Art History
Ancient Art

   Key: profile Articles Photos Art Images Video Video Audio Audio

Websites


General
Islamic Art profile Photos
You'll find over 170 images of Islamic art at this site.
Source: Cleveland Museum of Art Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Egyptian/Near Eastern Art profile Photos
From a Statue of Heqat, the Frog Goddess to a Sumerian stature of a bull calf, you'll find close to 500 images of Egyptian and Near Eastern art at this site.
Source: Cleveland Museum of Art Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Ancient Civilizations profile Photos
Make connections between civilizations across the world and through time by exploring cities, buildings, writing, religion, trade and technology.
Source: British Museum Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Art of the First Cities profile Photos
This site surveys the flourishing of the world’s earliest civilizations in Mesopotamia and surrounding regions—stretching from the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean across Iran and Central Asia to the Indus Valley. You'll find examples of art from the era and background information on religion, the rulers, the cities, writing, clothing, and death rituals.
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Odyssey Online profile Photos
Explore the world the ancient Near East, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and 19th - 20th century sub-Saharan Africa. As you explore a culture's art and artifacts, you can learn about daily life, people, mythology, death and burial rituals, writing, and archaeology.
Source: Emory University Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No

Images of Women in Ancient Art profile Photos
See how women were portrayed in the art of prehistory, Egypt, the Agean, Palestine, and Greece. You'll find discussion questions along with images and analysis of the art.
Source: Chris Witcombe, Professor of Art History, Sweet Briar College in Virginia Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Ancient Art and Architecture profile Photos
You'll find images of art and artifacts from the Near East, Egypt, the Aegean, Greece, and Rome at this site intended to enhance undergraduate art history course work.
Source:
Art Images for College Teaching Intended Audience: Students/Teachers Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Oriental Institute Museum profile Photos
You'll find objects from Anatolia, Assyria, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Mesopotamia, Palestine, and Syria at this site. You can browse objects by region or subject. You will also find a teacher section with lesson plans and background information.
Source: Oriental Institute Museum Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No

Ancient Art profile Photos
The Minneapolis Institute of Art's collection contains the art of several civilizations in the lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea, from about 20,000 B.C. to the fifth century A.D. This site from the MIA include selected works from the collection. Objects have detailed descriptions and you can zoom in for a closer look.
Source: Minneapolis Institute of Art Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Ancient Art profile Photos
Explore the art of the Mediterranean world of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, as well as the ancient Near East and Islamic world.
Source: Detroit Institute of Art Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Antiquities at the Hermitage profile Photos
Learn about some of the art of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and Italy, and ancient settlements on the Northern Black Sea coast at this site from the Hermitage. Each item features a large image and detailed description.
Source: Hermitage Museum Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Ancient Art profile Photos
You'll find objects from Egypt, Rome and Greece at this site from the North Carolina Museum of Art.
Source: North Carolina Museum of Art Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Egypt
Ancient Egypt profile Photos
Learn about life in ancient Egypt. The site has features on writing, mummies, Egyptian life, the Pharaohs, pyramids, trades, time, geography, and gods and goddesses. Each section include a story, a challenge activity, and an exploration section where you can delve deeper into a topic.
Source: British Museum Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

PBSSecrets of the Pharaohs profile
Find out how a mummy was made, examine some of the treasures from King Tut's tomb, or learn about the science behind studying ancient artifacts from Egypt at this companion site to the PBS series.
Source: PBS Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No


PBSEgypt's Golden Empire profile Photos Video
Explore the art, culture, and history of Egypt's New Kingdom.
Source: PBS Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Quest for Immortality profile Photos Video
This virtual exhibit from the National Gallery of Art features streaming video guides and images of objects from Ancient Egypt. You can even take a virtual tour of a reproduction of the tomb of Thutmose III.
Source: National Gallery Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Egyptian Art profile Photos
Take a virtual tour of some of the Met's collection of Egyptian art dating from the Paleolithic to the Roman period.
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Egyptian Art profile Photos
Take a virtual tour of some of the Louvre's collection of Egyptian art.
Source: Louvre Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection profile Photos
Take a virtual tour of some of the Egyptian and Near Eastern art at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Works are organized by period.
Source:Kunsthistorisches Museum Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Explore Ancient Egypt profile Photos Video
Learn about Egyptian art, archaeology, mummies, and daily life. Objects have detailed descriptions and you can zoom in for a closer look.
Source: Boston Museum of Fine Arts Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No

