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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 / Grave Circle A / Exotic Objects, 16th century BC.

The royal graves contained remarkable artifacts and jewelry made of imported materials, such as amber (resin from the petrified Baltic pine-forests), semi-precious stones (cornelian, amethyst, rock crystal), ivory, ostrich eggs and synthetic materials from Egypt or the Syro-Palestinian coast (glass paste and faïence, the latter made by coating a material of powdered quartz with a vitreous alkaline glaze).


Athens National Archaeological Museum: Gallery IV / Exotic Objects from Grave Circle A, Mycenae, 16th century BC. (General Photo of  Window)

Athens National Archaeological Museum: Gallery IV / Exotic Objects from Grave Circle A, Mycenae, 16th century BC. (General Photo of Window)
209. Necklace made of glass paste. Grave I.

209. Necklace made of glass paste. Grave I.
210. Ivory exhibit. Grave I.

210. Ivory exhibit. Grave I.
109. Gold comb revetment with repoussé felines. Grave III

109. Gold comb revetment with repoussé felines. Grave III
124, 166. Fragment of a small faïence jug and a faïence model of a triton shell

124, 166. Fragment of a small faïence jug and a faïence model of a triton shell


124. Fragment of a small faïence jug with relief representation of a male figure with shield and helmet. Grave III.
166. Faïence model of a triton shell and fragment of faience jug. Triton shells were used as wind instruments to summon deities during sacred rituals. Grave III.
110, 111, 114. Necklace beads made of cornelian and amethyst. Graves III and IV.

110, 111, 114. Necklace beads made of cornelian and amethyst. Graves III and IV.
264. Gold foil lid with repoussé decoration; from a (wooden?) pyxis. Grave IV.

264. Gold foil lid with repoussé decoration; from a (wooden?) pyxis. Grave IV.
828, 567, 552. Ostrich-egg rhyta with faïence rims and gold bases.

828, 567, 552. Ostrich-egg rhyta with faïence rims and gold bases.


One has applied dolphins on the body. These natural eggs were embellished in Minoan Cretan workshops. Graves IV and V.
553-554, 558-564, 569-571. Faïence models of sacral knots (a sacred symbol of Minoan Crete) with linear decoration. Grave IV.

553-554, 558-564, 569-571. Faïence models of sacral knots (a sacred symbol of Minoan Crete) with linear decoration. Grave IV.
553-554, 558-564, 569-571. Faïence models of sacral knots (a sacred symbol of Minoan Crete) with linear decoration. Grave IV.

553-554, 558-564, 569-571. Faïence models of sacral knots (a sacred symbol of Minoan Crete) with linear decoration. Grave IV.
553-554, 558-564, 569-571. Faïence models of sacral knots (a sacred symbol of Minoan Crete) with linear decoration. Grave IV.

553-554, 558-564, 569-571. Faïence models of sacral knots (a sacred symbol of Minoan Crete) with linear decoration. Grave IV.
553-554, 558-564, 569-571. Faïence models of sacral knots (a sacred symbol of Minoan Crete) with linear decoration. Grave IV.

553-554, 558-564, 569-571. Faïence models of sacral knots (a sacred symbol of Minoan Crete) with linear decoration. Grave IV.
555-556. Four faïence rosette-shaped appliqués. Grave IV.

555-556. Four faïence rosette-shaped appliqués. Grave IV.
100, 101, 513, 758. Beads and plaques of amber necklace. Graves III and V.

100, 101, 513, 758. Beads and plaques of amber necklace. Graves III and V.
812. Wooden pyxis with appliqué ivory dogs. Grave V

812. Wooden pyxis with appliqué ivory dogs. Grave V
890, 891. Fragments of a wooden tripod table, a unique piece of furniture from the royal graves. Grave V.

890, 891. Fragments of a wooden tripod table, a unique piece of furniture from the royal graves. Grave V.


Unlike Egypt, wood is rarely preserved in the Mycenaean world because of the higher humidity levels.

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