 | Travel back in time
Immerse yourself in the world of Egyptian pharaohs, Athenian aristocrats, and Roman emperors. View masterpieces by great artists as well as objects made for daily use and the afterlife—everything from monumental sculpture to colorful floor mosaics to ornately wrapped mummies. |
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Collection News
Greek and Roman Sculpture Gallery
This new gallery features a distinguished selection of bronze and marble sculpture from the fourth century BC to the third century AD. A case of bronze body parts shows how artists assembled life-sized sculpture and explains techniques of bronze casting. Visitors will see marble sculpture based on originals created by some of the most famous masters of Greek art (for example, the Spear Bearer of Polykleitos and the Scraper of Lysippos). A third section includes Athenian funerary sculpture of the fifth and fourth centuries BC, evoking a Classical cemetery. The natural light in the gallery gives visitors an opportunity to appreciate the extraordinary workmanship of ancient sculpture. Explore the gallery
Overview of Art of the Ancient World
The Art of the Ancient World collection ranks among the premier encyclopedic collections in the world, with over 83,000 works of art from Egypt, Nubia, the Near East, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, and Anatolia. The objects in the collection range in date from about 6500 BC to AD 600 and cover a broad geographical expanse, from Britain to Afghanistan. There is something for everyone, including sculpture, jewelry, coffins, mummies, coins, weapons, architecture, vases, carved gems, musical instruments, and mosaics. |
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Highlights
Age of Amarna
Etruscan Tomb Painting
Greek Athletes
Greek Mythology
Roman Emperors and Empresses |
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Features and Resources
An Agreement with the Italian Ministry of Culture
On September 28, 2006, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, (MFA) transferred thirteen antiquities to Italy and signed an agreement with the Italian Ministry of Culture marking the beginning of a new era of cultural exchange. The agreement includes the creation of a partnership in which the Italian government will loan significant works from Italy to the MFA’s displays and special exhibitions program, and it establishes a process by which the MFA and Italy will exchange information with respect to the Museum’s future acquisitions of Italian antiquities. The partnership also envisages collaboration in the areas of scholarship, conservation, archaeological investigation and exhibition planning.
Press release: Italy Loans Ancient Masterpiece to the MFA
View the MFA's Giza Archives
Visit our Explore Ancient Egypt interactive site |
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Friends Groups
Join the Laurel Society (Greek Art) or the The Lotus Society (Ancient Egyptian, Nubian, and Near Eastern Art) to support and learn more about the department at the MFA. |
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| The image at the top of this page is a Marine mosaic (central panel of three panels from a floor), Roman Provincial, Imperial Period, A.D. 200-230. Mosaic (stone and glass tesserae). Museum purchase and conservation with funds donated by George D. and Margo Behrakis, The Getty Foundation, Jane's Trust, John F. Cogan, Jr. and Mary L. Cornille, Daphne and George Hatsopoulos, the Estate of Dr. Harold Amos, Peter and Widgie Aldrich, Mrs. I. W. Colburn, Mary B. Comstock, The Hellenic Women's Club, Inc., an anonymous donor, Katherine R. Kirk, Peter Vlachos, Mrs. James Evans Ladd, Irene and Grier Merwin, Suzanne R. Dworsky, Mr. and Mrs. Robert K. Faulkner, Francis J. Jackson and Nancy M. McMahon, Meg Holmes Robbins, Otis Norcross Fund, Helen and Alice Colburn Fund, Arthur Tracy Cabot Fund, Charles Amos Cummings Fund, and by exchange from the John Wheelock Elliot Fund, Henry Lillie Pierce Fund, Benjamin Pierce Cheney Donation, Bequest of Benjamin Rowland, Jr., Gift of a "class of young ladies," Museum purchase by contribution, Gift of Barbara Deering Danielson, General Funds, William Sturgis Bigelow Collection, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Wales, Gift of Paul E. Manheim, Bequest of Mrs. May Sheppard Jordan, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William de Forest Thomson, Francis Bartlett Donation, Gift of James Howe Proctor, Gift of Benjamin W. Crowninshield, Gift of the Estate of Dana Estes, Gift of Thomas Gold Appleton, Gift of Edward Perry Warren, Gift of an anonymous donor, Gift of Francis Amory, Gift of J. J. Dixwell, Gift of Edward Austin, Gift of Edward Robinson, Gift of Horace L. Mayer, Everett Fund, Gift of the Misses Norton, Gift of the Misses Amy and Clara Curtis, Gift of Charles C. Perkins, Gift of Mrs. Walter Scott Fitz, Gift of Harold Murdock in memory of his brother, Rear-Admiral J. B. Murdock, Gift of the Estate of Alfred Greenough, and Gift of Edward Southworth Hawes. |
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