The Roman history renaissance is coming to the Midlands with news that a British Museum exhibition will visit the region next year.
The runaway success of Life And Death In Pompeii And Herculaneum has led to a huge surge of interest about the country’s Roman heritage.
The British Museum show was described as a landmark exhibition and compared to the legendary Tutankhamun show in 1972.
Featuring items from the Roman cities which were destroyed when Vesuvius erupted in AD79, it attracted huge audiences and reinvigorated interest in this period of history.
Now to build on the level of interest, a touring show will feature a host of artifacts from the Roman empire.
Set to come to Coventry’s The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, it will attract visitors from around the Midlands.
Billed as the largest ever UK exhibition of Roman artefacts on loan from the British Museum, it will open in May next year.
Roman Empire: Power & People brings together more than 160 pieces from the British Museum to explore the story of one of the most powerful empires the world has ever seen.
Highlights include sculptures from the villas of the Emperors Tiberius and Hadrian, coins from the famous Hoxne treasure, beautiful jewellery and even near-perfectly preserved children’s clothing from Roman Egypt.
The exhibition explores the wealth, power and organisation of the Empire, but also how the Romans viewed their provinces and other peoples.
Religious, military and personal objects including The Crawford Cup, the gold medallion of Constantius, a statue of Hercules and the head of Emperor Commodus will give an insight into the lives of people across the Empire, from northern Britain to Egypt and the Middle East.
Chris Kirby, lead of collections at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, said: “We are delighted to be working with the British Museum to showcase their Roman Empire: Power and People exhibition at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. Over the last few years, we have worked in partnership with the British Museum and showcased their La Bouche du Roi and China: Journey to the East exhibitions.
“The Herbert is also currently displaying a spotlight exhibition on one of the British Museum’s most rare and unique artefacts, a Sikh Fortress Turban, which will be on display until November 17.
“Roman Empire: Power and People will be very significant for the Herbert, as the exhibition contains 160 objects from the best of the British Museum’s collections. The artefacts in the exhibition are taken from the Museum’s Coins and Medals department, Greek and Roman Empire department, and its Egyptian department, so the display appeals to people from far and wide.
“The Herbert got involved with the project because we wanted to link the exhibition to Coventry’s Lunt Roman Fort, which was built in the first century after the Boudican revolt in Britain. It is the only original Roman Fort with a Gyrus, or horse training arena, in Britain.
“The exhibition will also help us to make stronger links with other museums in the Midlands area, such as Rugby, Leicester and Alcester, all of which have strong Roman connections and artefact collections.”
Mr Kirby added: “Our Secret Egypt exhibition in 2011 proved very popular with both academics and families, and the public love learning about ancient civilisations in their area and their local history. The Roman Empire is also taught as part of the school curriculum, so the exhibition will be very interesting and educational for children and school groups as well.”
Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum said “Following the huge success of the British Museum’s major exhibition ‘Life and death in Pompeii and Herculaneum’ it is clear that the Roman world continues to fascinate and surprise us. I am delighted to collaborate on this exhibition that explores the wider Roman Empire in relation to the British Isles and that it will be seen in so many regions of the UK.”
The tour is organised through the British Museum’s Partnership UK scheme. Partnership UK is the strategic framework for the British Museum’s programme of engagement with museum audiences throughout the country.
Roman Empire: Power and People is at The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, from May 17– August 31 2014.
