The journey of Aeneas. From Troy to Rome

The exhibition at the Temple of Romulus inside the Roman Forum, curated by Alfonsina Russo, director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, Roberta Alteri, Nicoletta Cassieri, Daniele Fortuna and Sandra Gatti presents 24 works of great interest, dating from between the 7th century BC. and the full imperial age, lent by 12 different national institutions.

The different finds are exhibited according to main thematic itineraries such as the images of Aeneas, his father Anchises and his mother the goddess Aphrodite; depictions of the Trojan War; the Palladium – the wooden simulacrum kept in the city of Troy and then brought to Rome by Aeneas – and, last but not least, the landing in Lazio and the foundation of Lavinium, where archaeological discoveries have given concrete proof of the myth. Among the important exhibits on display we mention the monumental Apulian red-figure crater from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, a true masterpiece of ancient pottery, dated to 370-360 BC, depicting the massacre of the body of the Trojan prince Hector by Achilles. The same museum also comes two frescoes found in Pompeii, one of which represents a rare depiction of the Trojan horse being dragged into the city. Particularly noteworthy are the terracotta statues from the sanctuary of Minerva in Lavinium, a notable example of late archaic and mid-republican art from Lazio, many of which are on public display for the first time.

On the occasion, the Colosseum Archaeological Park is also hosting a series of conferences centered on the myth of Aeneas and his legendary journey held by experts in the field and Italian and foreign university teachers.

The exhibition is organized in collaboration with the Aeneas Route Association to promote and disseminate knowledge of the myth of Aeneas and that of the “Aeneas’ route" Cultural Itinerary certified by the Council of Europe in 2021.

Photo credits: courtesy of Simona Murrone Colosseum Archaeological Park official site