The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is fortunate to have a small but focused collection of ancient art, comprising works from several civilizations in the lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea, from about 20,000 B.C. to the fifth century A.D. These civilizations were united by trade networks that fostered cultural exchanges.

The collection from the ancient Near East countries of Luristan, Sumeria, and Persia include finely crafted domestic objects, glass, and bronzes. The art of dynastic Egypt, unwaveringly directed towards the attainment of the afterlife, is represented by an intact mummy, the false door to a tomb, amulets, and religious burial objects.

The foundations of Western culture are found in "classical" art, the integration of Greek and Roman artistic principles that evolved continuously from the eighth century B.C. to the fifth century A.D. This aesthetic is exemplified by the marble sculpture, Doryphoros, one of the finest existing Roman copies of the original Greek sculpture made in 440 B.C. The Ancient Art Galleries include portrait busts, painted Attic vases, pavement mosaics, and exquisite small objects, presenting an overview of ancient art, the result of numerous bequests and purchases from the 1930s to the present day. The collection is constantly enriched by new acquisitions made possible through the generosity of Ruth and Bruce Dayton and other donors.

featured objects in this collection »