The Gandharan Collection of the Civic Archaeological Museum of Milan

Abstract

The Civic Archaeological Museum of Milan holds a small but remarkable collection of Gandharan Art, acquired by the former Director Ermanno Arslan, between the 70s and the 90s of the 20th century. Archaeological method, that is to say contextualization, must apply also to objects without provenance. Cultural diversity is the starting point to understand/detect relations, connections, mutual interferences between cultures. Through museum exhibitions, we can transmit the notion that archaeological objects, more than being works of art to be admired for their beauty, are a cluster of various information regarding the ancient culture to which they belong.