A new, up-to-the-minute panorama of the world of culture from Greece to Rome.
In the exhibitions it organizes at the Colosseum, the Rome Archaeological Superintendency examines the major themes of antiquity through projects that combine indispensable scientific rigour with the most modern communication strategies – also for the benefit of those who are not in this field. This year’s theme is the culture of the classical world, starting with its origins that are symbolically embodied by the Muses who preside over thought and all forms of artistic expression, and moving on to the role of the intellectual in ancient society, who is examined also through his iconography, as representing shared values and change. The statues of the Muses, sources of divine inspiration, are juxtaposed with artistic masterpieces (Attic vases, marble and bronze reliefs, frescoes, mosaics) and scientific works of genius that present scenes featuring poetry, music and theatre, the education of citizens, and creative flair as a cultural, and hence political, commitment from Homer to the lyric poets, tragedians, philosophers and Greek and Roman orators, who live on here in magnificent portraits. Special attention is also given to seats of learning and the transmission of knowledge. The many essays by leading specialists, accompanied by a wealth of striking photographs, convey the above models and their reception in Roman spheres, and even in the culture and art of contemporary European society.