Important Dates In Classical Greece Art

Greek and Roman Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Department of Greek and Roman Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art houses a vast collection of ancient Greek and Roman art, including sculptures, vases, jewelry, and mosaics.

The collection spans over 5,000 years of history, from the Cycladic and Minoan civilizations to the Roman Empire.

The department's collection of Greek sculpture is particularly noteworthy, and includes works from all periods of Greek art, from the Archaic to the Hellenistic periods.

Highlights of the collection include the Kouros from Anavyssos, a 6th-century BCE marble statue of a young man; the Nike from Samothrace, a 2nd-century BCE marble statue of the goddess of victory; and the Laocoön Group, a 1st-century BCE marble sculptural group depicting the Trojan priest Laocoön and his sons being attacked by sea serpents.

The department's collection of Greek vases is also extensive, and includes examples from all major periods of Greek vase painting. Highlights of the collection include the François Vase, a 6th-century BCE Attic black-figure vase depicting scenes from Greek mythology; the Euphronios Krater, a 6th-century BCE Attic red-figure vase depicting the wedding of Peleus and Thetis; and the Panathenaic Amphora, a 6th-century BCE Athenian black-figure vase awarded to the winners of the Panathenaic Games.

The department's collection of Roman art is also significant, and includes sculptures, mosaics, and decorative arts. Highlights of the collection include the Portrait of Augustus, a 1st-century BCE marble bust of the first Roman emperor; the Ludovisi Gaul, a 1st-century BCE marble statue of a dying Gaul; and the Mosaic of the Nile, a 3rd-century CE mosaic depicting the Nile River and its surroundings.

The Department of Greek and Roman Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the most important collections of ancient art in the world. The collection offers a comprehensive overview of the history of Greek and Roman art, and includes some of the most iconic works of art from antiquity.