The Department of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities

The collection's origins lie in the royal treasures gathered before the Revolution, enriched by archaeological purchases that have continued to this day. The department began primarily with marble statues. The Venus de Milo joined in 1821, followed by the Winged Victory of Samothrace, discovered in 1863 and installed at the top of the Daru staircase in 1884 — a placement that has rarely been bettered.

Some of the works are Roman copies after Greek originals: the Romans drew freely from ancient Greek aesthetics for their decoration, which explains the visible kinship between certain pieces. 

Although it is not the largest of the Louvre's departments by surface area, it may well be the best starting point. The shapes, drapes and faces of antiquity have shaped European art for centuries. During the Renaissance, the rediscovery of antiquity inspired countless paintings whose figures echo Greek and Roman models. Even Louis XIV liked to be compared to Hercules. 

The Greek, Etruscan and Roman collections occupy the ground floor of the Denon wing and part of the Sully wing. Some pieces are also visible on the mezzanine of the Denon wing. The route divides into two complementary parts: one dedicated to Ancient Greece, the other gathering Etruscan and Roman antiquities.

The Venus de Milo, with her famously missing arms, takes pride of place at the center of room 16. Discovered in 1820 on the Greek island of Milos, given to Louis XVIII by the Marquis de Rivière and donated to the Louvre in 1821, she still carries traces of attachment marks suggesting she was once adorned with jewels and perhaps even painted.

• Where to find it: Denon wing, ground floor and mezzanine; part of the Sully wing.
• Venus de Milo: Sully wing, ground floor, room 16.
• Extime Travel tip: begin your Louvre visit here for a smoother reading of the European art that follows in other departments.