A virtual reconstruction in 3D of the famous late sixth-century BC Etruscan Sarcophagus of the Spouses is at the centre of a groundbreaking twinning between the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia in Rome and the Genus Bononiae history museum in Bologna.
Under the partnership, each museum will display key items from the other's collection with an emphasis on the use of new technologies in particular.
So starting Thursday visitors to the National Etruscan Museum can take part in a virtual journey to Felsina, Bologna's Etruscan forerunner, and admire a 3D reconstruction of the sixth century BC bronze Situla della Certosa vase housed at the civic museum in Bologna. The display also includes symbolic objects such as a funerary stele with scenes of the journey to the afterlife and two masterpieces by the celebrated ancient Greek ceramic artist Euphronios: the fifth-century BC Attic red-figured kylix, or long-stemmed shallow wine cup, and a vessel showing Hercules and Cycnus.
In addition, the female protagonist Ati leads the public on a journey of discovery of the Etruscan site at Veio north of Rome in the 3D animated film 'Ati alla scoperta di Veio', with Italian actress Sabrina Ferilli providing the voice acting. In parallel from Saturday Bologna's Genus Bononiae in Palazzo Pepoli will host The journey after life. The Etruscans and the beyond between masterpieces and virtual realities, featuring, among other items, the lifesize 3D reconstruction of the famous sarcophagus depicting a married couple reclining at a banquet together in the afterlife discovered during 19th century excavations at the Etruscan necropolis at Cerveteri near Rome, realised by five teams of scientists coordinated by the Inter-university super calculation consortium, CINECA. Other masterpieces from Villa Giulia on show in Bologna include ceramics and frescoes from the Tomb of the snow in Tarquinia, Euphronios' krater, the ancient Greek terracotta vase repatriated to Italy from the United States in 2008, and two stone sculptures from Vulci and Cerveteri. "(The twinning) is something more than an exhibition," general secretary of the culture ministry Antonia Pasqua Recchia told ANSA.
"It is a futuristic project under the banner of innovation, creative intelligence and future vision," she continued.
"The twinning shows how the diatribe between north and south is useless and sickening and how a partnership between different realities is possible in Italy too," Pasqua Recchia added.
"The key line is technology: we are known throughout the world for our creativity and conservation methods but too little for our innovative technology, a formidable tool that has given us extraordinary results over the last decade," she concluded. "The exhibition sets out to rediscover the common thread linking Rome and Bologna and their two museums," said superintendent for southern Etruria, Alfonsina Russo.
"In particular, it opens the door to new technologies which we must use increasingly to attract young people," she concluded.
Both exhibitions run to February 22, 2015.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
