The “Museum of Islamic Art” is a satellite museum of the Benaki Museum. As part of the Benaki Museum’s re-focusing on Greek culture, its Islamic collection was moved to a new home in 2004 in time for the Athens Olympics. The new museum also has new galleries for temporary traveling exhibits.
Inaugurated on 27 July 2004, the Museum of Islamic Art occupies more than 1,000 square meters of remodeled space showcasing: ceramics, pottery, metalwork, gold, woodcarvings, glass-work and textiles, bone carvings, inscribed funerary steles, arms and armor.
The collection is said to rank among the most important worldwide and includes masterpieces from India, Persia, Mesopotamia, the Middle East, Arabia, Egypt, North Africa, Sicily, Spain and Asia Minor. Covering Islamic art from the 7th through the 19th centuries, it has a rich collection of Ottoman art from the Empire’s peak in the 16th century.
The Islamic art collections are housed in a complex of neo-classical buildings located in the historical center of Athens, in the Kerameikos district. Major archaeological sites located in the same area include the grounds of the ancient Agora, the Doric temple of Hephaestus (the “Theseio”) and the Museum of the ancient Kerameikos necropolis.
This complex of buildings at the corner of Agion Asomaton and Dipylou streets, was donated to the Museum by the late Lambros Eftaxias, who in his later years served as Honorary President of the Museum Board of Trustees.
find out more about Islamic Art
Islamic Art Museum
Agion Asomaton 22 and Dipylou Street,
10553 Athens, Greece
Telephone: +30 210 3251311
email: islamic_collection@benaki.gr
OPENING HOURS
Thursday to Sunday: 10.00 – 18.00
Closed on Mondays to Wednesday and on National Holidays.
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