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| Marble altar of she-wolf feeding Romulus and Remus, Augustan age (27 BCE-14 CE) Florence, Museo Archeologico Nazionale |
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| Bust of Lucius Junius Brutus, Capitoline type Head: 4th century CE; Bust: Post-antique Alabaster and marble Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Terme di Diocleziano |
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| Various coins not in catalogue |
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| Portrait of a Roman, possibly Julius Caesar Era of Augustus (27 BCE-14 CE) Marble
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| Portarait of Nero Mid 1st century CE, reworked in 4th century CE Marble Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Terme di Diocleziano |
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| Portarait of Agrippina the Younger Era of Nero (54-68 CE) Italian marble Florence, Museo Archeologico Nazionale |
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| Portrait of Trajan Era of Trajan (98-117 CE) Marble Florence, Museo Archeologico Nazionale |
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| Portrait of Augustus Era of Augustus (27 BCE-14 CE) Greek marble Florence, Museo Archeologico Nazionale |
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| Slab representing Victory and Trophy Late 1st century BCE White marble Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Palazzo Massimo |
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| Portrait of Livia Era of Augustus (27 BCE-14 CE) Coarse-grained white marble Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano - Crypta Balbi |
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| Portrait of Hadrian Era of Hadrian (117-138 CE) Marble Florence, Museo Archeologico Nazionale |
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| Portrait of Commodus Era of Commodus (180-192 CE) Marble Florence, Museo Archeologico Nazionale |
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| Marcus Aurelius Era of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 CE) Marble Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Palazzo Massimo |
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| Portrait of a woman, probably Julia Domna Severan era (193-235 CE) Marble Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Palazzo Massimo |
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| Portrait of Caracalla Era of Caracalla (211-217 CE) Marble Florence, Museo Archeologico Nazionale |
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| Various coins not in catalogue |
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| Roman helmet 1st-3rd century CE Bronze, laminated and cast bronze Florence, Museo Archeologico Nazionale |
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| Various coins not in catalogue |
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| Urn of a Praetorian Guard from Verona 1st century CE Marble Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Terme di Diocleziano |
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| Roman military diploma From Salona (present day Croatia) Late 1st century CE Bronze Florence, Museo Archeologico Nazionale |
Last week we drove down to Melbourne, trying to dodge the many pot holes on the Hume Highway. As part of our trip we visited the Melbourne Museum exhibition of Rome: Empire, Power, People which has over 160 artefacts on loan from the Museo Nazionale Romano and the Museo Archelogico Nazionale, Florence. Here (in two parts) are photos of most of them. Some items aren't listed in the catalogue, so these don't have photo captions. This fantastic exhibition runs from the 1 April to 25 October 2026 and is curated by the Museo Nazionale Romano.
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| Sarcophagus with scene of prisoners Late 2nd century CE Fine-grained white marble Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Terme di Diocleziano |
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| Funerary inscription of Faustillus First half of the 1st CE Marble Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Terme di Diocleziano |
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| Brick with factory stamp and footprint 123 CE Terracotta Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Terme di Diocleziano |
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| Child's sarcophagus with cupids playing 2nd century CE Marble Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Terme di Diocleziano |
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| Lid of a sarcophagus with gymnasium scenes Late 2nd-3rd century CE Marble Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Terme di Diocleziano |
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| Doll 4th-5th century CE Bone Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Palazzo Massimo |
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| Statuette of a boar 1st-2nd century CE Terracotta and lead Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Terme di Diocleziano |
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| Portrait of a young man 2nd century CE Bigio morato (fine-grained grey-brown marble) Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Terme di Diocleziano |
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| Amphorae |
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| Weights 1st-3rd century CE Bronze Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Palazzo Massimo |
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| Steelyard balance 1st-3rd century CE Bronze Florence, Museo Archeologico Nazionale |
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| Nummularia tessera (coin bag seal) Era of Augustus (27 BCE-14 CE) Bone Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano-Palazzo Massimo |
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| Seal 1st-3rd century CE Bronze Florence, Museo Archeologico Nazionale |












































Fascinating post, some great treasures on show.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donnie, it’s an excellent exhibition, not too often you get to see this down under.
DeleteOh, lovely exhibition!
ReplyDeleteI just wonder why the loss of noses in sculptures was so common? Were they the most fragile? Or perhaps barbaric vandals?
Thanks Michal, yes they always seem to break, I think it’s because they’re pointy so if they topple over the noses snap off.
DeleteSplendid collection of items, sounds like a great exhibition!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks Iain, it was, not many exhibitions like this in Australia usually.
DeleteFantastic, fascinating and excellent photos. I've never considered before, why was it the noses that were damaged? The rest looks pristine. 'Wear and tear' from birds? Rain? Vandalism? The other thing that struck home from your photos was that they could make everyone look good, but Caracalla looks like a devious, evil b@stard!
ReplyDeleteAlmost worth a flit over to Melbourne. Can't wait for your part two.
Best wishes, James
Thanks James, I think when the sculptures topple over the noses often snap off because they’re pointy. He does indeed, glad you enjoyed the photos.
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