Antiquity — 8th Century BCE to 4th Century AD
Greek & Roman Art
The art of the ancient world — Athenian painted vases, Roman portrait busts, marble sculpture, and bronze figures from the civilizations that shaped Western culture.
Explore Greek & Roman Art from The Met — free, no account needed
Start Drifting — Greek & Roman ArtThe Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection of Greek and Roman art spans more than two millennia, from the early Iron Age of ancient Greece through the Roman Imperial period. With over 17,000 works, it is one of the most comprehensive classical collections in the world.
Highlight works include Attic black-figure and red-figure pottery by known painters, archaic kouroi and korai sculpture, marble fragments from architectural monuments, Roman portrait busts in marble and bronze, Hellenistic statuettes, and an extraordinary collection of ancient jewelry and gems.
The collection is displayed in two consecutive suites of galleries at the Met — one following the development of Greek art from the 10th century BCE through the Hellenistic period, the other covering Etruscan and Roman art through late antiquity.
What You'll Discover
Athenian Painted Pottery
Black-figure and red-figure vases by named Athenian painters — depicting mythological scenes, athletic competitions, and symposia with extraordinary narrative skill.
Greek Sculpture
Kouroi, korai, classical grave stelae, and Hellenistic bronzes tracing the evolution of the human figure in Greek art over five centuries.
Roman Portraiture
Veristic Republican busts, Imperial dynastic portraits, and bronze equestrian figures — the unrivalled Roman tradition of individualized portraiture.
Ancient Gems & Jewelry
Engraved gems, gold wreaths, filigree earrings, and elaborate necklaces — some of the finest examples of ancient goldsmithing surviving anywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in the Met's Greek and Roman collection?
The collection includes Attic pottery, marble and bronze sculpture, Roman portrait busts, ancient jewelry, glass vessels, terracotta figurines, and architectural fragments — over 17,000 objects spanning the 10th century BCE to 4th century AD.
Can I view classical Greek and Roman art online for free?
Yes. Museum Drift streams public domain works from The Met's Greek & Roman collection for free. All works are from The Met's Open Access program — CC0 1.0 Universal.