Antikentempel

Why did Frederick the Great build a temple to house old stuff? The Antikentempel here in Sanssouci Park may seem like an odd choice for a king. But it reflects Frederick’s deep fascination with ancient art and history. The Antikentempel, built in 1768-1769 by Carl von Gontard, wasn’t meant to be a place of worship. It was designed as a museum for the king’s personal collection. Imagine, a king’s private museum filled with ancient artifacts! Frederick filled the Antikentempel with marble statues, bronze figurines, ancient tools and ceramics. He even had a collection of over 9,200 gold, silver, and bronze coins, plus thousands of engraved gems and cameos. One of the most notable pieces was the “Family of Lycomedes”. This consisted of ten life-sized marble statues that Frederick acquired from the French Cardinal Melchior de Polignac. The collection also included busts, many from his favorite sister, Princess Wilhelmine. A special annex, the Coin Chamber, housed the king’s extensive coin, gem, and relief collection. It also contained books from Frederick’s archaeological library. The Antikentempel’s round shape, surrounded by ten Tuscan columns, resembles a beehive tomb. Inside, the walls were decorated with grey Silesian marble. A wooden bench ran around the perimeter, displaying sculptures and vessels. Above, on three tiers of brackets, stood the busts. A marble relief of Emperor Trajan on horseback graced the wall above the entrance. Sadly, the Antikentempel isn’t open to the public today. In 1798, Frederick William III decided to move the collections to museums in Berlin. The artifacts eventually found a home in the Altes Museum. The Antikentempel then held a copy of Queen Louise’s sarcophagus for a time. Then, in 1921, it became a mausoleum for members of the House of Hohenzollern. Empress Augusta Victoria, Prince Joachim, Prince Wilhelm, Prince Eitel Friedrich, and Hermine Reuss of Greiz all rest here now. The Antikentempel stands as a quiet reminder of a king’s passion for the ancient world. It’s also a poignant final resting place for members of a fallen dynasty.