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Ancient Art
The arts of the ancient world have been principal components
of the Museum’s collection since its foundation. The first
major collection to enter the Museum included numerous Egyptian,
Greek, Roman, and Etruscan vases. Today, the collection of ancient
art numbers over 5,000 objects. The early civilizations of Mesopotamia,
Iran, Asia Minor, and the Levant are documented by a diverse
collection of artifacts, and the long history of ancient Egypt
is illustrated by outstanding examples of stone and pottery
vessels, carved stone reliefs, bronze statuettes, wall paintings,
amulets, and mummies. The collection of Greek art includes major
works of Attic black-figure and red-figure vase painting, Archaic
bronze statuettes, Hellenistic jewelry and terracotta figurines,
pottery from Cyprus, Corinth, and Rhodes, and marble funerary
and votive reliefs.
The heritage of ancient Italy is particularly well represented,
beginning with a distinguished collection of Etruscan vases,
sculptures, and metalwork, and culminating in the art of Rome
itself. The Roman collection encompasses marble and bronze portraits,
sculptures of gods, satyrs, and nymphs, sarcophagi and funerary
monuments, glass vessels and carved bone reliefs, silver and
gold coins, sealstones of agate and chalcedony, statuettes in
bronze, amber, ivory, and clay, and a rare silver-gilt wine
cup. Princeton’s distinguished record of archaeological
research in Roman Syria is illustrated by unusual basalt sculptures
from the Hauran region, funerary reliefs from the desert city
of Palmyra, and a renowned collection of colorful mosaic pavements
from the great metropolis of Antioch-on-the-Orontes. In addition
to the works on view, an ancient study gallery with hundreds
of additional objects is open for the convenience of students
and visitors. The collections of Greek and Roman sculpture are
published in comprehensive, scholarly catalogues, and many other
works have been published in the Record
of the Princeton University Art Museum. |
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Egyptian, Thebes, early Dynasty XIX
Stela of the Official Si-Mut
early 13th century B.C. |
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Greek
Statuette of a Centaur
ca. 530 B.C. |
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Greek, Attic,
ca. 500 B.C.
Black-figure Panathenaic Amphora with Chariot Race |
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Greek, South Italy (Taras),
Statuette of a Winged Victory (Nike)
mid-3d century B.C. |
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Greek
Breast Ornaments with Busts of Artemis and Athena
2d century B.C. |
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Roman
Cup with Bacchic Motifs in High Relief
early 1st century A.D. |
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Roman, Trajanic
Portrait Head of a Woman
ca. A.D. 98–117 |
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Roman
Statuette of Striding Herakles
2d century A.D. |
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Roman
Front Panel of a Sarcophagus, Scenes from the Life of Dionysos
2d century A.D. |
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Roman, Asia Minor
Bust of a Goddess
ca. 160-190 A.D. |
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Roman
Drinking Contest Between Dionysos and Herakles, Mosaic pavement from Antioch-on-the-Orontes, Turkey
early 3d century A.D. |
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Roman
Plaque Inlaid with Scene of Herakles and the Hydra
4th century A.D. |
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