Gregorian Profane Museum
A Vatican collection of Greek and Roman sculpture spanning the 5th century BC to the 3rd century AD, founded by Pope Gregory XVI and relocated to the Vatican in 1970.
At a glance
The Gregorian Profane Museum holds one of the world’s finest assemblies of classical sculpture. Its galleries contain Greek originals, Roman copies of celebrated Greek works, and imperial-era portraits and reliefs. The collection reflects centuries of excavation across the Papal State and Vatican territory.
History
Pope Gregory XVI established the museum in 1844 within the Lateran Palace, housing antiquities recovered from papal lands. In 1970, under the directive of Pope John XXIII, the entire collection was transferred to the Vatican Museums, where it occupies a prominent position in the modern curatorial landscape.
What you see
The museum comprises five thematic sections. Section I displays fragments of original Greek sculpture and reliefs from the 5th–4th centuries BC. Section II presents Roman copies and reworkings of Greek masterpieces from the 1st–3rd centuries AD. Section III arranges 1st–2nd century Roman sculpture chronologically, featuring portrait busts and altars including the Ara dei Vicomagistri. Section IV is devoted to sarcophagi, organized by iconographic themes. Section V concludes with Roman sculpture from the 2nd–3rd centuries.
Cultural significance
Among its treasures are Roman copies of Myron’s celebrated Athena and Marsyas group (circa 450 BC) and a portrait of Sophocles derived from a 4th-century Greek original. The museum’s Hebrew lapidary department preserves 137 Greek and Latin funerary inscriptions from the Monteverde catacomb, discovered in 1602 and systematically excavated in 1904–1906, documenting Jewish life in Roman Rome from the 1st–3rd centuries.
Key facts
- Address: Viale Vaticano, Musei Vaticani, 00120, Stato Vaticano
- Coordinates: 41.90624561758993, 12.453550100326538
- Phone: 06 69883332
- Website: museivaticani.va
Practical information
The museum is open as part of the Vatican Museums complex. Hours and admission details are available on the official website. Visitors should note that entry requires a ticket valid for the entire Vatican Museums collection.
Getting there
The Vatican Museums are located in Vatican City, accessible via the Metro A line (Ottaviano–San Pietro–Musei Vaticani stop) or by bus. Allow several hours for your visit. The Gregorian Profane Museum is reached after passing through other galleries; comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Sources & resources
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