by InTrieste
Trieste’s Civic Museum of Antiquities “J.J. Winckelmann” is set to continue its popular “Archeologia di Sera” series with a special event titled “On the Routes of Egyptomania” on Tuesday, August 13, at 8:30 p.m.
The event, featuring a free admission period starting at 8 p.m., will take place in the museum’s scenic Garden (Piazza della Cattedrale 1, accessible for disabled visitors via San Giusto 4).
This latest installment in the series will focus on the museum’s acclaimed collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. The evening will delve into the rich history of Egyptomania in Trieste, showcasing how the city’s fascination with Egyptian antiquities evolved over time.
Trieste’s engagement with Egyptian artifacts dates back to the 19th century, a period when numerous items were held privately. Notable figures in the city’s Egyptological history include Giuseppe Passalacqua, a local who made significant discoveries in Egypt and later became the first director of the Egyptian Museum in Berlin. Another intriguing character is Baron Anton von Laurin, known for relocating two 4,500-year-old granite Egyptian sarcophagi to a family cemetery in Vipacco. Even Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg was captivated by the allure of ancient Egypt.
By the mid-1800s, the city also boasted the Zoological Museum “Ferdinando Maximilian” (now the Natural History Museum), which housed two Egyptian mummies. These artifacts were eventually moved to the Lapidary Garden Museum, where they became central to an expanding collection of Egyptian relics. The museum’s collection will be highlighted, from its earliest pieces to its most recent acquisitions, illustrating the uniqueness of Trieste’s assemblage.
The evening will continue with a musical program at 9:30 p.m. by the Lumen Harmonicum Instrumental Group, featuring a performance titled “Seriousness & Variety from A to… D! Treasures & Musical Curiosities among the Triestine Folk Songs of the Carlo Schmidl Museum.” The program offers a glimpse into Trieste’s musical landscape from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, with a repertoire reflecting the city’s evolving cultural and technological milieu.
The performance will include an introductory tango composed by Giulia D’Andrea, followed by a selection of pieces starting with “B as in Bel tenor …!” The evening will also feature the premiere of “I trionfi” by Nicola Samale, with Paolo Venier and Francesca Marsi performing alongside Corrado Gulin on piano, Marco Favento on violin, and Massimo Favento on cello.
For further details, contact: tel. 040 310500, email: museowinckelmann@comune.trieste.it, or visit www.museoantichitawinckelmann.it.
