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Athens (Attica) | Attica | Athens City

National Archaeological Museum of Athens: Gods In Color

On January 29, 2007, a new Exhibition was opened to the public at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. After having made the rounds at a variety of Museums in Europe, “Gods in Color” has been on view in Athens until March 25th. However, thanks to our Album, visitors to our website will be enjoying it permanently! The 21 casts exhibited (in Ground floor Galleries 44 and 45) are of well-known statues (Cuirassed torso of the statue of an archer or chariot driver from the Acropolis Museum, Akr 599, the bronze head of a victor from Glyptothek München, the “Peplos Kore” from the Acropolis of Athens Museum, Akr. 679, the Lion of Loutraki, etc), of Tombstone Stelae (tombstone of Aristion, the one of Paramythion, etc), of Pediment sculptures (from the Athena Afaea Temple in Aegina, the East Frieze of the Siphnian Treasury in Delphi, parts of the so called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great) and specimens of real pigment used in antiquity. (Text and Photos: Michael Tziotis)

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Click on any of the pictures to enlarge.

The Sarcophagus from Sidon, the So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

At the end of the 19th century the Royal tombs of Sidon were found. The relief representations of this most beautiful sarcophagus show Alexander the Great at a chase and in a battle against the Persians. The coloring of the figures is in an extraordinary good condition. For that reason the sarcophagus is considered to be the most important example for the polychromy of sculpted objects from the late Classical and early Hellenistic period.

Analysis of the original, study and concept: Vinzenz Brinkmann, Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann
Analysis with methods of natural sciences: Heinrich Piening
3D-Scanning: Ursula Buck, Thorsten Schwing, GOM, Braunschweig
Stereolithography: Alphaform, München
Restoration of missing parts: Joseph Kottl, Sylvia Kellner
Painting (using authentic pigments and binder): Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann
Blue: Egyptian Blue
Red: Madder, Ochre, Hematite
Green: Egyptian Green
Yellow, Browns: Ochre
Violet: Madder
White: Lead White
Black: Burned Bone
Painted casts: Stiftung Archäologie
Original: National Archaeological Museum, Istanbul



Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


The most recent examination of the traces of the coloring of the sarcophagus was carried out in February 2006. In the context of this study about 300 measurements of the pigments could be made with the help of spectral analysis. As a result 20 different pigments could be distinguished. All of them were applied pure and unmixed.

The reconstructions show two parts of the scene of the battle against the Persians. Here we show the one to the left, Alexander the Great on horseback, on the whole reconstructed in colors. On the casts only those areas are colored whose pigments were found on the original.
Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


Here can be seen one of the short sides of the sarcophagus. On the casts only those areas are colored whose pigments were found on the original.
Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


Another photo of one of the short sides of the sarcophagus.
Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


Horse and rider staring us in the eyes
Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


Detail
Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


Detail
Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


Detail
Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


Detail
Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


Detail
Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


Detail
Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


Detail
The So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great: Detail

The So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great: Detail
Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


Snapshot of the video shown with details of the research work on the Sarcophagus.
Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


Snapshot of the video shown with details of the research work on the Sarcophagus.
Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


Snapshot of the video shown with details of the research work on the Sarcophagus.
Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


Snapshot of the video shown with details of the research work on the Sarcophagus.
Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great

Τhe So-Called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great


Snapshot of the video shown with details of the research work on the Sarcophagus.

Select Page of the Album: