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Athens (Attica) | Attica | Athens City

National Archaeological Museum of Athens - Prehistoric Collection

The New York Times has recently (April 2008) published an article on Athens. In it there is a reference to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens: "In neighboring Exarcheia, the renovated National Archaeological Museum (Patission 44; 30-210-821-7724) has classical sculptures and gold treasures from Mycenae". We think of this reference as being the Understatement of the century!

 Athens National Archaeological Museum:
Exhibit 624. Gold death-mask, known as
the 'mask of Agamemnon'. (Grave V,
Grave Circle A, Mycenae, 16th century BC)

This is because the Greek National Archaeological Museum in Athens is rightfully considered to be not only the most important, yet also one of the richest archaeological museums in the world in terms of containing Ancient Greek Art! Please refer to the relevant Album as proof of how much right we are!

The Greek National Archaeological Museum is housed in a neoclassical building designed by the noted German architect Ernst Ziller in 1889. It houses perhaps the most impressive collection of ancient Greek treasures in the world. The neoclassical design of the exterior tries its best to keep up with the true Greek classic style of the works it houses. This museum includes the golden so-called "Mask of Agamemnon", excavated by Heinrich Schliemann at ancient Mycenae, the bronze "boy jockey" of Artemision that somehow stayed in great condition despite being fished out of the sea, and a range of excellent sculptures, pottery, furniture and jewellery.

Further wonderful inclusions are:

  • Prehistoric items/Ruins
  • Sculpture
  • Pottery and Minor art
  • Bronzes
  • Egyptian Art

Operating Hours are as follows:
Monday 13.00-19.30
Tuesday-Sunday 08.30-15.00

Telephone Contact: 210/821-7717 Address: 44, 28th Oktovriou (Patission) Ave, Athens, Greece


Note: Given the huge number of exhibits, this album on the National Archaeological Museum of Athens is progressing step by step: Please visit this Album from time to time to see it growing!
(Photos: Michael Tziotis)

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Click on any of the pictures to enlarge.

Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Imported objects and raw materials from abroad, most found on the Mycenae acropolis.

Imported objects and raw materials from the Middle East, Egypt, Italy and North-western Europe.

The Mycenean World Between the East and the West
The Egyptians took an interest in the Tanaja, as they called the Mycenaeans (Homer’s Achaeans or Danaoi), and their rise to power, beginning in the 14th century BC. It is indicative that faïence plaques, vessels and figurines with the cartouche of the Pharaohs Amenophis II and III were brought to Mycenae, possibly even by official Egyptian delegations.

The biblical land Canaan, the ports of Phoenicia (modern day Lebanon), Syria and Cyprus, all had trading relations with the Mycenaean world. Ships crossed the Aegean sea kaden with copper and glass ingots, elephant and hippopotamus tusk, semi-precious stones and faïence to be worked in the palatial workshops of Mycenae and at other centers. Also considered as exotic items were Egyptian faïence scarabs, bronze statuettes of the Syro-Palestinian god Reshef , cylinder seals depicting Mesopotamian gods and heroes, ostrich eggs and possibly even cloths. Canaanite pointed-base amphorae were used to transport a number of goods to Greece. The Cypriot lamp discovered at Mycenae and the bronze tripod from the Tiryns “hoard” demonstrate the close relations between mainland Greece and Cyprus at the end of the Mycenaean period, when there was a substantial Greek presence in Cyprus.

The search for gold and other metals such as tin (an essential ingredient of bronze), is believed to have prompted the Mycenaeans to explore to the north and west of Europe. Amber jewelry accompanied the elite burials at Mycenae and Pylos, while the ruling classes in Western and Eastern Europe used Aegean vessels, or their imitations. The customary gift exchange between rulers may explain this phenomenon. Mycenaean pottery, a luxury product in the West, was exported in large quantities to Italy, Sicily and Sardinia, where it was widely imitated, and even as far as Spain.

The strengthening of relations with Western Europe is indicated by the appearance of a new type of powerful bronze sword, which was influenced by a West European prototype, in the Mycenaean warrior graves of the 12th century BC.



National Archaeological Museun: Gallery IV / Imported objects and raw materials from abroad, most found on the Mycenae acropolis. (General Photo of Window)

National Archaeological Museun: Gallery IV / Imported objects and raw materials from abroad, most found on the Mycenae acropolis. (General Photo of Window)
1398. Rim fragment from an amethyst Minoan ritual vessel in the shape of a triton shell. 15th century BC.

