Museum of Classical Archaeology, Cambridge, University museum of classical archaeology in Cambridge, United Kingdom
The Museum of Classical Archaeology at Cambridge University houses over 450 plaster casts of Greek and Roman sculptures displayed in chronological order. The collection spans from early archaic works through the Hellenistic and Roman periods, filling a spacious gallery where you can walk among these replicas at your own pace.
The collection was established in the 1880s to support teaching of classical archaeology at Cambridge University. It moved to its present location in 1983 and has remained a key resource for research and learning ever since.
The collection reveals how classical sculptors worked and what their pieces originally looked like when painted and displayed. You can experience these works as they functioned in their own time, not just as pale white statues.
The museum is easy to navigate with clear sight lines and good lighting throughout the galleries, making it simple to view all the pieces at your leisure. Plan to spend at least an hour here to properly take in the range of works without feeling rushed.
The Peplos Kore display shows two identical casts placed side by side, one painted in the original colors and one left plain. This striking comparison reveals how dramatically ancient sculptures would have appeared with their original bright pigments.
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