Exhibitions and collections

At the time of Alexander the Great's death in 323 BCE, just a month before his thirty-third birthday, he had conquered the largest empire the world had yet seen. Learn more at UC's Alexander the Great exhibition.

Imagine not being able to send a text, choose from a menu, or navigate with a map. Writing and reading permeate our daily tasks. Without these fundamental skills we can't function in modern society. From the origins of writing to today's European alphabet, check out UC's Short History of Writing exhibition.

Buried treasure brings to mind treasure maps marked with an X and hidden hoards of gleaming gold. Our online exhibition 'Buried Treasure: archaeology and the discovery of lost civilisations' is about a very different sort of buried treasure - the kind uncovered by archaeologists. Check it out.

Once known as Canterbury College, the buildings that form the original town site of the University of Canterbury hold stories of staff and students, education and recreation, and service to community. Learn more about the history of Canterbury College.

2011 marked the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible. The KJB is one of the foundation stones of western culture and of the modern English language. UC possesses one of only two copies of the original 1611 printing in Australasia. Learn more about Canterbury's King James Bible.

The Canterbury Roll is a 15th-century English genealogical text. It was created in the late 1420s/ early 1430s and subsequently modified on a number of occasions. Final revisions were made to it, most probably during the reign of Richard III (1483–1485). Learn more.

From history and society to science and knowledge, find out the Canterbury Tales exhibition online or in person.

Death may be a certainty in life but our feelings and beliefs about it are often complex and ambiguous. This is as true in contemporary societies as it was in ancient times. This exhibition explores how ancient Greeks and Romans viewed death, how they buried and remembered their dead, and more. Learn more about death in ancient times.

The plaster casts of Greek and Roman sculptures in the James Logie Memorial Collection have a rich history. They provide insight into ancient styles of art and are intrinsic features of the story of the Logie Collection. Check out UC's exhibition on the Logie Collection casts.

This digital exhibition investigates the Psychic Research Society of Christchurch, founded by Edgar Lovell-Smith, which attempted to investigate the truth of Spiritualist claims. The group was active in the 1930s and ‘40s, before mysteriously disappearing at the end of the decade. Check out the Southern Spirits exhibition.

There are a range of sculptures and artists featured on UC's sculpture trail. You can download or print the self-guided tour map provided. Learn more.

The Johnstone Collection offers insight into the Development of the Design Movement in Canterbury and the History of the Ilam School of Fine Arts. This online exhibition is based on a UC Summer Scholarship project. It was co-supervised by the Art History Department and the Macmillan Brown Library, 2011-12. Learn more about the Johnstone Collection.

This online exhibition celebrates the history of the Old Chemistry building at the Arts Centre, which used to house the Canterbury College Department of Chemistry. Today it's home to the UC's College of Arts and the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities. Learn more about UC Chemistry at the Arts Centre.

Adventure, passion, gruesome death, tragedy, and great triumph can all be found in the epic poems of the Aeneid and the Georgics, written by the Roman poet Virgil. 'Virtue and Adversity' explores the literature and art of Virgil through two rare editions of his poems. Check out UC's exhibition Virgil poetry in the DA Kidd Collection.

The gods and heroes of the Greeks and Romans were powerful. This exhibition introduces some of the gods and heroes of the Greco-Roman world. It describes the ancient myths and characters, while reflecting on the lasting influence of Greek and Roman stories and images. Check out UC's We Could Be Heroes exhibition.