Archaeological and Ethnological Museum

To learn about the origins of the Archaeological Museum of Córdoba, we must go back to the first half of the 19th century, a time when Minister Juan Álvarez Mendizábal initiated the circulation of numerous works of art due to the confiscation of Church property.

In 1844, all the confiscated works from Cordoban convents were gathered and deposited in the Provincial Museum of Fine Arts, forming the so-called “Antiquities Collection.” As part of the Fine Arts Museum, the collection experienced several relocations until it finally settled in the former Charity Hospital, in Plaza del Potro, its current location.

History of the Archaeological Museum of Córdoba

The Archaeological Museum of Córdoba was founded in 1867, but it did not settle in the Palace of the Páez de Castillejo until 1960.

It was not until 1867 that the Provincial Archaeological Museum of Córdoba was officially established; however, it shared headquarters with the Fine Arts Museum until 1920, when the collection was moved to Plaza de San Juan de Letrán. Five years later, the museum was relocated again, this time to Calle Samuel de los Santos Gener (a former museum director), near the Mosque-Cathedral.

In 1960, the museum was definitively established in the Renaissance Palace of the Páez de Castillejo, and two years later, both the building and the collection were declared a “Historic-Artistic Monument.” Since then, the Archaeological Museum of Córdoba has become one of the most comprehensive museums of its kind in Spain, has significantly and steadily increased its heritage, and has launched numerous initiatives such as the creation of the scientific journal “Corduba Archaeologica,” the development of an exceptional specialized library, and the establishment of the Urban Archaeology Research Service.

The Palace of the Páez de Castillejo dates back to the 16th century and is built over the ruins of the city’s ancient Roman theater, which is why one of the museum‘s rooms houses part of its seating area. Although the palace has been heavily renovated, the two large porticoed courtyards designed by Hernán Ruiz the Elder are noteworthy, around which the museum‘s various rooms are arranged. The main façade, like the main staircase, was built by Hernán Ruiz II, the Younger, around 1540. Conceived as a triumphal arch, it features an iconographic program meant to exalt the Páez de Castillejo family.

The Museum’s Rooms

Room I: Prehistory

The first room of the museum is dedicated to Prehistory. It showcases remains ranging from the Lower Paleolithic to the Middle Bronze Age. The artifacts are displayed in several showcases divided by prehistoric periods.

The second showcase stands out, dedicated to the Neolithic Revolution, characterized by the shift from a foraging economy to a productive one. This is reflected in the appearance of the first ceramic containers. Notable are the remains from the Cueva de los Murciélagos.

Room II: Protohistory

Adjacent to the first room is the one dedicated to Protohistory, a period covering the end of the 2nd millennium to the 2nd century BC. Here, you can see remains from Cordoban archaeological sites such as Llanete de los Moros and La Colina de los Quemados, belonging to the Late Bronze Age.

Also notable are the remains of the Iberian-Turdetanian Culture, dated between the 6th and 2nd centuries BC. A wide array of zoomorphic sculptures, weapons, ceramics, and more are displayed, originating from various provincial sites.

Rooms III–V: Roman Culture

Crossing the second courtyard, we enter the three rooms dedicated to Roman culture. As explained in the section on Roman Córdoba, the city played a very important role during this historical period, serving as the capital of Baetica and later being named Colonia Patricia. This is evident in the surviving remains.

Sculptures, tombs, mosaics, models of monuments—even the remains of the city’s theater seating, soon to be opened to the public—can be seen in these rooms.

Room VI: Visigothic Art

We finish our tour of the museum’s ground floor with the room dedicated to Visigothic Art. While we know little about the city’s structure during the Visigothic period, many material remains have been preserved. This collection, along with that of the San Vicente Museum in the Cathedral, is the most complete in the city on this subject.

It includes tomb remains, architectural elements such as carved capitals, ceramics from basilicas in the mountains, and goldsmithing items.

Rooms VII–VIII: Al-Andalus

Now on the second floor of our spacious building, the final stop on our tour awaits: Islamic culture.

