Collection of Classical Antiquities

The Staatliche Museen’s Collection of Classical Antiquities (Antikensammlung) is one of the most important collections of ancient Greek and Roman art in the world. Its most famous and spectacular showpiece – the more than 2000-year-old monumental Pergamon Altar, a masterpiece of Hellenistic art whose boldly expressive sculptural frieze depicts the battle between the gods and the Giants – attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
Architectural structures and elements, sculptures and vases, inscriptions, mosaics, bronzes, and jewellery: this dazzling array of classical antiquities is on permanent display at two separate sites on the Museumsinsel Berlin, in the Pergamonmuseum, and the Altes Museum. In addition to these two major exhibitions, the Antikensammlung also presents a selection of its objects at the Neues Museum to enrich the joint exhibitions held there by other departments of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. Its presentation in the Neues Museum predominantly features art from the provinces of the Roman Empire and artefacts from its extensive Cyprus collection.

Since 2013, the Pergamonmuseum has been undergoing staggered renovation work, devised by the Ungers architectural practice, as part of the Master Plan Museumsinsel. During the current stage of renovations, the hall containing the Pergamon Altar is closed since 29 September 2014 and is due to remain closed to the public until 2019. The north wing and the gallery of Hellenistic art are also affected by the closure.