Theseus Temple
zoom in zoom out

The Theseus Temple

A temple as art hall

The Theseus Temple, built between 1820 and 1823 in Vienna’s Volksgarten, is a mini version of the ancient Theseus temple in Athens.

In 1819 Emperor Francis I travels to Rome where he procures the “Theseus Battling the Centaur” group of statues. The Theseus Temple is then erected to house the sculptures.

In 1890 the group of statues are moved to the Kunsthistorisches Museum, which is opened a year later. Theseus has been fighting the centaur for all to see in the stairwell of the great Viennese art museum ever since.

At the beginning of the 20th century the Theseus Temple serves as a venue for art exhibitions. A function it enjoys again from 1999; the Kunsthistorisches Museum often uses it to present contemporary art.

Today, following the renovations completed in 2011, including restoration of the copper roof, the Theseus Temple shines like new in its original white.

Fields marked with * are required.