Not the usual exhibition catalog but a book containing contributions from many authoritative scholars from Italy and abroad offering a completely new historical and sociological interpretation of the Romans.
The catalog accompanies a complex and highly diversified exhibition which aims to banish, once and for all, widespread and stereotyped opinions about the Romans, who are often viewed as a violent, racist people determined to exert and reinforce its dominion, exploit other peoples, and repress political dissension and religions which were not in line with those of the State. From a careful examination of Greek and Latin historical and literary sources, archeological testimonials, inscriptions and the contemporary artistic repertoire, now finally explained, we discover that the Romans were not sensitive about the purity of their race since, from the outset, theirs was a City open to integration. The articles in the catalog are many, brief and persuasively written for an audience that is not restricted merely to experts on the subject and Roman enthusiasts. The splendid illustrations depict both the numerous artworks on display and the most important inscriptions and monuments of this socio-political and cultural sphere. Not the usual exhibition catalog but a book containing contributions from many authoritative scholars from Italy and abroad (Filippo Coarelli, Fausto Zevi, Aldo Schiavone, Giuseppe Pucci, Andrew Wallace-Hadrill and many others) offering a completely new historical and sociological interpretation of the Romans.