Ashmolean Museum | Ancient Macedonia Treasures Exhibition

See Treasures from Ancient Macedonia at The Ashmolean Museum:

Medusa Brooch © Museum of the Royal Tombs Aegae

Visitors to Oxford will have the rare opportunity to see the latest discoveries from Aegae at the “Heracles To Alexander The Great: Treasures from the Royal Capital of Macedon” Exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum. At this magnificent Ashmolean exhibition this summer, more than 500 gold, silver and bronze treasures will be on display – the first time that these treasures are being exhibited outside of Greece.

The Ancient Macedonia Treasures exhibition is a tremendous honour for the Ashmolean Museum as this is the first major archaeological exhibition in the Museum’s new galleries. The treasures were found recently in the royal burial tombs and the Palace of Aegae, the ancient capital of Macedon.

The discoveries tell the story of the royal court and the kings and queens who governed Macedon, from the mythical descendants of Heracles to the ruling dynasty of Alexander the Great, and contribute to the re-write of the history of early Greece.

One of the pieces on show is an exquisite gold wreath of 80 metal leaves and 112 flowers, found in the antechamber of the tomb of Philip II and associated with his wife Meda (c336BC) and another (pictured), from the tomb of Philip II (c336BC) is a gold brooch depicting Medusa with four snakes to avert evil, used to pin on to linen armour.

The excavation of the tombs and palace was the life’s work of archaeologist Professor Manolis Andronikos, who worked at Aegae (modern-day Vergina) for more than 30 years after the Second World War. The exhibition has been organised by the Ashmolean Museum and the Museum of the Royal Tombs at Aegae in collaboration with the Hellenic Ministry of Culture And Tourism.

A not-to-be-missed exhibition at the Ashmolean in Oxford!

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Exhibition     : Heracles To Alexander The Great: Treasures from the Royal Capital of Macedon
Venue    : Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, Beaumont Street, Oxford
Dates         : From April 7 to August 29, 2011
Admission    : £8, concessions £6.
Opening Times: Tue–Sun (and Bank Holiday Mons) 10 am – 6 pm
Website : www.ashmolean.org