.culture.gr. Archived from the original on 22 June 2007. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d The National Archaeological Museum (2000) Euangelia Kypraiou Archaeological Receipts Fund Direction of Publications, Athens Greece
- ^ "Ministry of Culture and Sports | Epigraphic Museum". odysseus.culture.gr. Archived from the original on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ^ "David Chipperfield designs rammed-earth museum extension for Athens". Dezeen. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ ekathimerini.com | National Archaeological Museum Archived 9 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Egyptian antiquities exhibition". Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2008.
- ^ Sculpture in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens (2002) Nikolaos Kaltsas Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum, California, USA
- ^ The Prehistoric Collection Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, National Archaeological Museum
- ^ Stathatos Collection Archived 21 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine, National Archaeological Museum
- ^ The Vase and Minor Objects Collection Archived 20 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine, National Archaeological Museum
- ^ Early cycladic sculpture: its aesthetics and its influences on Henry Moore and Constantin Brâncuși DEB Lercher – 1979 – State University of New York at Binghamton
- ^ Priceless ancient Egyptian relics go on display[dead link]
- ^ "BBC NEWS – Europe – Ancient wreath returns to Greece". 30 March 2007. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "CBC.ca Arts – Greece closes net on antiquities smuggling". Archived from the original on 11 July 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2007.
- ^ "Rare tomes... - News - ekathimerini.com". Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "This Week - News - ekathimerini.com". Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
External links
- National Archaeological Museum of Athens Official website
- Review of The National Archaeological Museum in Athens at UNRV.com
- High-resolution 360° Panoramas of Archaeological Museum | Art Atlas
- National Archaeological Museum of Athens: History, location, how and when to visit. Text in English, photos.