 | Travel back in time
The MFA houses one of the world’s finest collections of mummies, sculpture, ceramics, and dazzling gold from ancient Egypt, Greece, and the Roman Empire. With over 70,000 works of art, you can immerse yourself in the world of pharaohs and emperors. |
 |
|
|
Overview of Art of the Ancient World
The Art of the Ancient World collection ranks among the premier encyclopedic collections in the world, representing more than 7,000 years of art from Nubia, Egypt, the Near East, Cyprus, Anatolia, Greece, and Italy. The objects range in date from about 6500 BC to AD 600 and cover a geographical expanse from Afghanistan to Britain. In addition to architectural elements, sculpture, painting, vases, jewelry, and decorative arts, the department houses a numismatic collection of approximately 8,000 coins. |
|
|
|
Highlights
Age of Amarna
Etruscan Tomb Painting
Greek Athletes
Greek Mythology
Roman Emperors and Empresses |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
Friends Groups
Join the Friends of Art of the Ancient World, 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. |
|
|
|
| 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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
