Palermo - Archeological Museum

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Description

(Local Name: Museo Archeologico Nazionale) The Museo Archeologico in Palermo houses one of Italy's most important collections of antiquities, including some finds which are world-famous. The exhibits come from the Palermo University Museum, the Gandolfo coin collection, the Baron Astuto collection (originally in Noto), the Salnitriano collection from the Jesuit Museum in Palermo, and from the Museum of the Benedictine Priory of San Martino delle Scale near Monreale, founded back in 1744.

Hobbies & Activities category: Archeological exhibit, museum; Historical museum; Prehistoric site or exhibit

Attractions within Archeological Museum

First Floor

Along the north and west corridor the exhibits are arranged according to where they were found. These include the Punic sites at Panormos (Palermo), Solunto, Motya and Lilybaeum, places in Elymer

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Greek Marble Sculpture

In the room containing Greek marble sculptures there are some Attic grave-reliefs and a copy of the water-pouring Satyr of Praxiteles. The Roman sculpture in the next room includes some major

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Pottery Collections

The pottery department contains a fine terracotta collection, including many votive statuettes from Selinunte, especially from the Shrine to Malophoros. The bronzes are of Etruscan, Greek and Roman

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Ground Floor

Underwater archeological finds are displayed in the small 17th century cloister and in the room to the right. Exhibited in two adjoining rooms are Egyptian and Phoenician items, including the

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Selinunte Room

This, unquestionably the most important room in the museum, is a worthy setting for primitive and classical sculptures from the temples at Selinunte.

Selinunte Room Rear Wall

The rear wall is devoted to Temple E, and includes a reconstruction of parts of the Pronaos Frieze, an example of Selinunte art at its very best (470-460 B.C.). The metopes show Hercules fighting

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Selinunte Room Right Wall

The oldest pieces are on the right: the four Salinas metopes (frieze panels) from c. 575 B.C., showing the Gods of Delphi (Artemis, Leto, Apollo), a sphinx, the Abduction of Europa as well as

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Selinunte Room Left Wall

On the left wall are two daedalic heads (images of the gods) from c. 600 B.C. and a giant's torso from Temple G (end of sixth century B.C.). From Temple F the lower sections of two metopes have

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Etruscan Collection

The Casuccini Collection in the adjoining rooms contains Etruscan pieces from Chiusu; particular mention should be made of the following: Room 1: Gravestones with banqueting scenes and death-dances

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Ettore Gabrici Room, Great Room

Terracotta decoration from Temple C at Selinune, with the central figure of Gorgo Medusa (550 B.C.), as reconstructed by Ettore Gabrici.

Great Cloister

In the Great Cloister can be seen inscriptions, a colossal statue of Zeus (second century B.C.) and architectural fragments from Solunto, as well as a group statue from Tyndaris, probably members of the Julian and Claudian imperial family.

Greek Inscriptions Room

Oblatory inscription from Temple G in Selinunte, giving thanks for the way the town prospered after a victory achieved with the help of the Gods; there is also a large inscription from Tauromenion (Taormina).

Pirro Marconi Room

On display in the Pirro Marconi Room are a cyma moulding from the temple of Himera and lions' head water-spouts (480 B.C.).

Room of the Twin Steles

This is a collection of twin-headed votive steles (inscribed and sculpted pillars) from the sixth-fourth centuries B.C., some 10,000 of which were discovered in the shrine to Zeus Meilichios near Selinunte.

Second floor

The north gallery and adjoining rooms contain the prehistoric collection. There are stone objects from the caves at Lévanzo and Addaura (Late Palaeolithic), an impression taken of some graffiti in

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Address

Palermo Archeological Museum
Via Bara all'Olivella 24
I-90100 Palermo
Italy

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