Travel

The gems of Palazzo Altemps

The National Roman Museum is of course situated in Rome, but the collection is divided among different buildings around the city. One of the branches of NRM is situated in the Palazzo Altemps. Designed in XV century, this building passed from hand to hand of many well-off families,  until 1997 when it became a part of the museum. Today it is home to one of the most impressive collections of Greek and Roman sculptures. It is usually not crowded with people and during your visit to Rome this is that rare place where you can feel the luxury of contemplating the sculptures, probably alone just like all those popes, cardinals and other collectors of this kind of beauty.  Or, if you are like me and you usually do street photography, you can just take your time and click: the sculptures look very much alive but I am sure they will not move. Here are the stars of the collection.

Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus

The Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus in Palazzio Altemps, III century AD

The Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus, III century AD

Palazzo Altemps Room

One of the rooms in Palazzo Altemps in Rome

One of the rooms in Palazzo Altemps in Rome

Demeter

Bust of Demeter; A Roman copy of Greek sculptures from IV or V century BC; The tip of the nose is restored and the diadem had pearls which are now missing;  II century AD

Aristotle

Bust of Aristotle; A Roman copy of a Greek original maybe commissioned by Alexander the Great in 330 BC by Lysippos ; The mantle of alabaster, right ear and part of the nose were added in XVII century; II century AD

Zeus

Zeus; A Roman copy of a Greek archetype from V century BC; Restored during time but the beard and curls are original ; II century AD

Labors of Hercules

The Labors of Hercules; One side of a sarcophagus; III century AD

Crouching Aphrodite

Crouching Aphrodite; a Roman copy of a Greek original by Doidalsas; II century AD

Dionysos

Dionysos; II century AD

Pan teaching Daphnis

Pan teaching Daphnis; A Roman copy of a original by Heliodoros

Hera

Head of Hera; The datation is debated – II century BC until II century AD

Hermes Loghios

Hermes Loghios; II century AD copy of V century BC bronze attributed to Phidias; Restored by Alessandro Algardi in XVII century, he added the right arm

Dionysos and Satyr

Dionysos and Satyr; A Roman copy of IV century Greek original; II century AD

Gaul Suicide

Gaul killing himself and his Wife; A Roman copy of III century BC Greek bronze original; II century AD

Athena Parthenos

Athena Parthenos; I century BC copy by Athenian sculptor Antiochus of the famous original from V century BC by Phidias; Arms and nose are part of XVII century restoration

Aphrodite of Knidos

Aphrodite od Knidos; A Roman copy of a IV century BC Greek original by Praxiteles; Arms, Legs and Head are part of the restoration done in XVII century by Ippolito Buzzi

Apollo Citharoedus

Apollo Citharoedus; Head, hands, left leg and the instrument are restored in XVII century; I century AD

Judgement of Paris

Judgment of Paris ; Probably part of the large sarcophagus; From left to right: Hera, Athena, Hermes, Aphrodite, shepherdess Oenone, Paris, personification of Mount Ida; II century AD

All photos by Mina Bulic

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Born in 1984 in Belgrade, Serbia; Studied Heritage of Europe and Mediterranean in Koper, Slovenia; Lived in Hungary, Spain and Germany; The only thing that did not change in all that time is love of photography and art history.