At the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno, from November 6, 2019 (Wed) to February 9, 2020 (Sun), the special exhibition "People, Gods, Nature – The Ancient World as Told by Masterpieces from The al-Thani Collection" will be held, offering a comprehensive view of approximately 120 craft objects created by ancient cultures from around the globe.

The Tokyo National Museum in Ueno's East Building, Room 3, will host the special exhibition "People, Gods, Nature – The Ancient World as Told by Masterpieces from The al-Thani Collection" from November 6, 2019 (Wed) to February 9, 2020 (Sun). This exhibition features 117 carefully selected masterpieces from the esteemed The al-Thani Collection. Assembled by Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani of the Qatari royal family, the collection is distinguished by its splendor and diverse geographical and cultural origins. These exceptional art objects, spanning from antiquity to the modern era, represent a pinnacle of human creativity.

The first of three sections, focusing on "People," will display artifacts related to rulers and influential figures of ancient societies, such as statues of pharaohs. These masterpieces, crafted from precious materials with exceptional skill, include idealized royal portraits, dazzling personal adornments, and objects created specifically for funerary rites.

The second section introduces religious icons and artifacts associated with sacred rituals from ancient cultures. Among the exhibits is a bottle carved with the Greek hero Hercules. These works relate to the prayers offered by ancient peoples to forces beyond their control, seeking survival and societal stability amidst unpredictable weather and frequent conflicts.

The third section, "Nature," examines how ancient societies perceived the natural world, primarily through artifacts shaped like animals. It is believed that people in various ancient cultures sought to harness the power of nature and the divine by using vessels and adornments in the form of animals. For instance, wild animals with large horns, such as goats, are thought to have symbolized the strength of the natural world. Each exhibited piece captures the distinct posture and varied expressions of animals, revealing through these diverse representations of nature how cultural interests differed.

This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to appreciate, all at once, works originating from ancient societies across the Mediterranean region, Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.

"People, Gods, Nature – The Ancient World as Told by Masterpieces from The al-Thani Collection"
Dates | November 6, 2019 (Wed) – February 9, 2020 (Sun)
Venue | Tokyo National Museum, East Building, Room 3 (Ueno Park, Tokyo)
Address | 13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Until 9:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays; last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Closed | Mondays, December 26, 2019 (Thu) – January 1, 2020 (Wed, Holiday), January 14, 2020 (Tue) *Open on January 13, 2020 (Mon, Holiday)
Organizers | Tokyo National Museum, The Al Thani Collection Foundation, NHK