Pergamon Museum

Berlin, Germany

The Pergamon Museum was designed by Alfred Messel and Ludwig Hoffmann and was constructed in twenty years, from 1910 to 1930. The Pergamon Museum houses original-sized, reconstructed monumental buildings such as the Pergamon Altar and the Market Gate of Miletus, all consisting of parts transported from Turkey.

The museum is subdivided into the antiquity collection, the Middle East museum, and the museum of Islamic art. The museum is visited by approximately 1,135,000 people every year, making it the most visited art museum in Germany.

By the time the Kaiser-Friedrich-Museum on Museum Island (today the Bodemuseum) had opened, it was clear that the museum was not large enough to host all of the art and archaeological treasures excavated under German supervision. Excavations were underway in Babylon, Uruk, Assur, Miletus, Priene and Egypt, and objects from these sites could not be properly displayed within the existing German museum system. As early as 1907, Wilhelm von Bode, the director of the Kaiser-Friedrich-Wilhelm-Museum had plans to build a new museum nearby to accommodate ancient architecture, German post-antiquity art, and Middle Eastern and Islamic art.

This large three-wing museum had been in planning since 1907; when Alfred Messel died in 1909 his close friend Ludwig Hoffman took charge of construction, which began in 1910. The construction continued during the First World War (1918) and the great inflation of the 1920s. In 1930, the building hosting the four museums opened.

The Pergamon Museum was severely damaged during the air attack on Berlin at the end of the Second World War. Many of the display objects were stored in safe places, and some of the large pieces were walled in for protection. In 1945, the Red Army collected all of the loose museum items, either as war booty or, ostensibly, to rescue them from looting and fires then raging in Berlin. Not until 1958 were most of the objects returned to East Germany. Significant parts of the collection remain in Russia. Some are currently stored in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow and the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg.

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Details

Founded: 1910
Category: Museums in Germany
Historical period: German Empire (Germany)

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

kimia (11 months ago)
If you haven't seen this museum till now, don't lose the chance to get familiar with the awesome history of great ancient human civilizations, it also can be interesting for kids or teenagers. Apparently it is gradually getting under construction section after another section, unfortunately I missed some important parts due to the reconstruction work, later on I had to check the missing parts on the original video & virtual tour of the museum.
sharvari shinde (12 months ago)
One can easily spend more than 2 hours here if interested. The collection is huge and enormous. Definitely one of the largest museums.The audio guide is very well designed. The Mesopotamian, Babylonian and Islamic collections are incredible. 12 euros for direct ticket bought at the museum. Online booking in advance could help.
Dmytro Basan (13 months ago)
It’s great museum to get insights about ancient life and culture. It contains very rich exhibitions. The museum is very beautiful inside and outside. Prepare to spend around one-two hours here. Better to buy tickets in advance as possible to meet long queues. Definitely mast see place in Berlin and inside of Museum Island. And better to visit Pergamonmuseum Panorama in the same time.
Paula Lozek (2 years ago)
A lot of interesting ancient materials. Not only the main attraction, Babylon, is quite nice, but also other Ancient temples and materials are really enriching. Upstairs you can also find a lot of Arabic things which are very cool. 100% recommended. If you buy your tickets online, you avoid every single time of waiting ?
Bruno Dominoni de Araujo (2 years ago)
Best museum in town. The palace isn't big but the collection is very rich and extensive. You can learn a lot and stay inside for hours. Make sure to book your ticket prior, I went on a weekend and Saturday it was fully booked...
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