Antikensammlung der Universität Heidelberg

About the museum

The collection's beginnings go back to the 1830s, when the philologist Friedrich Creuzer gave the university his collection, consisting mainly of impressions of coins and gems. In 1848, at the urging of Karl Zell, the Antiquarium was given its own room in the University Library; this year is regarded as the founding date of the archaeological teaching collection.

Under Karl Bernhard Stark and Friedrich von Duhn, the holdings grew considerably through targeted purchases of originals and casts. In 1918, casts of the reliefs from the Roman victory monument Tropaeum Traiani were added; from 1965 they were displayed in the Heuscheuer near the Marstall. Since 1966 the collection has been housed in the Neues Kollegiengebäude on Marstallhof.

Today it comprises just under 9,000 originals – ceramics, terracottas, bronzes, glass, stone objects and jewelry from the Mediterranean and the Near East, ranging from the 3rd millennium BC to the Roman Imperial period – as well as around 1,200 large plaster casts and some 14,000 small casts. This makes it one of the largest university collections of its kind in Germany. Because the building is undergoing a complete renovation, the collection has been placed in storage; after reopening, the presentation is to be redesigned.

Highlights

• Around 9,000 ancient originals, including Greek vases and small Roman finds
• Some 1,200 large plaster casts of ancient sculptures
• Casts of the reliefs from the Tropaeum Traiani
• One of the largest archaeological university collections in Germany

Founded

1848

Operated by

Universität Heidelberg, Institut für Klassische Archäologie und Byzantinische Archäologie

Director

Polly Lohmann (Kuratorin)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

According to the university's collection portal (heiCOLLECTIONS), admission is free.

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