1398. Rim fragment from an amethyst Minoan ritual vessel in the shape of a triton shell. 15th century BC.
1411, 1412, 2512. Bronze wheels of a North-European type with unusual crooked rays, which could be seals or sun symbols (1411, 1412); Glass female figurine and circular pendant with relief rosette imported from Mesopotamia. 14th-13th centuries BC (2512)

1411, 1412, 2512. Bronze wheels of a North-European type with unusual crooked rays, which could be seals or sun symbols (1411, 1412); Glass female figurine and circular pendant with relief rosette imported from Mesopotamia. 14th-13th centuries BC (2512)
14729. Copper oxide ingot. This is how copper was traded in the Greek mainland, Crete and the Central and Eastern Mediterranean. From the Mycenaean shipwreck at Kymi, Euboea. 15th century BC.

14729. Copper oxide ingot. This is how copper was traded in the Greek mainland, Crete and the Central and Eastern Mediterranean. From the Mycenaean shipwreck at Kymi, Euboea. 15th century BC.
2523, 3023, 4534. Beads in the shape of a waz lily, bovine head and shell, made of lapis lazuli, a semi-precious stone found in Afghanistan. 14th century BC.

2523, 3023, 4534. Beads in the shape of a waz lily, bovine head and shell, made of lapis lazuli, a semi-precious stone found in Afghanistan. 14th century BC.
2566, 2718, 12582. Egyptian faïence plaques with the cartouche of the Pharaoh Amenophis III (1390-1360 BC) on both sides.

2566, 2718, 12582. Egyptian faïence plaques with the cartouche of the Pharaoh Amenophis III (1390-1360 BC) on both sides.
2511, 2631, 4573. Glass female figurine, Bronze figurine and an Egyptian faïence figurine of a monkey.

2511, 2631, 4573. Glass female figurine, Bronze figurine and an Egyptian faïence figurine of a monkey.


2511. Glass female figurine imported from Mesopotamia. 14th-13th centuries BC.
2631. Bronze figurine of the Syro-Palestinian war god Reshef. 13th century BC.
4573. Egyptian faïence figurine of a monkey with the cartouche of Amenophis II (1427-1400 BC). The Pharaoh's name is inscribed within a rectangular frame (cartouche).
2663. Cypriot clay hanging lamp with long handle and suspension hole. 13th century BC.

2663. Cypriot clay hanging lamp with long handle and suspension hole. 13th century BC.
2667. Ostrich-egg rhyton, imported from Egypt.

2667. Ostrich-egg rhyton, imported from Egypt.
3097. Amber beads from the Baltic sea region. From chamber tombs 79 and 84 at Mycenae. 14th-12th centuries BC.

3097. Amber beads from the Baltic sea region. From chamber tombs 79 and 84 at Mycenae. 14th-12th centuries BC.
4530. Fragment of a glass egyptian vase. 14th century BC.

4530. Fragment of a glass egyptian vase. 14th century BC.


Next to it is the previously shown exhibit 4573. It is so cute that we could not cut it off!
4569. Canaanite amphora with engraved signs on the handles. From chamber tomb 95 at Mycenae. 15th century BC

4569. Canaanite amphora with engraved signs on the handles. From chamber tomb 95 at Mycenae. 15th century BC
6250, 2657. Fragments of an Egyptian alabaster vessel in the shape of a monkey holding her baby.

6250, 2657. Fragments of an Egyptian alabaster vessel in the shape of a monkey holding her baby.


From a looted Egyptian tomb of the 3rd millennium, it probably arrived at Mycenae in the 14th century BC.
7505. Faïence goblet with painted lotus flowers and part of a faïence vessel with engraved spirals, imported from Syro-Palestinian coast. 'House of the Shields'. 13th century BC

7505. Faïence goblet with painted lotus flowers and part of a faïence vessel with engraved spirals, imported from Syro-Palestinian coast. 'House of the Shields'. 13th century BC
7510.

7510.
7644. Italian stone axe mould. Mycenae, House of the Oil Merchant. 13th century BC

7644. Italian stone axe mould. Mycenae, House of the Oil Merchant. 13th century BC

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