The Pergamon Museum Berlin is one of the most visited museums in Germany and one of the most important archaeological museums in the world. It houses an extensive collection of ancient Greek, Middle Eastern, and Islamic art and artifacts, from the prehistoric to the late antiquity period. It is located on the Museum Island in Berlin, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum was established in 1930 and is home to some of the world’s most important archaeological finds.
History
The Pergamon Museum was founded in 1930 and is one of the four museums on the Museum Island in Berlin. It was built to house the collections of ancient art and artifacts collected by the German Archaeological Institute, which had been in operation since 1899. The museum is named after the ancient Greek city of Pergamon, located in modern-day Turkey, which was an important cultural center in the ancient world.
Collections
The museum houses an impressive collection of ancient Greek, Middle Eastern, and Islamic art and artifacts. The most famous pieces in the collection are the Ishtar Gate of Babylon, the Pergamon Altar, and the Market Gate of Miletus. The Ishtar Gate of Babylon is one of the most important monuments from the ancient Middle East, and was built in the 6th century BC. The Pergamon Altar is a large marble altar from the 2nd century BC, and is considered one of the most important works of Hellenistic art. The Market Gate of Miletus is a Roman-era monument from the 2nd century AD.
Exhibitions
The museum has a number of permanent and temporary exhibitions. The permanent exhibitions include the Near Eastern Antiquities, the Classical Antiquities, the Islamic Art, and the Islamic Middle East. The temporary exhibitions focus on specific topics such as ancient Greek pottery or Islamic art. The museum also hosts educational programs and workshops for school groups, as well as special events such as lectures, film screenings, and concerts.
Highlights
- Ishtar Gate of Babylon – one of the most important monuments from the ancient Middle East, built in the 6th century BC
- Pergamon Altar – a large marble altar from the 2nd century BC, considered one of the most important works of Hellenistic art
- Market Gate of Miletus – a Roman-era monument from the 2nd century AD
- Near Eastern Antiquities – an impressive collection of ancient art and artifacts from the Middle East
- Classical Antiquities – a collection of ancient Greek and Roman art and artifacts
- Islamic Art – an extensive collection of Islamic art from the 7th to the 19th centuries
- Islamic Middle East – a collection of artifacts from the Islamic world, from the 7th to the 19th centuries
Visiting the Pergamon Museum Berlin
The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm. Admission is €10 for adults and €7 for concessions. Guided tours are available in English and German, and can be booked in advance. The museum also has a café, a bookshop, and a souvenir shop.
Accessibility
The museum is wheelchair accessible, and audio guides are available in English and German. There is a wheelchair-accessible toilet on the ground floor.