Near East
Ancient Mesopotamia profile Photos
Learn more about life in ancient Mesopotamia at this site from the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago.
Source: Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No

Ancient Near Eastern Art profile Photos
Take a virtual tour of some of objects in the the Met's collection of ancient Near Eastern art.
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Lost Treasures From Iraq profile Photos
Following the fall of Baghdad, the Iraq Museum was looted and the world's most important collection of Mesopotamian and Islamic art disappeared. This site from the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago has posted images of some of the works that were housed in the museum.
Source: Oriental Institute, University of Chicago Intended Audience: General Reading Level: N/A Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Greece and Rome
Greek and Roman Art profile Photos
Take a virtual tour of some of the objects in the Met's collection of Greek and Roman art.
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Roman Emperors and Empresses profile Photos
You'll find some 250 examples of portraits of emperors and empresses on urns and sculpture from the late 1st century to approximately the 4th century A.D. Objects have detailed descriptions and you can zoom in for a closer look.
Source: Boston Museum of Fine Arts Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Greek Mythology profile Photos
This site features a cross-section of Greek works that highlight Gods and Goddesses from Greek mythology, including vases, sculpture, and jewelry, from the 6th century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D. Objects have detailed descriptions and you can zoom in for a closer look.
Source: Boston Museum of Fine Arts Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Greek, Roman, and Etruscan Art profile Photos
Take a virtual tour of some of the Louvre's collection of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman art.
Source: Louvre Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Greek and Roman Antiquities profile Photos
Take a virtual tour of some of the ancient Greek, Etruscan, Cypriot, Mycenaean and Roman art at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Source: Kunsthistorisches Museum Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Ancient Greece profile Photos Audio
This site for students from the BBC features sections on life in the ancient Greek cities of Olympia, Corinth, and Athens. You will also find interactive features on the Olympics; the story of how Athens decided to punish the city of Mytilene; and the Theatre of Dionysus. In addition you can listen to readings from Electra; read writings from Ancient Greece; and view images of Greek art and architecture.
Source:
BBC Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Egyptomania
Play ancient Egyptian games, learn about animals in ancient Egypt, and explore ancient Egyptian artifacts. Source: Cleveland Museum of Art

Ancient Egypt
Explore temples and pyramids, make sense of hieroglyphs, unwrap mummification, learn about ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses. Source: British Museum

Prepare a Mummy for Burial and More!
Do you have what it takes to prepare a mummy for burial? It involves brains and hooks and nasal cavities. See if you are up to the task. You can also explore artifacts from Ancient Mesopotamia, and learn more about Egyptian artifacts. Source: Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago

Dig Into History: Mesopotamia
Go on a virtual archaeological dig in Iraq where you will collect and catalog Mesopotamian artifacts, then curate a museum exhibition with the artifacts you find.
Source:
Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago

Shipwreck: An Ancient Sea Trade Game
Explore the geography, culture, natural resources, and artistic production of Late Bronze Age civilizations along the eastern Mediterranean trade route.
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Time Explorer
Travel back in time to explore ancient cultures and rescue precious objects from imminent disaster.
Source: British Museum

The Tomb of Perneb
Journey with the tomb of Perneb from ancient Egypt to its current home at the Met.
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Integrating the Arts: Mummies, Manuscripts & Madonnas
This site for middle school students looks at ancient, medieval, and renaissance art and includes connections to social studies, science, language arts, and math. Source: Walters Museum

Ancient Greece
Voyage with Odysseus, survive Spartan boy soldier training, gatecrash a wealthy party, take a tour round ancient Athens or dive down to a shipwreck and solve an ancient mystery. Source: British Museum

Ancient India
Explore the life of the Buddha and marvel at the gods of Hinduism. Explore the amazing 'lost' city of Mohenjo-daro, study mysterious Indus seals or journey through India as a pilgrim. Source: British Museum

Mesopotamia
Explore the ruins of a palace, the library of an astronomer and the Royal Tombs of Ur, then build your own ziggurat and calculate the movements of the planets. Source: British Museum



Online Video

How Stuff Works Videos
You'll find a large collection of video clips exploring ancient cultures. The following links are to individual clips in the collection and are intended to provide you with a starting point. Look to the right of the clip for related clips. You can also search the site for specific clips.
Ancient Greece
Ancient Rome
Ancient Egypt
Mesopotamia

The Mummification Process
How do you make a mummy? Find out with this video from the Getty Museum.

