Institute for the Study of the Ancient World

The Institute for the Study of the Ancient World serves as a specialized center for advanced research and graduate education at New York University. It was founded in two thousand six through the generous support of the Leon Levy Foundation, which sought to establish a dedicated space for scholars to explore the cultural and historical connections between ancient civilizations. The institute occupies a historic six-story limestone building on East Eighty-fourth Street, deliberately situated just a block away from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to foster close academic cooperation. Its mission focuses on an expansive geography, bridging the gap between the western Mediterranean and China to investigate shared developments across vast stretches of time and place.