 |
| Ancient Greece Fragment from the Northern Frieze of the Parthenon 442-438 BC marble Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
This fragment with two young horsemen came from the northern frieze of the Parthenon. It was probably acquired in Venice by Marchese Tommaso degli Obizzi (died 1805) for his collection at Catajo Castle near Este (also known as the Este-Catajo collection). Much of the temple had been destroyed in 1687 during the siege by Venetian troops, and this fragment was likely carried home as a war souvenir at that time. The general European prestige of the Parthenon sculptures did not then exist, only evolving toward the end of the 18th century. Catajo Castle and its contents passed into the hands of the Austrian royal family by inheritance during the 19th century.
 |
| Ancient Greece Wounded Amazon ca. 400-350 BC marble relief Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
This relief was found in front of the theater in the ruined city of Ephesus on the Ionian coast (now part of Turkey). There, it was installed in the street pavement. Presumably it was originally created for the late classical Temple of Artemis (or the Artemision) of Ephesus, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The wounded Amazon is believed to have composed part of the frieze ornamenting that structure. It came to Austria in the early 20th century as a gift from the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II to Emperor Franz Joseph.
 |
| Ancient Greece Battle of Greeks and Amazons ca. 350-300 BC marble sarcophagus Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
The sarcophagus was discovered on the island of Cyprus in 1557 and taken to Venice. By 1567 it was in the possession of the Venetian branch of the Fugger family, prominent traders from Augsburg. The Hapsburgs acquired it in the early 17th century and brought it to Vienna. There, it was installed in a palace garden. By the early 19th century the sarcophagus had been brought indoors as part of the Antikenkabinett, later incorporated into the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
 |
| Ancient Greece Muse ca. 330-320 BC marble statue Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
The Muse's arms and hands (holding flutes) are not original, but are products of a modern restorer's fantasy. This statue is classified by the Kunsthistorisches Museum as late 4th-century Greek work, but then also (confusingly) described as a later Roman copy. The same obscure curatorial discrepancy between label and description applies to several of the other "Greek" pieces shown below.
 |
| Ancient Greece Head of Eros 3rd century BC marble Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Ancient Greece Female Figure 3rd century BC marble statue Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Ancient Greece Head Arsinoe III (Ptolomaic Queen) ca. 225-200 BC marble Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Ancient Greece Figure of Young Man ca. 200 BC marble relief Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Ancient Greece Centaur 2nd-1st century BC marble statue Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Ancient Greece Dancing Muse 2nd-1st century BC marble statuette Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Ancient Greece Head of Satyr 2nd century BC marble Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Ancient Greece Grave Stele of Dionysios and Melitine ca. 125-100 BC marble Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Ancient Greece Head of Artemis ca. 120 BC marble Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| Ancient Greece Portrait Statue of a Man ca. 100 BC marble fragment Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |