The public perception of the museums is determined by exhibitions and special events.

Collecting objects from classical antiquity dates back in Munich to the princely collections of the Wittelsbach family.

One of the primary tasks of the museum is to protect objects from decay and to preserve them for generations to come. Conservation comprises not only the conservation and restoration of the objects but also appropriate handling and guaranteeing their security.

Research in the museum involves the academic processing of objects, groups of objects and relationships between objects. Information and findings are documented and made available to the general public in the form of publications and exhibitions.

The study of a collection item begins with entering it into the inventory and establishing where it comes from (provenance). This evidence is of great significance for both academic and legal reasons. As a result of this academic processing, the object is classified in a context, thus enabling its inclusion in a themed presentation.

The State Collections of Antiquities and the Glyptothek in Munich have in the past carried out excavations on the Greek island of Aegina. In the process, the chronology of the Aphaea sanctuary located there was extensively researched. Since 2006 the Karačamirli site (Azerbaijan) has been explored under the direction of the current director of the museum.