Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes

Witness the exhibition 2000 years in the making

Immerse yourself in a world more than 2000 years old with the largest exhibition the British Museum has ever loaned to Aotearoa, New Zealand. Featuring more than 170 ancient Greek artefacts, including priceless statues, weapons, jewellery and pottery - this truly is a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition.

NOW OPEN

AUAHA ATEA NUI, SPECIAL EXHIBITION SUITE
$25 ADULT
$12 CHILD (5 - 13), UNDER 5 FREE
$67 FAMILY (2 ADULTS + 2 CHILDREN)
FREE ENTRY FOR MUSEUM MEMBERS - BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

Find out how the ancient Greeks celebrated competition and excellence in sport, politics, drama, music and warfare.
See how ancient Greek competition resulted in epic achievements and innovation which influences modern society today, more than two millennia later.
Get up close to a wide range of treasures such as beautiful black and red painted vases, stunning marble and terracotta, iconic statues, bronze figurines, weapons and armour, fine gold jewellery and coins.
Witness the masterpiece of the exhibition, a two-metre-long fragment of marble frieze from one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World.

This impressive and impactful exhibition is an introduction to ancient Greek culture that has never before been showcased in Auckland in this way or to this scale.

Don't miss it. On now until Sunday 6 November.

Enhance your visit

Grab a bite to eat at one of our cafés, visit us after hours on Twilight Tuesdays or stop by the Museum Store to take home a memento of Ancient Greeks with you.

GREEK-THEMED SPECIALS

Flavours of Greece at Tuitui

From 10 June, experience a taste of the Mediterranean at Tuitui Museum Bistro & Café. Relish Greek culinary tradition with a modern twist, and in the spirit of an ancient Greek banquet be sure to treat your inner Dionysus to our carefully curated drinks menu.

A MEMORY OF ANCIENT GREEKS

Stop by the store

Ensure your trip to Ancient Greece isn’t forgotten by treating yourself, or a friend, to merchandise at our store. With a range of inspired items, let everyone from Athens to Aotearoa New Zealand know you were one of the first to see the exhibition! Available online and in-store from 10th June.

OPEN LATE ON TUESDAYS

Visit the exhibition after hours

Meet up with friends and discover the Museum at its most tranquil. Ancient Greeks will be open late on Tuesdays for an extra special exhibition experience at your own pace.

Audio guides

Bring your own device and choose from six free audio guides. There are options for adults and kids, scrolling text, and audio descriptions.

Access the guides

Miles Noel Photography, courtesy Western Australian Museum

Additional experiences

Your visit to the exhibition doesn't need to end there. Expand your Ancient Greeks experience with our special Ancient Greeks programming - from live music and entertainment, to a scavenger hunt that'll take you on an adventure around the Museum.

FREE FAMILY ACTIVITY

FRI 10 JUN - SUN 6 NOV

The Gargantuan Greek Activity Trail

We're surrounded by ancient Greeks at the Museum - from the building itself to the statues and the amazingly ancient objects.

Pick up this great big activity trail and discover the cool stories about the ancient Greek world hidden in plain sight all around us.

LIVE MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD

MON 5 SEP, 6PM -11PM

After Hours at the Museum

Join us for After Hours at the Museum: Ancient Greeks, a festive evening of food, wine, entertainment, and good company.

Enjoy the Ancient Greeks exhibition, live music, meet colourful characters from Greek mythology, watch snippets of Greek theatre, and play games, as you savour ancient Greek-inspired nibbles.

Bookings opening soon, sign up to our What's On e-newsletter to stay updated.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

EVENINGS IN OCTOBER

Glorious Greeks

Bring your torch and join us on a journey of discovery through the ancient Greek world. Wander the darkened galleries and come face to face with a multitude of (mostly) wise characters with stories to tell and lessons to share, taste the ‘delights’ of ancient Greek food, have a go at their arts, their fashion, and experience their fantastical stories brought to life!

Bookings opening soon, sign up to our What's On e-newsletter to stay updated.

Membership Events

Exclusive Members only events

If you are a Museum Member, you will be invited to attend our regular Member-only events. From expert and curatorial talks, to behind the scenes tours and exclusive previews of our exhibitions - you’ll be able to see and experience even more of what you love from your Museum. Learn more

Miles Noel Photography, courtesy Western Australian Museum

Discover more

As a centenarian research institution with over 4 million collection items, Auckland Museum has a story or two to tell.

See how the impact of Ancient Greece ripples through the Museum today from art to architecture.

BLOG

The Russell Statues

ARTICLE

Neo-classical architecture

^{_{Banner Image: (Detail) Pottery, black-figured hydria (water jar), made in Athens about 510–500 BC, found at Vulci, Italy, 1837,0609.60 © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Main Image: Lion - headed pendant, gold, about 450 – 400 BC, probably found in Akarnania, Greece, 1919,0621.1 © The Trustees of the British Museum}}

^{_{Quiet Hours Banner Image: Silver coin showing an owl (rev), minted in Athens, Greece, about 527-430 BCE. © The Trustees of the British Museum}}
^{_{Group Booking Banner Image: Hydria Vase Collection of the Mackelvie Trust Board, Auckland, on loan to Auckland War Memorial Museum. 29701}}