Ancient Mesopotamia
Learn more about the culture, history, and art of ancient Mesopotamia. Source: National Geographic Kids

Tombs of Ancient Egypt
Learn more about the tombs of Ancient Egypt.
Source: National Geographic Kids

Exploring Egypt Video Gallery
This collection of video clips looks at both ancient and modern Egypt. Source: Discovery Channel

Tombs of Ancient Egypt
Get a close-up look at the tombs of Ancient Egypt. Source: National Geographic.

Mesopotamians
OK, this is just for fun. Check out this music video from the band They Might Be Giants. Source: You Tube


Lesson Plans

Quest for Immortality - Treasures of Ancient Egypt
A printable (PDF), kid-friendly activity guide about ancient Egypt. Source: National Gallery of Art.

Ancient Egypt
Classroom resources, activities, and websites that explore Ancient Egypt. Source: British Museum

Egyptians
A series of printable guides to Egyptian art and artifacts. Source: Hunterian Museum

Ancient Greece
Classroom resources, activities, and websites that explore Ancient Greece. Source: British Museum

Ancient Mesopotamia
Classroom resources, activities, and websites that explore Ancient Mesopotamia. Source: British Museum

Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture around the Bay of Naples
Teacher and student resources related to the Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture around the Bay of Naples exhibition. Includes an introduction to the exhibition, printable Discovery Guides for students, a guide for Latin classes, and related resources. Source: National Gallery of Art.

The Art of Ancient Egypt
You can download all or part of this comprehensive guide for educators, which includes summaries of ancient Egyptian history and art, lesson plans and classroom activities, and a glossary. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul
A printable, kid-friendly activity guide about the art of Afghanistan. Source: National Gallery of Art

Greek Art from Prehistoric to Classical
You can download all or part of this comprehensive guide for educators, which includes summaries of Greek culture and art, lesson plans and classroom activities, and a glossary. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A Masterwork of Byzantine Art
The David Plates: The Story of David and Goliath

This learning-activity set provides a closer look at a spectacular set of Byzantine silver objects, known as the David Plates. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Romans
A series of printable guides to Roman art and artifacts. Source: Hunterian Museum

Roman Art: A Resource for Educators
Introduce your students to the rich cultural legacy of Rome through the study of Roman art. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Ancient Mesopotamia
This collection of lesson plans explores daily life, arts, and culture of ancient Mesopotamia. Source: Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago

Egypt's Golden Empire
This collection of video enhanced lesson plans explore the art, culture, and history of Egypt's New Kingdom. Source: PBS

Ancient Egypt Lesson Plans - Grades K-6
This collection of lesson plans includes lessons in the arts, math, language arts, science, and social studies. Source: Detroit Institute of Art

Ancient Egyptian Art
Collection of online exhibits and online guides to Egyptian art. Source: Freer Gallery of Art and the Sackler Gallery of Art

Ancient Egyptian Art Lessons
Self-guided lessons on Egyptian art. Source: Art Factory

Grades K-4
Egyptian Symbols and Figures: Hieroglyphs - Grades K-2
Students examine the art and history of ancient Egypt through the oldest writing system in the world. Source: EdSitement

Egyptian Symbols and Figures: Scroll Paintings - Grade K-2
This lesson introduces students to Egyptian art, culture, and history through the ancient tomb paintings and mythological figures of the Book of the Dead. Source: EdSitement

Grades 3-5
It Came From Greek Mythology
The lessons in this unit use online resources to deepen students' understanding of what myths meant to the ancient Greeks, and to help them appreciate the meanings that Greek myths have for us today.
Source: EdSitement

Grades 9-12
Uncovering the Legacy of Ancient Greece
This lesson is designed to bring students in general touch with major sources from which the knowledge of ancient Greece has been retrieved. Students will recognize that what we know of ancient Greece has come to us mainly through generations of scholarly research and analysis of artifacts recovered in archeological digs. Source: ArtsEdge

Ancient Greece and Rome
Classroom resources, activities, and websites that explore Africa. Source: British Museum