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Faculty of Classics

 
colourful drawing of stratigraphic layers, woman from past, and male archaeologist

Illustrating Ancient History: Bringing the Past to the Present

An exhibition exploring archaeological practice today

Tuesday 3 November 2020 - Saturday 30 January 2021

 

Curated by Javier Martínez Jiménez

 

Archaeological illustration, especially when aimed at the general public, is the result of the collaboration between artists and archaeologists. It offers a way of reconstructing the past based on scientific data that can help the public understand archaeological remains better.

This exhibition presents original artwork by Zofia Guertin and Sofia Greaves. It combines artistic interpretations of archaeological remains, technical drawings of finds, and how both can combine in reconstructions used to bring the past to live in the context of the Aeclanum Project in Southern Italy, where there has been a lot of outreach towards the local community.

 

view this exhibition online

 

 pavements, arches and columns

Zofia Guertin, Monumental Merida (Copyright: the artist)

 

About Aeclanum

Aeclanum is an ancient town in Southern Italy, in an area which was occupied by the Samnites. It was founded in the 3rd century BCE and was sacked by Sulla in 89 BCE, becoming a Roman colony under Hadrian in 120 CE. The city was connected to Rome by the Via Appia in the 290s BCE. Eventually, Aeclanum became a bishopric in the 4th and 7th centuries CE.

 

The Aeclanum Project

The Aeclanum project is directed by Dr B. Russell and Dr G. F. De Simone, in collaboration between the University of Edinburgh and the Apolline Project in agreement with the Soprintendenza per le provincie di Salerno ed Avellino and the Comune di Mirabella Eclano and associated with the British School at Rome.

The project has received generous support from the Roman Society and Roman Research Trust, a Munro Research Grant, the Institute of Classical Studies, and the Challenge Investment Fund of the University of Edinburgh.

colour drawing of a Roman cityscape from above, with roofs, greenery and roads

Zofia Guertin, Bird's Eye View of Aeclanum (Copyright: the artist)

 

The Impact of the Ancient City

This exhibition is part of a research project in the Faculty of Classics called the Impact of the Ancient City Project, led by Prof. Andrew Wallace-Hadrill. The project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement n° 693418).

 

Find out more

 

Every cast tells two stories.
One ancient. One modern.

Admission is free.

 

Just drop in: no need to book

 

Lift out of order

Our lift is currently out of order which means we are not able to provide step-free access at present.

 

Easter Closure

We will be closed from Good Friday to Easter Monday, inclusive.

 

Opening hours

Tues-Fri: 10am-5pm
Sat (univ. term-time only): 10am-1pm
Sun and Monday: Closed

Closed on Bank Holidays

 

Saturday Opening

Please note: We are open on Saturdays only during University of Cambridge term time.

We are currently closed on Saturdays. Our next Saturday opening will be Saturday 27 April.

 

Visit us

Museum of Classical Archaeology
Faculty of Classics
Sidgwick Avenue
Cambridge
CB3 9DA

We do not have an entrance on the road. Find us inside the Sidgwick Site.

 

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Get in touch

Tel. +44 (0)1223 330402
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Copyright statement

All images and material on our websites are ©Museum of Classical Archaeology, University of Cambridge unless otherwise stated. If you would like to reproduce our images, you can now do so for non-commercial use at no charge.

See also our Copyright Notice and Take Down Policy.