Glyptothek, Munich – Virtual Tour

The Glyptothek houses a significant collection of Greek and Roman sculptures and is part of the Kunstareal (“art district”), which is the museum quarter in the city center of Munich, Germany.

The museum’s building is in the neoclassical style and was built from 1816 to 1830. The Glyptothek is Munich’s oldest public museum.

The Glyptothek was commissioned by the Crown Prince, and the later King, Ludwig I of Bavaria, alongside other projects, such as the neighboring Königsplatz.

The building, which houses the State Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities, was designed as a monument to ancient Greece.

He envisioned a “German Athens,” in which the ancient Greek culture would be remembered.

Highlights of the Glyptothek

“Dying warrior” – Pediment Sculpture from the Temple of Aphaia
Roman Bronze Discobolus
Aegina temple figures
Barberini Faun
Bust of Emperor Augustus wearing the Civic Crown.
Figures of the Aphai temple.

Glyptothek Collection

The Glyptothek contains sculptures dating from the archaic age (c. 650 BC) to the Roman era (c. 550 AD). Notable mosaics and reliefs are also part of the collection. The period covered include:

Archaic Greek period (700-490 BC)
Classical Greek period (490–323 BC)
Hellenistic period (323–146 BC)
Roman period (150 BC – 550 AD)

Kunstareal

The Kunstareal art district consists of the three “Pinakotheken” galleries, the Glyptothek, the Staatliche Antikensammlungen, the Lenbachhaus, the Museum Brandhorst’ and several galleries.

The history of the museums in this area of Munich began in 1816 with the erection of the Glyptothek at Königsplatz.

The three “Pinakotheken” art galleries consist of the Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek and Pinakothek der Moderne.

The Glyptothek and the Staatliche Antikensammlungen are both museums that specialized in Greek and Roman art. The Staatliche Sammlung für Ägyptische Kunst is the Egypt Art museum.