Acropolis Museum: 11 must-see works and their stories
Quick answer
The key works at the Acropolis Museum are the Parthenon frieze, metopes and pediments, the Caryatids of the Erechtheion, the Moschophoros, the Peplos Kore and Kritios Boy. They are spread across the Archaic Gallery and the Parthenon Gallery on the top level.
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The 11 key works
Rooms can change because of loans or displays; the plan at the entrance shows where each piece is.
- 1
Parthenon Gallery · top level
The Panathenaic procession frieze
A continuous band over 150 m long showing riders, musicians and offerings in honour of Athena. Missing parts are shown as plaster casts.
- 2
Parthenon Gallery · top level
The Parthenon metopes
Scenes of mythical battles (centaurs, Amazons, gods and giants) carved in high relief on the temple's outer frieze.
- 3
Parthenon Gallery · top level
The Parthenon pediments
Surviving figures from the triangular compositions on the facades: the birth of Athena and her contest with Poseidon.
- 4
Caryatids Gallery
The Caryatids of the Erechtheion
Six maidens that held up a porch of the Erechtheion; five originals are here and the sixth is in London.
- 5
Archaic Gallery · first floor
The Moschophoros (c. 570 BC)
A young man carrying a calf on his shoulders, an offering to Athena. One of the oldest sculptures in the museum.
- 6
Archaic Gallery · first floor
The Peplos Kore
A female figure in a heavy woollen dress (the peplos) with traces of paint. A votive offering from the archaic Acropolis.
- 7
Archaic Gallery · first floor
The korai with colour
A group of korai preserve colour and jewellery details, helping you picture a painted, vivid Acropolis.
- 8
5th-century BC galleries
Kritios Boy
From around 480 BC, the first known statue where the body rests its weight on one leg.
- 9
Slopes Gallery · ground floor
Offerings from the Asklepieion
Votive reliefs and healing offerings from the slopes of the Acropolis, a human contrast to the monumental Parthenon.
- 10
Ground floor
The excavations beneath the building
Streets and houses of an ancient neighbourhood of Athens, visible under the glass floor.
- 11
Second level
The terrace and the view
Not an artwork, but seeing the real Parthenon after its sculptures makes everything fit.
How to look at them
- Start with the archaic and end at the Parthenon: chronological order shows the evolution.
- Get close to the korai to spot traces of colour in hair and robes.
- Point AnyArt at any piece to hear its story without hunting for the label.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous thing at the Acropolis Museum?
The Parthenon frieze, metopes and pediments, along with the Caryatids.
Where are the Caryatids?
In their own gallery; five are originals and the sixth is in the British Museum.
Why are there plaster casts in the Parthenon Gallery?
Because some frieze slabs are in the British Museum, so the museum shows casts to complete the sequence.
What should I see in one hour?
The frieze and metopes in the Parthenon Gallery, the Caryatids and the Moschophoros.