Lukan bell crater
In 1888, the vase collection of the Archaeological Institute received a major addition: the Prussian state had bought up the important Fontana collection of antiquities in Trieste and transferred 73 vessels from it to the University of Göttingen. They come mainly from Greek ceramic workshops in southern Italy and were used as grave goods in antiquity. Craters like the one shown here were used for mixing water and wine. Depicted is a pair of lovers.
ca. 350 BC
Fragment of a mummy case
The Original Archaeological Collection contains finds from many cultures of the ancient Mediterranean world, including a large number of Egyptian objects. This part of a mummy case is a kind of decorative cover for the actual, bandaged mummy body. It consists of stuccoed and then painted linen bandages. Such cardboard wrappings usually enclosed the entire mummy, but could also reach only up to chest level. The colouring is typical for mummy wrappings of the late Ptolemaic period.
Egyptian-Roman / (1st - 4th century AD)
Samples of various types of ancient craftsmanship
Samples of various types of ancient handicrafts are an important teaching tool: they give a concrete idea of the material composition of archaeological finds. This is also the best way to learn how to recognise forgeries. From early excavations (such as that of Heinrich Schliemann in Troy) come above all shards. They are particularly valuable from a didactic point of view. Complete objects come mainly from the art trade. In most cases, there is a lack of precise finding information.
Etruscan mirror with representation of the sea monster Scylla
Bronze; 2nd century BC
Finds from Heinrich Schliemann's Troia excavation
Stone, clay; 3rd and 2nd millennium B.C.
Fake terracotta figures
Clay; 20th century
Late Roman bottle
3rd-4th century AD
Roman relief: Lying Eros
The motif of the sleeping Eros or Cupid was very popular in Roman times. This marble relief shows him with the club of Heracles and a torch, which is often interpreted as a symbol of death. So the statement would be: Love conquers not only the strongest hero, but even death. The Göttingen physics professor Benno Markus (1921-1989) collected exclusively representations of the childlike god of love, from antiquity to the present, and bequeathed them to the university's Archaeological Institute.
2nd century AD
Institute of Archaeology
The Institute's collection of original works of sculpture, ceramics and other genres of ancient arts and crafts dates back to the early history of the University of Göttingen and remains an essential resource for research and teaching at the Archaeological Institute today. It includes a variety of different vessels, terracottas, bronzes, reliefs, gem imprints and fragments.
