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The reconstructed national Archaeology Museum in Adria, Italy, in early July re-opens its gates to visitors with an unusual exhibition titled "Balkans. Ancient Civilizations Between the Danube and the Adriatic Sea" with pieces from the archaeological collection of the National Museum in Belgrade. The exhibition covers the period from the eighth to the second century B.C. and will remain open through January of next year.
The authors of this ambitious exhibition have endeavored to present the major elements and features of the late Iron Age as well as items from the Roman Empire’s first phase. The Balkan region is one of the most important areas on the world’s archaeological map, primarily as a venue of clashes between dominant cultures: those of classical antiquity and Rome, as well as some autochthonous expressions. One such eclectic blend is embodied in the iron-cast figure of the "Blacksmith" dating back to the seventh century B.C. (the find in Bela Palanka). The "Blacksmith" is sitting as he works, with elongated limbs, a straight and strong neck and head that is redolent of the expressions of ancient Egyptian priests as they perform their rituals.
The exhibition includes more than 230 items. Some of them are of inestimable value from the standpoint of world cultural heritage, and among them is the famous bronze wine goblet from Trebevište (6th-5th century B.C.), a 2,600-year-old superb ancient piece of work. "This goblet certainly belonged to an aristocrat in the sixth century B.C., perhaps to a ruler unknown to us, and apart from being used to drink Bacchus’s divine nectar, the goblet was, first of all, a status symbol," says Anna Maria Reggiani, director general of the Italian Culture Ministry Directorate for Archaeology.
Among the many unique objects on show is also the bronze portrait of Emperor Trajan’s father – the only one preserved in the world – from Trajan’s bridge built on the Danube according to his main architect Appolodorus’s design.
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The strong impact of Roman civilization and culture on the Balkans was evident since the beginning of the new era, when the beauty of artistic expression of ancient Rome began to prevail in the Balkan region, from the Danube to the Adriatic Sea. This may also be seen from the exhibited items – the Gold Mask of Trajan’s father (Djerdap, end of first century A.D.) and bronze helmet mask (Smederevo, second century A.D.). |
The refined artistic work in silver from the Jabučje locality near Lazarevac (first half of the first century A.D.) is highly impressive as regards wealth and the artistic dynamics of expression. And what to say about the beauty of the "Satyr", "The Musician and the Dancer" from Stobi dating back to the second century B.C. (it has been at the National Museum since 1934) or the erotic attraction of the nymphs from the marble tablet from Stobi ("Pan with the Nymphs", Stobi 2nd -1st century B.C.).
At the current exhibition one will find the marble relief depicting Pan and Nymphs from Stobi, silver vessels from Jabučje near Lazarevac, oinohoa and cilics, the vases from Novi Pazar, Hellenistic vessels and jewelry from Budva, belts and headgear made of gold, silver fibulae and bracelets from Čurug…
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Thanks to Deana Ratković, Vera Krstić and Giovanni Gentili – the authors of this exhibition drew great attention in the Italian media as soon as it was announced – we are in a position to show some of the exhibits that will be on display in Adria.
The project is also backed by the Padua and Rovigo Savings Bank Foundation and the Italian Culture Ministry. |
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| Accompanying information from the National Museum in Belgrade sets out, among other things, that in the vicinity of Bitolj in 1932 a figure of Athena Parthenos was purchased from a farmer, and is believed to be the only surviving authentic copy of Phidias’s work that was housed in the Parthenon in Athens in its full, gigantic size. | | 
