Museum of Classical Archaeology

About

The Museum of Classical Archaeology in Cambridge, part of the University’s Faculty of Classics, is home to one of the world’s few surviving collections of plaster casts of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture. Founded in 1884 and now housed in a light-filled gallery on the Sidgwick Site, it displays over 450 casts of iconic works such as the Laocoön, the Farnese Hercules, and the Charioteer of Delphi. The celebrated Peplos Kore is shown both in its original white form and in a brightly painted reconstruction, challenging the myth of pure white classical marble. Alongside the casts, the museum holds archaeological sherds and epigraphic squeezes, supporting research and teaching while offering the public a rare opportunity to encounter the scale and detail of masterpieces otherwise scattered across the world. Free to enter, it remains a unique space where ancient art, modern scholarship, and public curiosity meet in an inspiring and accessible setting.

Cambridge United Kingdom

Location

The Museum of Classical Archaeology is located on the first floor of the Faculty of Classics building on Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge CB3 9DA, within the University of Cambridge. The museum is part of the Sidgwick Site, which hosts several other university faculties and museums. Nearby attractions include the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Museum of Zoology, and the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. The site is within walking distance of central Cambridge, offering easy access to local shops, cafes, and the historic city centre. Public transport connections and parking facilities are also conveniently close.