Louvre Antiquities

• PHOTOS

This three-hour in-depth exploration of the Louvre focuses on the museum's fascinating antiquities collection. Accompanied by an art historian, you'll follow the development of ancient art and culture from Mesopotamia and Egypt to Ancient Greece and Rome.

Beginning with the immense Oriental Antiquities department, we'll explore the ancient artworks of middle and far Eastern countries, some of which date to nearly 10,000 years ago. We'll see examples of ancient writing - the earliest existing art form - while discussing the incredible role that the birth of spoken and written language had on the development of early civilization and artwork.

Moving onward, we'll make our way to the Egyptian Antiquities, which includes vestiges of the many civilizations that settled along the Nile from Prehistoric times (roughly 4000 years ago) to the Christian era (4th century B.C.). Stopping by masterworks like Nakhthorheb, head of Priests, and the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet, we'll discuss the role

This three-hour in-depth exploration of the Louvre focuses on the museum's fascinating antiquities collection. Accompanied by an art historian, you'll follow the development of ancient art and culture from Mesopotamia and Egypt to Ancient Greece and Rome.

Beginning with the immense Oriental Antiquities department, we'll explore the ancient artworks of middle and far Eastern countries, some of which date to nearly 10,000 years ago. We'll see examples of ancient writing - the earliest existing art form - while discussing the incredible role that the birth of spoken and written language had on the development of early civilization and artwork.

Moving onward, we'll make our way to the Egyptian Antiquities, which includes vestiges of the many civilizations that settled along the Nile from Prehistoric times (roughly 4000 years ago) to the Christian era (4th century B.C.). Stopping by masterworks like Nakhthorheb, head of Priests, and the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet, we'll discuss the role of religion in Ancient Egypt, delving into the daily life and culture of the time.

Finally, we'll end our itinerary with the art of Etruria, Greece, and Rome. As we move between each Antiquities department, we'll attempt to see each civilization's role in the continuous evolution of Western art. For example, we'll consider how Egyptian art left its mark on Etruscan works and, in turn, how the artistic techniques and sensibilities of Etruria influenced the art of the Romans. Once we reach the Greeks and Romans (whose works date from the 4th century B.C. to the 6th century A.D.), we'll come across well-known masterpieces like the Venus de Milo and the Nike of Samothrace. As we contemplate the familiar beauty of these pieces, we'll begin to discuss the crucial role of Ancient art in the development of the Western art of our own era, most notably in the works of the 15th-century Italian Renaissance.