West Asia and the Greek World

The archaeological collection from West Asia include pottery and bronze objects from modern Iran, Mesopotamian cylinder seals, clay tablets and Anatolian pottery, including pottery from Troy. It also features Syrian finds from the archaeological excavations at Selenkahiye and Mureybet under the direction of Prof Maurits van Loon of the University of Amsterdam. This area of the collection has grown considerably from the 1960s and consists mainly of private donations from collectors and the occasional purchases.

The collection of archaeological objects from West Asia covers a vast area, stretching from modern Iran and Iraq to Israel and from Yemen to Turkey. The period in which these objects were made and used is also extensive, ranging from around 8000 BCE to around 600 CE. From a cultural-historical perspective, these archaeological collections encompasse many cultures that existed in this area over a long period of time—although not all are represented in the Allard Pierson collection.

The archaeological collection of the Greek world ranges chronologically from around 3000 BCE to the beginning of the Common Era. The objects come from all parts of modern Greece, and also from other parts of the ancient Greek world, such as modern southern Italy and Sicily and the west coast of Turkey.

Within the Greek collection, the focus has been on the following material categories since the museum's foundation in 1934: (figuratively) decorated pottery objects, (human) figurines, marble objects, sculpture, jewellery, weapons and coins. The collection reflects the research traditions at the University of Amsterdam, with special focus on black- and red-figure pottery from ancient Athens. All categories offer a good insight into the development of style and technique of the makers over the centuries.

West Asia

• Polished beaked jug.
  Inv. 09176, pottery, Amlasj (Iran), 1350-1000 BCE.
• Clay tablet with envelope, with text in cuneiform about the delivery of barley.
  Inv. 06430, pottery, Lagash (Iran), c. 2050 BCE.
• Babylonian scroll seal depicting Gilgamesh and Engidu fighting with lion and bull.
  Inv. 03215, lapis lazuli, Nupar (Iraq), Akkadian , 2350-2150 BCE.
• Stylised figurine of mother and child, a so-called ‘eye-idol’.
  Inv. 15.727, alabaster, Syria, 3650-3550 BCE.

The Greek World

• Pregnant female figure from the Cyclades Islands (Greece), a so-called ‘Cyclades idol’.
  Inv. 01872, marble, Greece, Dokathismata group, 2700-2400 BCE.
• Mycenaean mixing vessel (crater) with military parade.
  Inv. 01856, pottery, Greece, 1300-1250 BCE.
• Small figurine of a horse as a gift to the gods.
  Inv. 01344, bronze, Greece, 750-725 BCE.
• A kouros; a votive statue of a young man
  Inv. 13.116, limestone, Greece, 600-550 BCE.
• Panathenean prize amphora.
  Inv. 01897, pottery, Euphiletos Painter, Greece, 510-500 BCE.
• Two girls playing the Ephedrismos game with one carrying the other on her back.
  Inv. 01891, pottery, Corinth (Greece), c. 300 BCE.
• Fragment of a chalice crater with a bronze cult statue of Apollo in the temple.
  Inv. 02579, pottery, Painter of the birth of Dionysos, Taranto (Italy), 400-390 BCE.

All objects from the Greek World archaeological collection can be found via the online Catalogue. Some of the objects can be found via the Image bank.

The Reading Room's Reference library contains journals, reference works, bibliographies and printed catalogues on the archaeology of West Asia and the Greek world and the objects in the collection.

• Laurien de Gelder
  Curator of the archaeological collections of West Asia and the Greek World
  Sent and e-mail: l.i.degelder@uva.nl