The Getty Museum’s antiquities collection includes ancient Greek, Roman, and Etruscan objects from the Neolithic Period through the late Roman Empire (ca. 3000 BCE–600 CE). The website highlights 14 objects from the Getty’s collection which offer a unique lens into cultures and history of the ancient world, including Bust of Commodus, Caeretan Hydria, Elgin Throne, Male Harp Player of the Early Spedos Type, Sarcophagus with Scenes from the Life of Achilles, and Statue of Hercules.
In addition to the featured art objects and their related historical information, the website includes resources for educators and students in grades 6–12 to learn more about the ancient world, including 12 object learning guides with discussion prompts and activity ideas for the classroom; and complementary videos and audio clips that educators can use to inspire curiosity and interest in the featured objects.
Topics featured on the website include: mummy portraits, storytelling on ancient vessels, and well-known ancient mythological figures such as Medusa and Hercules. The learning guides also provide information about related content standards in social science, visual arts, and English language arts to support curriculum-aligned classroom use.
“We’re excited to develop new digital resources for teachers and students focused on a special area of our collection with a rich tapestry of history, storytelling elements, and beautiful art objects,” says Keishia Gu, head of education at the Getty Museum. “We’re hopeful that this material makes learning about the ancient world–not only informative while addressing key content standards, but fun and entertaining.”
To learn more and explore, visit Explore Ancient Worlds through Art.