Ancient Greek Art
Scenes from daily life in antiquity

Beginning with the world of gods, heroes, and Eros, visitors continue their tour in the world of humans, learning about the activities engaged in by women in their private lives (as wives and mothers) and of men both in private (the home and banquets) and in public (the gymnasium, agora, and at war). Visitors can also examine aspects of religious practice and life after death in the kingdom of the Underworld.

The 142 artefacts of this Exhibition – drawn from the permanent collections of the Museum of Cycladic Art – are divided into nine subject groups according to their function or iconography and are displayed in seven large showcases. Most of the artefacts are from the Classical and Hellenistic periods (5th – 1st centuries BC). Also, each case has a frieze of drawings accompanied by explanatory texts to make the artefacts easier to approach, contextualize, and understand.

Additionally, two short films are shown – which were specially made in order to create a well-rounded presentation of the subject. The first, which is shown at the back of the main gallery, portrays moments from the life of a man, Leon, from a coastal deme of ancient Athens: his birth, naming, childhood, involvement in athletics, banquets with friends, preparations for his wedding, his marriage to Melite, military training, participation in public affairs, and, finally, his departure for war.
The second film, which is shown separately in the left wing on the fourth floor, concentrates on the death of the protagonist and on his relatives – who bury him and award him the customary honours.

After the end of the film, a three – dimensional representation of his grave is shown, which visitors can examine in addition to the funerary stele and cinerary urn and the corresponding frieze of drawings about the ancient grave offerings.

We would like to express our gratitude to the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, the Archaeological Museum of the Kerameikos for the long-term loan of ten inscribed potsherds, and to the Epigraphic Museum for making available a plaster cast of a decree. These objects are on display in the showcase devoted to “The Athenian Agora”.

The exhibition was made possible by the general support of the Leon Levy Foundation in New York.