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! |
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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)
Select Page of the Album:
- The National Archaeological Museum of Athens: Why this Album?
- The National Archaeological Museum of Athens (The Building)
- Prehistoric Collection / Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Finds from Graves I, II and VI, 16th century BC
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Finds from Grave III, 16th century BC (Window 1)
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Finds from Grave III, 16th century BC (Window 2)
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Finds from Grave IV, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Finds from Grave V, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Jewelry from Graves IV and V, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Gold and silver tableware from Graves IV and V, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Pottery vessels, 16th- early 15th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Ritual vases-rhytons from Graves IV and V, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Exotic Objects, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Bronze vessels and tools from Graves III, IV and V, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Weapons and implements from Grave IV, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Weapons and implements from Grave V, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle B / Finds from Graves Alpha, Zeta, Eta and Kappa, 17th-16th cent. BC
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle B / Finds from the Male Inhumations in Grave Nu & the Female One in Grave Omicron, 17th-16th cent. BC
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle B / Finds from Grave Gamma and Delta, 17th-16th cent. BC
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle B / Finds from Graves Beta, Epsilon, Iota, Lamda, Mu, Xi, Upsilon, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Bone, Glass and Ivory Artifacts from the Mycenean Acropolis
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Palatial Workshops Finds and Bronze Weapon and Tool Hoards in the Acropolis of Mycenae, 14th-13th centuries BC
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Imported objects and raw materials from abroad, most found on the Mycenae acropolis.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Clay and stone ritual vessels, used in religious ceremonies (15th-12th century BC).
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Pictorial Style pottery from the Mycenae acropolis.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Wall-Paintings
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Tiryns/The Tiryns wall-paintings
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Tiryns/The Acropolis of Tiryns
Click on any of the pictures to enlarge.
Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Ritual vases-rhytons from Graves IV and V, 16th century BC.Ritual vases are characteristic grave offerings in the royal burials at Mycenae. These same vases were probably used as rhytons (libation vessels) during the funeral ceremonies. The influence of Minoan Crete is obvious in the choice of the shapes, for example the bovine head, and the stone vases were imported from specialized Cretan workshops. The bull symbolizes vital power and fertility, and the lion could be an expression of natural strength and dominion. The figure-of-eight shield, a practical defensive device, evolved into a sacred symbol. The silver 'Siege rhyton' bears a unique battle scene, eight centuries before the Homeric epics were written. The silver deer is a tribute from the Hittite kings, who dominated Asia Minor, to their Mycenaean equivalents.
Athens National Archaeological Museum: Gallery IV / Grave Circle A / Ritual vases-rhytons from Graves IV and V, Mycenae, 16th century BC. (General Photo of Window) |
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384. Silver rhyton in the shape of a bovine head with gold horns and rosette on the forehead.
The muzzle, which has a pouring hole, is gold-plated, as were initially the eyes and the inside of the ears. Grave IV. |
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273. Gold rhyton made of hammered sheet metal in the shape of an impressive lion's head with distinctive details, such as the muzzle (which has a pouring hole) and mane. Grave IV. |
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273. Gold lion-head rhyton of the previous picture, photographed frontally |
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608. Silver model of a figure-of-eight shield with a hole in the middle and a suspension loop on the reverse. Grave IV. |
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854. Tall alabaster chalice (eucharistic drinking cup). Grave V. |
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388. Silver vessel in the shape of a horned deer. Grave IV.
The vessel's mouth is situated on the animal's back. A local craftsman unsuccessfully attempted to transform this Hittite vessel into a libation vase by drilling a hole in the muzzle. |
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829. Alabaster vase with gold-plated rim and handles. This was originally an Egyptian vase, which was turned upside down and converted by an Aegean craftsman. Grave V. |
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389. Marble ritual vase with elaborate handles and a small pouring hole at the base. Grave IV. |
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389. Marble ritual vase with elaborate handles and a small pouring hole at the base. Grave IV.
Yet another picture of the exhibit in the previous photo |
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481. Silver conical rhyton, known as the 'Siege Rhyton' because of its unique representation of a besieged walled settlement. Grave IV.
Women stand on the walls in front of multi-storied buildings, while the men defend their city with slings and bows. The sea and an olive tree indicate the location where these events take place. |
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481. Silver conical rhyton drawing on paper |
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481. Silver conical rhyton drawing on paper (Detail) |
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Select Page of the Album:
- The National Archaeological Museum of Athens: Why this Album?
- The National Archaeological Museum of Athens (The Building)
- Prehistoric Collection / Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Finds from Graves I, II and VI, 16th century BC
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Finds from Grave III, 16th century BC (Window 1)
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Finds from Grave III, 16th century BC (Window 2)
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Finds from Grave IV, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Finds from Grave V, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Jewelry from Graves IV and V, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Gold and silver tableware from Graves IV and V, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Pottery vessels, 16th- early 15th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Ritual vases-rhytons from Graves IV and V, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Exotic Objects, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Bronze vessels and tools from Graves III, IV and V, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Weapons and implements from Grave IV, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Weapons and implements from Grave V, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle B / Finds from Graves Alpha, Zeta, Eta and Kappa, 17th-16th cent. BC
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle B / Finds from the Male Inhumations in Grave Nu & the Female One in Grave Omicron, 17th-16th cent. BC
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle B / Finds from Grave Gamma and Delta, 17th-16th cent. BC
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle B / Finds from Graves Beta, Epsilon, Iota, Lamda, Mu, Xi, Upsilon, 16th century BC.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Bone, Glass and Ivory Artifacts from the Mycenean Acropolis
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Palatial Workshops Finds and Bronze Weapon and Tool Hoards in the Acropolis of Mycenae, 14th-13th centuries BC
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Imported objects and raw materials from abroad, most found on the Mycenae acropolis.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Clay and stone ritual vessels, used in religious ceremonies (15th-12th century BC).
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Pictorial Style pottery from the Mycenae acropolis.
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Wall-Paintings
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Tiryns/The Tiryns wall-paintings
- Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Tiryns/The Acropolis of Tiryns
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