The Glyptothek in München is dedicated only to sculptures from antiquity and is one of the world’s best museum collections of Greek and Roman art.
The Greek and Roman sculptures in the Glyptothek in Munich form one of the finest collections of antiquities in the world and among the best in Germany. The art is of the highest quality and beautifully displayed in a purpose-built neo-classical building. Highlights include the Barberini Faun (Sleeping Satyr), the Kouros of Tenea, an Aphrodite of Cnidus, the dying Ilioneus, the Apollo Barberini, and the Artemis Braschi. Admission is only €1 on Sundays.
Sculptures from Antiquity in the Glyptothek in Munich
Most of the classical Greek and Roman sculptures in the Glyptothek in Munich were purposely collected by Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I of Bavaria from 1825 to 1848) in the early 19th century. He appointed Johann Martin von Wagner as his agent to acquire just the best works as he wanted to create an Athens on the Isar in Munich. The emphasis was always on quality rather than quantity, although the collection is by no means small.
From around 1830, the collection was displayed in the Glyptothek design by Leo van Klenze. He created a Gesamtkunstwerk with colorfully painted walls and ceilings where the emphasis was on the architecture rather than the superb sculptures, which were mostly relegated to the walls and corners of the rooms.
Damage during the Second World War led to the destruction of the roof and wall paintings but the basic building structure survived. When the museum was finally restored in the 1960s, it followed the original suggestions of Von Wagner — plain walls and an undecorated floor. The sculptures were moved mostly to the center of the rooms and are beautifully displayed with light flowing in from large windows that open to the large central courtyard.
Greek and Roman Sculptures in the Glyptothek
The sculpture collection in the Glyptothek is displayed in a dozen rooms — none very big making it easy to enjoy this museum at a leisurely pace and still pay attention to all the works on display.
The sculptures cover all main creative art periods of Greek and Roman antiquity:
- Archaic period (6th century BC): left foot forward korai and kouroi, e.g. the Kouros (Apollo) of Tenea (570 BC) and Münchner Kuros (540 BC), West pediment of the Temple of Aphaia.
- Greek Classical period (5th/4th century BC): introducing the new style of contrapposto, e.g. (Knidische) Aphrodite of Cnidus, Diomedes, Diadumenos, Medusa Rondanini, East pediment of the Temple of Aphaia.
- Hellenistic period (3rd–1st century BC): less emphasis on perfection and more on individualism, e.g. the Barberini Faun, Boy with Goose, and Drunk Old Woman.
- Roman Empire and the Late Antiquity (1st–5th century AD) — many copies of Greek works but also a new appreciation of portraits, Artemis Braschi.
Highlights in the Glyptothek
The sculptures on display in the Glyptothek are of very high quality making it hard to pick the best highlights but some personal favorites include:
Barberini Faun (Barberinischer Faun), also Drunken Satyr — the most famous sculpture in the Glytothek in Munich and probably the most famous Greek statue in Germany. This marble sculpture from around 220 BC shows a drunken Satyr lying back with his legs open and genitals exposed. (More people have probably seen the plaster copy on display in the Louvre.)
Ilioneus — the most expensive sculpture bought by Ludwig and the most famous work in the Glypthotek in the 19th century. This marble of a naked youth kneeling is a Greek original from around 300 BC. It depicts the dying Ilioneus, the youngest of Niobe’s seven sons.
Kouros of Tenea — originally described as the Apollo of Tenea, this marble naked youth dates from around 560 BC. It is wonderfully well preserved but for a missing right elbow.
Munich King — a Roman copy of an early classical Greek original showing a hesitant contrapposto from around 460 BC.
Medusa Rondanini — the best surviving Roman marble copy of the Medusa intended for the center of the bronze shield of an 11-m tall Athena in the Parthenon on the Acropolis.
Aphrodite of Cnidus — Praxiteles created the first full-size nude sculpture of a goddess around 350 BC. It inspired this Roman version from the first century AD.
