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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)

Select Page of the Album:


Click on any of the pictures to enlarge.

Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Pictorial Style pottery from the Mycenae acropolis.

Much of the Mycenaean Pictorial Style pottery of the 14th to the 12th centuries BC, which bears representations of humans, chariots, horses and bulls on large kraters, was produced at Berbati in the Argolis (Argolida) and exported to Cyprus, where it was widely imitated. Birds, fish, wild goats or imaginary creatures (i.e. sphinxes) occur on other types of vessels, such as jugs and stirrup jars. Usually only fragments of these vases survive in mainland Greece, because they come from settlement contexts. In Cyprus, however, whole examples exist, since they were deposited in tombs as grave gifts.


National Archaeological Museum: Gallery IV / Pictorial Style pottery from the Mycenae acropolis (General photo of Window)

National Archaeological Museum: Gallery IV / Pictorial Style pottery from the Mycenae acropolis (General photo of Window)
10535. Stirrup jar decorated with stylized flowers on the shoulder, sphinxes (fantastic creatures with a woman's head and a lion's body) and flowers on the body.

10535. Stirrup jar decorated with stylized flowers on the shoulder, sphinxes (fantastic creatures with a woman's head and a lion's body) and flowers on the body.
1140, 1280. Kylix decorated with a stylized octopus and linear motifs.

1140, 1280. Kylix decorated with a stylized octopus and linear motifs.
1272, 7461, 1141, 4691. Fragments of vessels (kraters, cups and jugs) in the Pictorial Style

1272, 7461, 1141, 4691. Fragments of vessels (kraters, cups and jugs) in the Pictorial Style


Representations of warriors and horses (4691, 1141), of a female figure with outstretched arms (1272), of a horse (7461) etc
1275. Fragment of a krater depicting large birds whose bodies are decorated with dotted circles.

1275. Fragment of a krater depicting large birds whose bodies are decorated with dotted circles.
14163. Plaster libation table with painted decoration. A helmeted figure is depicted on one of the legs.

14163. Plaster libation table with painted decoration. A helmeted figure is depicted on one of the legs.
1294. Fragment of a bowl displaying a hedgehog below the handle

1294. Fragment of a bowl displaying a hedgehog below the handle
2581, 2685. Fragments of vessels (kraters, cups and jugs) in the Pictorial Style with representations of dogs (2581) and birds (2685)

2581, 2685. Fragments of vessels (kraters, cups and jugs) in the Pictorial Style with representations of dogs (2581) and birds (2685)
2654, 1309, 1298. A stirrup jar fragment depicting sphinxes and birds (2654), and bulls (1309, 1298)

2654, 1309, 1298. A stirrup jar fragment depicting sphinxes and birds (2654), and bulls (1309, 1298)
2685, 1303. Fragments with representations of a bird and a horse

2685, 1303. Fragments with representations of a bird and a horse
1218. Fragment bearing a plastic bovine head

1218. Fragment bearing a plastic bovine head
2675. A fragment depicting a bull-leaping scene

2675. A fragment depicting a bull-leaping scene
3051. Fragment depicting a fish

3051. Fragment depicting a fish
7387. Fragment of a krater depicting a chariot with two occupants. A male figure holding a staff walks in front of the chariot, not visible in this photo

7387. Fragment of a krater depicting a chariot with two occupants. A male figure holding a staff walks in front of the chariot, not visible in this photo
7387. Fragment of a krater depicting a chariot with two occupants. A male figure holding a staff walks in front of the chariot, better visible from this angle.

7387. Fragment of a krater depicting a chariot with two occupants. A male figure holding a staff walks in front of the chariot, better visible from this angle.
Fragment depicting a bird

Fragment depicting a bird
2648.  Fragment depicting a fish, exhibited together with various other fragments

2648. Fragment depicting a fish, exhibited together with various other fragments
Pictorial Style Pottery: Fragment depicting two bulls

Pictorial Style Pottery: Fragment depicting two bulls

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