Antikenmuseum der Stadt (Museum of Antiquities), Leipzig

The Museum of Antiquities of the University of Leipzig, established in 1840, is one of the oldest and most significant collections of Greek and Roman antiquities at German universities. Located in the historic Old Nikolai School (Alte Nikolaischule), it is one of only two archaeological museums in Saxony, alongside the Albertinum in Dresden, that offers a comprehensive and engaging look into European antiquity.

Originally founded as an academic teaching and display collection, the museum now houses nearly 10,000 original artifacts, including painted vases, marble sculptures, terracotta figures, clay reliefs, bronze statuettes, and various ancient clay lamps and glass items. A notable feature of the collection is its emphasis on Greek ceramics, which is complemented by over 600 plaster casts of significant Greek and Roman marble and bronze works from renowned antiquities museums around the world. These casts, invaluable for teaching and research, are currently accessible only for educational purposes.

The museum's collection began in the early 18th century with the University acquiring antiquities. Johann Friedrich Christ, an archaeologist, integrated these into his lectures in 1735. By the early 19th century, it was known as the "Archaeology and Art Cabinet," initially featuring coins, gems, and plaster casts. The collection grew with Greek and Etruscan vases from Eduard Gerhard and W. G. Becker's acquisitions in Italy. Through the 19th and early 20th centuries, curators like Johannes Overbeck and Franz Studniczka expanded it further, including Friedrich Hauser's collection and significant gifts from Edward Perry Warren and John Marshall, like a marble bust of Alexander the Great.

Today, the Museum of Antiquities serves as both an educational resource and a public exhibition space, showcasing its most important finds since 1844. It actively collaborates with research and teaching at the University of Leipzig, offering a wide range of services including special exhibitions, publications, colloquia, and educational programs for all ages.