Pediment Sculptures from the Temple of Aphaia — the pediments show Athena with Greeks battling Trojans in two events a generation apart: Ajax and Achilles are depicted in typical Late Archaic style (510 BC) while the scene of their fathers (Telamon and Peleus) assisting Herakles killing King Laomedon was completed only two decades later but in an Early Classical style.
Roman Busts and Portraits — A large number of busts and portraits of famous Romans, Greek philosophers, or occasionally just ordinary people. All of very high artistic quality.
Artemis Braschi — a first-century BC Roman marble of the goddess of hunting inspired by much earlier Greek works.
Apollo Barberini — a large Roman marble copy of a Greek original from around 420 BC shows the god of music wearing a long cloak and elaborate hairstyle.
Drunk Old Woman — a Roman marble copy of the Greek original from around 200 BC shows a drunken old woman clutching an enormous bottle of wine. (Another copy is on display in the Capitoline Museums in Rome.)
Boy with a Goose — a fine example of the Roman marble copies of the original Greek bronze
→ See also Best Greek and Roman Sculptures in the Glyptothek in Munich for more photos and a fuller description of these artworks.
→ More photos of the Glyptothek sculptures at Flickr.
Glyptothek Munich Visitor’s Information
The Antike am Königsplatz (Antiquities on King’s Square) in Munich consist of two museum collections in two separate buildings on either end of the large mostly lawn Königsplatz in Munich. The Glyptothek is home to the sculptures while the Antikensammlung (State Collection of Antiquities) houses mostly smaller objects such as vases, pottery, jewelry, and small statuettes.
How to translate Glyptothek into English? It is not really done, as it is a made-up word from old Greek words “glyphein” (to sculpture) and “theke” (repository). Danish brewer Carl Jacobs liked it, so he used Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek for his wonderful art museum in Copenhagen.
Opening Hours and Glyptothek Tickets
The Glyptothek and the State Collection of Antiquities are both open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00 with the Glyptothek closing at 20:00 on Thursdays and the Collection of Antiquities closing at 20:00 on Wednesday.
Admission to both the Glyptothek and the State Collection of Antiquities is €6. Separate tickets are not available except on Sundays when admission is only €1 for each museum. Admission is free for children up to 18 years.
Download the free app with a very good audioguide (and some video) before visiting the museum. (It is freely available for anyone from the Apple App Store or Google — it previously cost €4 at the museum.)
Both museums are included in sightseeing and transportation passes such as the Munich City Pass. Tickets are also available online
Transportation to the Glyptothek in Munich
Getting to the Glyptothek am Königsplatz in München is easy by public transportation or walking. The closest public transportation stops are “Königsplatz” on U-Bahn metro U2, “Karolinenplatz” on tram 27, or “Königsplatz” museum line bus 100 and various hop-on, hop-off buses.
Walking is also a good option from the station or many parts of central Munich. It is in the part of Munich that is often referred to as the Kunstareal due to the large number of art museums and galleries in the immediate vicinity. The Lenbachhaus (Der Blaue Reiter) is next to the Glyptothek while the art giants of the Alte Pinakothek, the Neue Pinakothek, and the Pinakothek der Moderne are only a few blocks away.
→ See also Best Greek and Roman Sculptures in the Glyptothek in Munich for more photos and a fuller description of these artworks. Even more photos of the Glyptothek sculptures at Flickr.
More on Top Art Museums in München
- Where to See What — a brief description of Munich’s top art museums and galleries.
- Alte Pinakothek — top Old Master paintings (and some 19th-century paintings while the Neue Pinakothek is under renovation.)
- Glyptohek — one of the world’s best Greek and Roman sculpture collections from antiquity.
- Lenbachhaus — the largest The Blue Rider collection in the world but also modern art exhibitions.
- Save with the Munich Card and City Pass on transportation and sightseeing — most museums are covered.
- Visit the royal castles of King Ludwig II near Munich to see the 19th-century historicist interiors of Schloss Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, and Herrenchiemsee Palace.
