Archaic Room. Greek art reached full freedom in the early 5th century B.C., after the Persian wars; the sculptures shown here represent the period before this (for the parent art of prehistoric Crete, see the First Vase Room). Only a small proportion are from Greece proper. Animals are a favourite and successful subject with the primitive artist. The earliest sculptures here are the remains from Mycenﾵ, Nos. 1-6, which possibly represent the period of Homer. Collected fragments of the columns from the doorway of the Treasury of Atreus stand against the west wall, with fragments of the facade between them. On both sides of the gangway: 7-18. Seated figures and recumbent lions from the Sacred Way of Branchidﾵ, near Miletus (6th century). The numeration of the figures follows roughly the development of art in the treatment of the drapery. Several have inscriptions. - 80-97. Sculptures from Xanthos in Lycia (6th century); 80 (near the door to the Ante-Room), Lion Tomb, a sepulchral chest, formerly set on a pier about nine feet high; reliefs, high and low, of a lion and other subjects. On the walls are friezes: 82 (South wall), Cocks and hens (very lifelike; brought to Greece from the East in the archaic period); 81. (North wall), Satyrs and animals; 86. Procession; 89-93 (South side), Gable-ends of a tomb, with sphinxes. No. 94, near the entrance, is the so-called Harpy Tomb, a sepulchral chamber, like No. 80, set on a high shaft, with reliefs of scenes of dedication or sacrifice, with 'harpies' or sirens carrying away the diminutive soul-figures of the dead. By the door in the north wall, 2728. Head (of a woman ?) in the Attic style; 205-211 (North East corner), Youthful athletes and Apollos, in which the intermediate stage between hieratic stiffness and full freedom may be seen (206. 'Strangford Apollo'; 209.'Choiseul-Gouffier Apollo'). Near this corner, objects found by the British Salonica Force (1915-18). On the north and south walls, 160-183. Casts of the pediments from the temple at ﾦgina, (originals at Munich). East wall, 135-139. Casts of primitive metopes from temples at Selinus in Sicily.
Etruscan Works: Sepulchral reliefs from Chiusi, in the second row of the south side; bronze chariot, from Orvieto, in the south-west corner.
