THE TREASURES OF THE NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF TARANTO IN BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA FOR AN IMPORTANT EXHIBITION ON THE TARANTINO MUSEUM
“Tesoros del Museo Arqueológico Nacional de Taranto.
Griegos y otras civilizaciones antiguas del Sur de Italia”
Treasures of the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto.
Greeks and other ancient civilizations of Southern Italy
curated by Eva Degl’Innocenti and Lorenzo Mancini
MUSEO NACIONAL DE BELLAS ARTES, BUENOS AIRES
7 December 2022 > 5 March 2023
Entitled “Tesoros del Museo Arqueológico Nacional de Taranto. Griegos y otras civilizaciones antiguas del Sur de Italia” (Treasures of the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto. Greeks and other ancient civilizations of Southern Italy), the exhibition at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Buenos Aires from 7 December 2022 to 5 March 2023, brings to the attention of the Argentine public a selection of finds belonging to the collections of the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto – MArTA and illustrating the most representative cultural and productive aspects of the ancient city of Taranto, the only Greek colony in Puglia, and of the other populations who lived in ancient the Apulian region.
Curated by Eva Degl’Innocenti, director of the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto and Lorenzo Mancini, MArTA archaeologist official, the selected objects were chosen for their ability to evoke, with the synthetic effectiveness of the symbol, complex themes such as society, the funerary ideology, the figurative culture, the productions, the heritage of mythical tales and the religious beliefs of the Greeks of Taranto and of the other ancient civilizations of Puglia, in a period between the eighth century B.C. and the 2nd century B.C., when the region was included in the nascent Roman Italy.
The result of the scientific-cultural “choral” work, cultural diplomacy and internationalization of the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto, the Italian Cultural Institute of Buenos Aires and the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Buenos Aires, Argentina), the project exports the excellences of European archeology and tells the stories of one of the most important cities of the ancient Mediterranean: the Greek colony of Taranto, defined as the “Paris of the ancient world” for its cultural influence and its ability to shape fashions and customs. But also the stories of the peoples who lived with the Greeks in the Puglia region, the easternmost region of southern Italy, the heel of the peninsula.
The story of the long period between the phases immediately preceding the foundation of the Spartan colony of Taras, and the Roman conquest of the city (209 B.C.), is entrusted to a series of works with the function of symbola – elements capable of evoking in summary form, themes or historical problems also illustrated by the cultural communication that accompanies the visitor along the exhibition itinerary inside the prestigious Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Buenos Aires. With this project funded by the Italian Cultural Institute, the MArTA – one of the most important archaeological museums in the world, a point of reference for the archeology of southern Italy at the time of Magna Graecia – with its territory around Taranto and Puglia, is revealed to Argentine and international public through its archaeological treasures. The itinerary of the exhibition is divided into four diachronic sections:
- Taranto Spartan colony. From the foundation to the fifth century. B.C.
- From the “very happy” age of Taranto to the Roman conquest. 4th-2nd century B.C.
- Gifts to the gods. Aspects of the sacred in Greek Taranto
- The indigenous peoples of southeast Italy
The National Archaeological Museum of Taranto was established in 1887 when the numerous excavations for the construction of the new Taranto brought to light the remains of the ancient city, dramatically posing the problem of safeguarding the local archaeological heritage. Subsequently, the Museum was enriched with important materials from the entire region and today dialogues with the territory towards the future through research, education, training and innovation objectives. Its mission is contained in the formula chosen as the MArTA playoffs: Past for Future, il Passato per il Futuro.
EXHIBITION
“Treasures of the Museo Arqueológico Nacional de Taranto. Griegos y otras civilizaciones antiguas del Sur de Italia” / Treasures of the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto. Greeks and other ancient civilizations of Southern Italy. Curated by Eva Degl’Innocenti and Lorenzo Mancini
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Buenos Aires
7 December 2022 > 5 March 2023
Press release from the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto.
