The museum stands in the southeastern corner of the Acropolis and houses priceless archaeological finds kept in chronological order, starting with the Archaic ( 800-600 B.C. ), and going to the Classical( 500-400 B.C. ), Hellenistic ( 300 B.C. ), and Roman periods. Among other outstanding works of art housed in the Museum’s 9 rooms are sculptures and sculptured reliefs from the pediments, frieze, and metopes of the Parthenon, the Erechtheio, and the Temple of Athena Nike. Also on display is the unique collection of the “Kore” statues ( young girls with the characteristic Archaic smile ).
Room II exhibits the famous “Moschophoros”, a man bearing a calf on his shoulders. This is an exceptionally fine work, noted for its composition and plasticity of form. In-Room V are pedimental figures of the “Gigantomachia”, or Battle of the Giants from the old Temple of Athena, built by the Peisistratids. More works of the so-called “Severe Style” are on display in Room VI, among them a sculptured relief showing a “Contemplating Athena” who seems absorbed in her thoughts as she is resting her head on her spear. The most characteristic of works belonging to the “severe” style is the “Kritias Boy”, and the “blond boy”, so-called because of the yellow color of the hair.
In-Room IV are the majority of the “Kore” statues, among them the “Peplos Kori”, so-called from the girded Dorian peplos (mantle) she wears over her chiton. The statue is famous both for its facial expression and its original colors.