Statue des jugendlichen Apollon als Kithara-Spieler, vor der Mitte des 2. Jhs. n. Chr., Marmor  © SMB, Antikensammlung, Foto: Johannes Laurentius

Attisch-schwarzfigurige Hydria mit der Darstellung einer Götterversammlung, um 510 v. Chr., Ton © SMB, Antikensammlung, Foto: Johannes Laurentius

BERLIN.- The National Museums in Berlin will be commemorating the return of museum pieces from the Soviet Union to Berlin that took place in 1958. To also mark the occasion, the Collection of Classical Antiquities will be placing 170 art works on display, which, for restoration purposes, had had to remain in storage until now. The sculptures, vases and craftwork objects stand as representatives for thousands of art works which came back to Berlin after a period of exile in Moscow and St. Petersburg lasting thirteen years, the most important of which was the frieze of the world famous Pergamon Altar.

In a joint project with the Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado, important images of deities were able to be restored and were put on display in 2006/7 to great success in São Paulo and at a location just outside Rio de Janeiro. The most important figures of the Greek and Roman pantheon are now to be presented in Berlin, showing their art historical development and placed in their cultural historical context: as votive offerings in the shrine, as adornments of public spaces and buildings or as fixtures in Roman villas and gardens.

God head (Zeus / Jupiter?). © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Antikensammlung. Photo: Johannes Laurentius.

Spiegel mit Frau beim Bade, vielleicht eine Nymphe, um 280 v. Chr., Bronze  © SMB, Antikensammlung, Foto: Johannes Laurentius

Sleeping Eros with torch, acquired in Venice from the Grimani Collection in 1841. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Antikensammlung. Photo: Johannes Laurentius