We begin the visit in the porticoed galleries of the courtyard, where we find a great variety of architectural remains (bases, capitals…) of all kinds. Room VII is exclusively dedicated to remains found in Medina Azahara. Finally, Room VIII displays metalworked pieces, mostly in bronze, with many examples of jewelry.

Unique Works

Iberian Lion of Nueva Carteya

Anonymous artist. Limestone. Length: 114.5 cm / Height: 61 cm / Thickness: 23 cm. Date: 4th century BC.

The lion is the most frequently represented animal and carries significant symbolic weight, as ancient Mediterranean cultures directly associated it with royalty. These figures were likely meant to guard the graves of powerful individuals within their communities. They also had a somewhat mythological, almost fantastical character, since lions did not naturally inhabit the Iberian Peninsula. They are usually depicted with open jaws, large fangs, and a visible tongue, in a deliberately threatening posture. We must not forget their clear purpose: to scare away evil spirits or tomb robbers.

Crouching Aphrodite

Anonymous artist. Greek marble from the island of Paros. Height: 210 cm / Width: 40 cm. Date: Antonine Period (138–192 AD).

This exceptional work in Greek marble is almost certainly a Roman copy of a Hellenistic original that Pliny attributed in the 1st century AD to the Greek master Doidalsas of Bithynia. Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, is depicted nude and crouching, probably gazing at her reflection in a stream or fountain. The figure’s twisting pose gives the composition a strong sense of movement. Though the arms are missing and the face is badly damaged, we can still admire the emphasized volumes and the artist’s mastery of chiaroscuro. It was discovered a few years ago near the Arab Baths of the Pescadería.

Mithras of Cabra

Anonymous artist. White marble. Dimensions: 93 x 96 x 35 cm. Date: Second half of the 2nd century.

The sculptural group of Mithras Tauroctonus, the Sun god, depicts the Persian deity, wearing a Phrygian cap, sacrificing a bull. This act represents the annual cycle of death and resurrection. The purifying blood of the bull is drunk by the dog, Mithras’s loyal companion who guards the soul. The snake gives rise to plants, and the scorpion brings forth animals and men. All are symbols of a creator god. This piece belongs to a late stage in the development of Roman sculpture. Very few representations of this deity survive, making this example exceptional, as it is the only known complete and freestanding piece in the Iberian Peninsula. It demonstrates the presence of Eastern beliefs during the time of Hadrian in the western provinces of the Empire.

Contact and Tourist Information

Address: Plaza Jerónimo Páez, 7. 14003. Córdoba. Phone: +34 957 355 517 / +34 957 355 525 / FAX: +34 957 355 534.

Bus Lines

At Plaza de las Tendillas or San Fernando Street (Lines 1, 3, 7, and 12), as well as all radial lines that run through the city center.

Opening Hours

From June 16 to September 15

Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays, except on Mondays that are the day before a public holiday, when it opens with holiday hours. Open on the following public holidays: August 15 and the local holiday on September 8 (Monday).

From September 16 to June 15

Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Sundays and public holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays, except on Mondays that are the day before a public holiday, when it opens with holiday hours. Closed on January 1 and 6, May 1, and December 24, 25, and 31. Open on the following public holidays: February 28; April 17 and 18; October 13; November 1; December 6 and 8; as well as October 24, the local holiday.

Price

• EU citizens: Free admission.
• Other countries: €1.50.

How to Get There

The Archaeological and Ethnological Museum of Córdoba is located near the historic center of the city. The main entrance is situated in Plaza Jerónimo Páez, close to Calle Rey Heredia, which connects it to the Jewish Quarter and allows easy access. Another way to reach it is from Calle San Fernando, heading through the Arco del Portillo to Plaza Séneca, where the museum’s rear entrance is located.

If you want to visit the Archaeological Museum of Córdoba, don’t hesitate to book one of our guided tours. We are experts in the interpretation of Córdoba’s historical heritage. We provide advice on tickets, opening hours, prices, and how to get there. If you’ve chosen to visit Córdoba, choose a quality option—choose ArtenCórdoba.