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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 / Finds from Grave IV, 16th century BC.

An introductory text on MYCENAE’S GRAVE CIRCLE A is to be found in a previous album page, "Gallery IV / Mycenaean Civilization / Mycenae / Grave Circle A / Finds from Graves I, II and VI, 16th century BC". Please refer to this page to also have a brief description of the finds in all six graves belonging to Grave Circle A.

Shaft Grave IV
This grave is conspicuous by its wealth and size. It contained three male and two female inhumations. Two of the deceased were placed on a north-south axis, contrary to the more common east-west axis. The three gold death masks are the par excellence male burial accoutrements. One male burial also had a gold breastplate. This grave contained precious gold, silver and stone vases, ritual rhytons (libation vases), either with intricate decoration, or in the shape of animals, large bronze vessels and numerous weapons, including a beautiful dagger with an inlaid lion hunt scene. The deceased were adorned with gold diadems, numerous pieces of gold jewelry, a variety of cut-out foil ornaments, and belts or straps.



Gallery IV / Grave Circle A / Finds from Grave IV, Mycenae, 16th century BC. (General Photo of Window)

Gallery IV / Grave Circle A / Finds from Grave IV, Mycenae, 16th century BC. (General Photo of Window)
253. Gold male death-mask made of sheet metal with repoussé details.

253. Gold male death-mask made of sheet metal with repoussé details.
254. Gold male death-mask made of sheet metal with repoussé details.

254. Gold male death-mask made of sheet metal with repoussé details.
259. Gold male death-mask made of sheet metal with repoussé details. The only one with the eyes open.

259. Gold male death-mask made of sheet metal with repoussé details. The only one with the eyes open.
263. Bracelet made of a thick gold sheet.

263. Bracelet made of a thick gold sheet.


In the middle, a cut-out foil was initially decorated with iron axes (ritual weapons). The bracelet's shape and decoration (the use of iron was rare during this period) make it a powerful emblem of the Mycenaean rulers' authority.
263. Bracelet made of a thick gold sheet. Same exhibit as in the previous photo.

263. Bracelet made of a thick gold sheet. Same exhibit as in the previous photo.
294. Fragment of a bronze sword with the hilt and shoulder decorated in the cloisonné technique.

294. Fragment of a bronze sword with the hilt and shoulder decorated in the cloisonné technique.


The hilt and shoulder are decorated in the cloisonné technique, in which the scale pattern compartments on the latter are inlaid with lapis lazuli. This elaborate design ends in two griffin or eagle heads.
294. Fragment of a bronze sword with the hilt and shoulder decorated in the cloisonné technique (Detail)

294. Fragment of a bronze sword with the hilt and shoulder decorated in the cloisonné technique (Detail)
394. Bronze dagger with inlaid decoration depicting a lion hunt.

394. Bronze dagger with inlaid decoration depicting a lion hunt.


The hunters carry spears and bows, and protect themselves with tower-shaped and figure-of-eight shields. One lion has been hurt and a man lies on the ground, while two more lions escape. On the reverse, a lion hunts deer.
394. Bronze dagger with inlaid decoration depicting a lion hunt. (Detail)

394. Bronze dagger with inlaid decoration depicting a lion hunt. (Detail)
394. Bronze dagger with inlaid decoration depicting a lion hunt. (Reverse side)

394. Bronze dagger with inlaid decoration depicting a lion hunt. (Reverse side)


The photo is turned upside down for the reverse side, depicting a lion hunting deer, to show better.
395. Bronze dagger with inlaid decoration, which depicts lions in flying gallop.

395. Bronze dagger with inlaid decoration, which depicts lions in flying gallop.
240, 241. Gold signet rings: one with a hunting scene, the other with a military scene

240, 241. Gold signet rings: one with a hunting scene, the other with a military scene


Signet rings were precious objects and may have been used by the Mycenaean rulers as personal seals.
Exhibit 240: an archer targets a deer from a two-horsed chariot. Exhibit 241: two men fight with long swords, while a third one, who wears a boar's tusk helmet and holds a spear and tower-shaped shield, stands by, and a fourth figure lies on the ground, all set within a rocky landscape.

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