Collections permanentes du Musée d'Archéologie Méditerranéenne

Visitors are invited on a fascinating journey spanning nearly six thousand years, a history that begins in the Near East and crosses the entire Mediterranean region. The Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology houses two major collections: the Egyptology department, the largest in France after the Louvre, and the new department of Near Eastern and Mediterranean Basin civilizations. The presentation of the department of ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean Basin in a new setting showcases nearly 800 objects from the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology and offers a new narrative and new hypotheses. Visitors are invited on a fascinating journey spanning nearly six thousand years, a history that begins in the Near East and crosses the entire Mediterranean region. Major inventions for humankind emerged in this part of the world. Technical advances and skills still used by people today were developed within this same area. How can all these objects be connected? How can their history be laid out so that they can be better understood and admired? Visitors are invited to follow a route with two levels of interpretation. Through spaces explaining various inventions and techniques—writing, glass, copper alloys and more—that punctuate the visit, it is possible to explore the artistic history of an object, place it in context, understand its social role and better grasp the needs and constraints of the craftspeople and technicians who created it. The beliefs and fervour that animated these women and men became intertwined or sometimes separated over the centuries, always with the hope of making progress and moving forward in order to live better within a group and a society. Thematic focuses on several ancient skills, the τέχναι (technaï), are offered to visitors so that they can appreciate for themselves the technical mastery of the craftspeople of the time and, in many cases, the remarkable achievement represented by certain creations. ► To make sure you can enjoy the complete visit of all our exhibition rooms, we invite you to contact the Museum before your visit. ► All visits and activities related to the exhibition are available on the museums’ website.