Acropolis Museum Collection | Explore the Archaeological Findings from the Acropolis of Athens

Location: Ground floor

Notable artefacts: Offerings to the gods, ancient pottery, reliefs, and figurines

This gallery immerses you in the daily life of ancient Athenians, showcasing objects found in the various buildings that were once located on the slopes of the Acropolis. The artifacts here reflect the religious and public aspects of their life.

Location: First floor

Notable artefacts: The Moschophoros (Calf-bearer) and the Kore 675

This gallery is home to the early masterpieces of ancient Greek art from the 7th century BCE to the early 5th century BCE, before the Persian invasion. You’ll find statues and offerings like korai (female statues), kouroi (male statues), and horsemen. They highlight the development of freestanding sculpture and show the evolution of dedications (offerings).

Location: First floor

Notable artefacts: Early Mycenaean pottery, tools, figurines, and remnants of the formidable walls

This gallery uncovers the layers of history that transformed the Acropolis from a typical settlement into the epitome of Athenian power and religious devotion. Through a carefully curated selection of artefacts, visitors are taken on a journey through time, exploring how this sacred hill evolved to become the heart of ancient Athens.

Location: First floor

Notable artefacts: Karyatids, friezes from the Erechtheion, parts of the Propylaia’s ceiling and columns, friezes and segments of parapets from the Temple of Athena Nike

This gallery pays homage to the ambitious building programme initiated by Pericles, the ancient Greek politician. It was under him that the Acropolis’ most iconic structures were constructed between 461 BCE and 429 BCE. The artifacts here showcase the period’s architectural grandeur, and reflect the democratic ideals and cultural flourishing of Athens.

Location: First floor

Notable artefacts: Findings from the Sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia, dedications, reliefs, Roman coinage

This gallery celebrates the height of artistic and architectural achievement at the Acropolis during its golden age. It chronicles the evolution of Athens’ art and architecture, showcasing its cultural dominance. You’ll see artifacts from the Sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia, fragments of figurines and reliefs, and Roman-era gold and bronze coins.

Location: Third floor

Notable artefacts: Fragments of the Parthenon’s frieze, detailed metopes, and pediments

Centred around the Parthenon frieze, this gallery offers a comprehensive view of the band of rich decorative sculptures that once adorned the temple of Athena at the Acropolis. You can appreciate the friezes in their historical context through an architectural layout that mirrors the Parthenon’s dimensions.

Location: Basement

Notable artefacts: Fragments of ancient dwellings and architectural pieces

Set beneath the museum’s modern structure, this gallery is a testament to the living history underpinning the Acropolis Museum itself. The atrium’s glass floor offers a literal window into the past, where visitors can peer into the depths of Athenian history. Watch as archaeologists excavate Ancient Greek buildings, including houses and workshops, and uncover the mysteries of this ancient neighbourhood.

Location: Level 1/Basement

Notable artifacts: Everyday utensils, pottery, and other daily use items

In June 2024, on its 15th anniversary, the Acropolis Museum opened a new permanent exhibition area. Located at Level 1/the basement, adjacent to the archaeological excavation site, this new exhibit displays more than 1,100 artifacts unearthed from the excavation site. These items give you a fascinating glimpse of what daily life was like in the vicinity of the Acropolis in ancient Athens.

Location: The Archaic Acropolis Gallery

Depicting a bearded man carrying a calf on his shoulders, the 6th-century BC Moschophoros or calf-bearer statue symbolises a sacrificial offering to the goddess Athena. It showcases the religious devotion and artistic detail of the period.

Location: Other monuments of the Periklean building programme – The Erechtheion section

The Caryatids are sculpted female figures that served as support columns in the Erechtheion temple. They elegantly blend form with function while embodying the grace and strength of women. Their enduring beauty highlights the advanced sculptural techniques of ancient Greece.

Location: The Parthenon Gallery

The Parthenon Frieze captures the grandeur of the religious procession that was once held during the Panathenaea, an ancient Greek festival. Comprising a detailed relief, the frieze once encircled the temple’s outer walls and celebrated Athena’s patronage and Athenian civic pride. It’s a masterful representation of the ancient Greeks’ artistic achievement.

Location: The Archaic Acropolis Gallery

This statue depicts the goddess Athena in a confident battle pose, with her arm raised to strike her enemies with a weapon, most likely a spear. Made of bronze and created in the 5th century BC, the statue shows the goddess wearing a magnificent crested helmet and her aegis, which was a protective cloak.

Location: Gallery of the Slopes of the Acropolis

Made of Pentelic marble, this relief sculpture depicts the god Aslepios, his wife Epione, and his daughter Hygeia receiving worshippers at his temple. Reassembled from several fragments found in the Sanctuary of Asklepios on the south slope of Acropolis Hill, it includes many sculptural elements typical in Greek art during the Classical period. It is one of the most beautifully restored artefacts at the Acropolis Museum.

Location: Other monuments of the Periklean building programme – The Temple of Athena Nike section

Masterfully carved from marble, this sculpture captures Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, in the act of adjusting the sandal on her right foot. The elaborate folds of the garment and the way it is draped over the body showcase the unparalleled craftsmanship of Athenian sculptors in depicting complex, transient movements in a timeless medium.

Location: The Archaic Acropolis Gallery

The Peplos Kore is the statue of a young woman wearing a peplos – the traditional ancient Greek women’s attire. It is significant because of the decorations in vibrant colours that once adorned it, challenging the monochromatic image of ancient sculpture. It also provides a glimpse into ancient Greek fashion and clothing practices.

Location: The Archaic Acropolis Gallery

Marking a significant evolution in Greek sculpture, the Kritios Boy exemplifies the shift towards realism and the introduction of contrapposto – or a statue depicted standing with its weight resting on one foot. It offers insights into the intellectual and artistic advancements of the early Classical period of ancient Greece.

Location: Other monuments of the Periklean building programme – The Erechtheion section

An intricate Ionic frieze once surrounded the Erechtheion in the Acropolis of Athens, depicting ancient Greek gods, heroes, citizens, and scenes from Greek mythology. Today, fragments of this frieze have been preserved and kept in the Acropolis Museum. They showcase the exquisite craftsmanship of the ancient Athenians and provide a window into their spiritual and cultural world.

Location: Gallery of the Slopes of the Acropolis

The Loutrophoros-amphora is one of many clay amphorae (two-handled jars) recovered and displayed at the Acropolis Museum. However, it is notable because of the decorations in the form of ritualistic scenes depicted on it using the black-figure technique. Since a Loutrophoros was used in wedding ceremonies, scenes of a wedding procession are inscribed on its narrow neck and wide body. It provides a rare insight into Ancient Greek culture and customs.