Ancient Orient Museum 2026 Summer Special Exhibition 'Exploring Ancient Orient Architecture and Urban Planning with Models' to be held from July 4 (Sat) to September 6 (Sun)

The Ancient Orient Museum (Director: Makiko Tsukamura) located in Sunshine City (Ikebukuro, Tokyo) will hold a summer special exhibition 'Exploring Ancient Orient Architecture and Urban Planning with Models' from July 4 (Sat) to September 6 (Sun).

Humanity has been creating various 'buildings' such as dwellings, temples, palaces, tombs, and cities since before the dawn of civilization. Among them, the Ancient Orient is considered to be the region where the world's first cities were born around 5000 years ago.

This exhibition will introduce the architecture and cities of the Ancient Orient, including the 'oldest human temple' Göbekli Tepe, the 'oldest city in the world' Uruk, and the city of Babylon with the 'Tower of Babel', with over 30 scale models and life-size models.

With scale models, you can trace the overall image of ruins and cities in three dimensions, and with life-size models, you can experience the presence of ancient dwellings and tombs as if you were inside them.

During the summer vacation period, children's lectures, experience corners, and mystery tours will also be held, allowing parents and children to enjoy learning about ancient civilization 'urban planning'.

Event Overview

Date and Time: July 4 (Sat) to September 6 (Sun) 10:00-17:00 (Last admission 16:30)

* July 24 (Fri) and August 28 (Fri) will be open until 20:00 (Last admission 19:30)

Admission Fee: General 1,300 yen, High School Students 1,000 yen, Elementary and Junior High School Students 400 yen * Group discounts and discounts for the disabled are available

Sponsors: Toshima City, Toshima City Board of Education / Special Cooperation: Sunshine City

Cooperation: Tenri University Attached Tenri Reference Museum

Website: https://aom-tokyo.com/exhibition/260704_maquette.html

Hidetoshi Tsukamoto, Researcher at the Ancient Orient Museum

■ Comments from the Person in Charge

Hidetoshi Tsukamoto, Researcher at the Ancient Orient Museum

At our museum, we have been producing over 30 models of ruins with the help of museum interns and part-time staff. This started with the wish to recreate the ruins I participated in excavating with models and share them with everyone. Although they are not professional works, there are limitations to the finish as models, but we would like you to see them as the results of research and verification by archaeological experts. We would be happy if you could feel as if you were standing at the site of the ruins, transcending time and space.

Examples of Exhibited Models

● World's Oldest Architecture and Cities

'The Oldest City in the World'

Uruk City Model (Iraq, around 2500 BC)

This is a model of the entire city of the era when the legendary king of Uruk, Gilgamesh, known from the Epic of Gilgamesh, is said to have reigned.

'The Oldest Human Temple'

Göbekli Tepe Circular Ruins Model (Turkey, around 8500 BC)

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where hunter-gatherers before the dawn of civilization are said to have built monuments using 6-meter-high megaliths, a discovery that has rewritten human history.

'The City of the Tower of Babel'

Babylon City Restoration Model (Iraq, around 600 BC)

This is a restoration model of the center of Babylon, the largest city in the world at that time, known for the 'Tower of Babel', which is considered a model of the 'Tower of Babel', and the 'Hanging Gardens', which are said to be the forerunner of rooftop greening, and the 'Ziggurat of Babylon', one of the highest buildings in antiquity.

● Experiencing Ancient Life and Views on Life and Death in Life-Size

'The Afterlife Ancient Egyptians Wished For'

Sennejem Tomb (Egypt, around 1300 BC) * Life-Size

From the murals depicted, it is clear that ancient Egyptians sought a 'peaceful and prosperous life in the afterlife' that was no different from the present world.

'Megalithic Tomb by the Euphrates River'

Lemeira District Cemetery (Syria, around 2300 BC) * Life-Size

This is a megalithic tomb for a powerful tribe that lived along the Euphrates River, investigated by the Ancient Orient Museum. The width of the ceiling stone is over 2 meters.

'4000-Year-Old Village House' Tel Lemeira VI Layer House (Syria, around 1800 BC) * Life-Size

This is a house ruin of a very ordinary village in northern Syria from the same era as Hammurabi, known for the Code of Hammurabi. Daily life such as meals, handicrafts, and rituals has been revealed through excavation surveys by the Ancient Orient Museum.

● Diverse Ancient Cities

'The Wall Made by Giants'

Tiryns Citadel Restoration Model (Greece, 13th Century BC)

* Owned by Tenri University Attached Tenri Reference Museum

According to ancient Greek legend, this is a citadel made of megaliths said to have been helped by the one-eyed giant Cyclops. It is also a site related to the hero Heracles.

'The Village Where Jesus May Have Preached'

Tel Rehesh Excavated Synagogue Restoration Model (Israel, 1st Century AD)

This is an imagined restoration of a Jewish gathering place that was near Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus Christ, discovered by the Japanese team. Jesus may have come here to preach.

'Life in an Ancient Egyptian Craftsman Village'

Deir el-Medina House Restoration Model (Egypt, 16th-11th Century BC)

This is a reconstruction of one of the houses in a 'collective housing' where craftsmen who worked on tombs lived near the 'Valley of the Kings' in Egypt. There were living rooms, kitchens, and underfloor storage.

'Caravan City on the Silk Road'

Palmyra Site Current Model (Syria, 3rd Century AD)

Palmyra was a caravan city that prospered as a gateway to the Silk Road at the eastern end of the Roman Empire. It has become a valuable record after being destroyed by ISIS 10 years ago.

* In addition to models, actual archaeological materials will also be exhibited.

Goods

In conjunction with the opening of this special exhibition, the museum shop inside the museum will sell city map goods and goods featuring the image character of this exhibition. The exhibition catalog will also be sold.

Clear file 'Cities of Mesopotamia' 330 yen Acrylic key holder of the exhibition image character 'Lemeira Dog' 700 yen (planned) * Under development image

Catalog of the exhibition 'Exploring Ancient Orient Architecture and Urban Planning with Models' (B5 size, full color, 32 pages) 1,200 yen (planned)

Related Events

● Lecture * Advance registration required

'History of Ancient Orient Architecture - From Mesopotamia to Persia -'

Lecture 'History of Ancient Orient Architecture - From Mesopotamia to Persia -' Ziggurat (Holy Tower) of Chogha Zanbil, a World Heritage Site in Iran, 13th Century BC

This lecture will introduce an overview of the changes in various architectures that appeared in the Ancient Orient, framed as the prehistoric period dealing with early dwellings, the ancient period when temple architecture developed centered on Mesopotamia, and the later ancient period when it can be said to be the Persian era that ruled from the Mediterranean to Central Asia.

Lecturer: Yoriyoshi Okada (Emeritus Professor, Kokushikan University)

Date and Time: August 9 (Sun) 13:30-15:00

● Children's Ori Experience Lecture * Advance registration required

'The Secret of Models - Let's Make an Ancient Syrian House -'

This is a hands-on lecture for children to learn about the Tel Lemeira site in Syria and then recreate the houses and furniture that ancient people lived in with styrene boards and clay.

Lecturers: Hidetoshi Tsukamoto (Researcher, Ancient Orient Museum), Tao Takami (Education and Public Relations, Ancient Orient Museum)

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