Plaster cast collection of the Museum of Antiquities at the University of Leipzig

The plaster cast collection of the Museum of Antiquities at Leipzig University comprises approximately 800 casts of ancient sculptures from the Greek and Roman periods, making it one of the most extensive collections of its kind in Germany. The holdings were primarily assembled in the 19th and early 20th centuries in connection with archaeological teaching at the university. During the Second World War, and again through the loss of exhibition space when the university's main building was demolished in 1968, the collection suffered considerable damage and losses. Since 1999, it has been located at a new site and has been open to the public again since 2024.

The casts reproduce original works at a 1:1 scale and allow for spatial viewing from all sides. This enables comparisons, reconstructions, and further studies that would be impossible with fragile originals. In addition to its function in research and teaching, the collection is also aimed at the interested public. It documents the development of archaeological education in Leipzig and simultaneously illustrates key examples of ancient sculpture.