Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece refers to the civilization that flourished in the Mediterranean from roughly the early first millennium BCE until the rise of Roman dominance. Greek culture had a lasting influence on art, philosophy, politics, and architecture, and its material remains continue to shape our understanding of the classical world.

Ancient reclining female marble statue missing arms and parts of legs, draped in cloth

Samothracian Marble Gable (c.150-125 BCE)

Antiquities Europe Greece Sculpture

This marble gable figure once formed part of the sculptural decoration of the Hieron in the Sanctuary of the Great Gods on Samothrace.

Marble statue of a draped female figure missing head and arms, standing on a pedestal against a dark background

Draped Female Statue (c. 0-200 BCE)

Antiquities Europe Greece Sculpture

A fragmentary draped marble statue that preserves the torso of a standing female figure, wrapped in deeply carved layers of drapery. Although the head, arms, lower legs, and feet are missing, the surviving body still gives a strong impression of elegance and dignity.

Marble torso sculpture of a female figure with missing head, arms, and lower legs displayed on a white stand against a dark background

Female Torso From Delos (2nd–1st century BCE)

Antiquities Europe Greece Sculpture

A marble torso from Delos that preserves only part of a female figure, yet still conveys much of the statue’s original impact. The soft modeling of the abdomen, hips, and thighs gives the body a natural, sensuous presence..

Marble sculpture of a seated woman resting her head on her hand, appearing thoughtful

Mourning Female Servant (c.330-320 BCE)

Antiquities Europe Greece Sculpture

A marble grave statue that turns the quiet pose of a female servant into the whole meaning of the work. Made in Attica, Greece, around 330–320 BC.

Ancient marble statue of a contemplative young woman with her head resting on her hand

Statue of a Mourning Girl (c. 360 BCE)

Antiquities Europe Greece Sculpture

Behold an Attic funerary statue that turns a simple gesture into the whole emotional center of the work. Dated to about 360 BCE, it shows a young mourning girl with her head resting on her hand.

Ancient marble sculpture of a female head with detailed wavy hair and serene expression

Head of Aphaia Sphinx (c.490 BCE)

Antiquities Europe Greece Sculpture

This marble head belonged to a sphinx that crowned the roof of the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina, probably at one of the temple’s corners, and is usually dated to about 500–490 BCE.

Marble statue of a standing female figure with draped clothing, missing arms, against a dark background

Colossal Wounded Amazon (c.150 CE)

Antiquities Europe Rome Sculpture

This over-life-size wounded Amazon captures a figure at the edge of collapse without surrendering her dignity. Wounded beneath the right breast, deprived of her weapons, and leaning lightly against a now missing support.

Ancient Greek black-figure kylix showing two figures, one holding a lyre and the other a staff

Kylix of Douris (c.470 BCE)

Antiquities Europe Greece Household Items

This Attic red-figure kylix, attributed to Douris and dated to about 470 BCE, turns a drinking vessel into a carefully staged image of human encounter.

Ancient Greek terracotta vessel shaped like a bull's head with detailed black and orange painting

Bull’s Head Rhyton (340–320 BCE)

Antiquities Ceremonial & Religious Europe Greece

Made in Apulia around 340–320 BCE, this bull’s head rhyton shows how inventive South Italian pottery could be in the late Classical period. The vessel combines an animal-shaped form with red-figure decoration and added paint.