Room of the Culture and Art of the Ancient Cities of the Northern Black Sea Area

This room was originally intended for one of the New Hermitage libraries. Its vaults, lunettes and arches are decorated with painting. The exhibits reflect the distinctive nature of the unique culture of the northern Black Sea area. The bulk of the artefacts were found during archaeological excavations of the Greek cities that existed there from the 7th century B.C. to the 4th century A.D., primarily burial mounds and cemeteries. The room contains artistically made sarcophagi, examples of genuine Greek sculpture, glass and silverware. Visitors are particularly attracted by a hydria bearing a scene of Athena's Argument with Poseidon, the vessels painted by Xenophantos, and figured vessels from the necropolis of Phanagoria.