Antique Temple, Potsdam

The Antique Temple, located in the west part of Sanssouci Park in Potsdam, is a small, round Neoclassical temple constructed between 1768 and 1769. Commissioned by Frederick the Great, it was designed by architect Carl von Gontard to house the king's extensive collection of classical art, artifacts, coins, and antique gems.

Architecturally, the Antique Temple has a simple yet elegant design with a round structure encircled by ten Tuscan columns, resembling a beehive tomb. The rotunda has a 16-meter diameter and a cupola with four oval windows for natural light. The main entrance features a large rounded door at the top of a staircase, highlighted by an oblong gable. A 9.4-meter square annex extends from the back, lit by three windows.

The temple's interior features classical decor, with walls lined in grey Silesian marble and a continuous wooden bench holding large sculptures and vessels. Above, fifty brackets showcase antique busts in three tiers. Highlights include the 'Family of Lycomedes,' ten life-sized marble statues from Cardinal Melchior de Polignac's collection, and fifty busts in marble, basalt, and bronze, contributed by Princess Wilhelmine, Frederick's sister. A gold-framed marble relief of Emperor Trajan on horseback adorns the wall above the entrance.

The annex, accessible from the rotunda through a rounded door, contains the Coin Chamber, a repository of Frederick's numismatic and gem collection. It features four cedar wood cupboards filled with over 9,200 gold, silver, and bronze coins, approximately 4,370 engraved gems and cameos, and various marble, terracotta, and bronze reliefs, along with books from Frederick’s archaeological library.

Since 1921, the Antique Temple has served as a mausoleum for members of the House of Hohenzollern and is no longer open to the public. The temple remains a testament to Frederick the Great's passion for classical art and his desire to create spaces that celebrate his extensive collections.