Archäologisches Museum der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg

About the museum

In 1841 the University of Halle decided to build up an archaeological teaching collection; 1845 is regarded as the museum's founding year. In 1849 the archaeologist Ludwig Ross opened it to the public as the city's first public art collection. Its core consisted of plaster casts of ancient sculptures and a coin collection that goes back to the scholar Johann Heinrich Schulze.

To house the growing holdings, a dedicated museum building was erected on today's Universitätsplatz between 1889 and 1891 to plans by Otto Kilburger and inaugurated in December 1891. It is named after Carl Robert, who directed the collection from 1890 to 1922 and greatly expanded it through purchases and donations.

The museum serves both as a teaching collection for the study of Classical Archaeology and as a public exhibition. It owns around 800 plaster casts, along with Greek and Roman pottery – including a particularly early Panathenaic prize amphora from the 6th century BC – terracottas and small artworks, ancient coins, papyri and watercolor copies of Pompeian wall paintings. Special and studio exhibitions explore changing themes from antiquity and its reception.

Highlights

• Around 800 plaster casts of ancient sculptures
• Early Panathenaic prize amphora from the 6th century BC
• Greek vases, including works by the Achilles Painter and the Niobid Painter
• Ancient coins, papyri and cuneiform tablets
• The Robertinum, a museum building from 1891

Permanent exhibitions

• Abguss-Sammlung – Plaster casts of major Greek and Roman sculptures that have been used since the 19th century for the study of ancient sculpture.
• Originalsammlung – Ancient originals such as painted vases, terracottas and small artworks, complemented by coins and papyri from the museum's holdings.

Founded

1845

Operated by

Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg

Director

Stephan Faust

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair visits are possible only in individual cases; advance registration required.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

GPS address for vehicle access: Universitätsring 4.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit