by InTrieste
On Sunday, January 26, the Civic Museum of Antiquities “J.J. Winckelmann” will host an illuminating event that merges history, archeology, and intrigue. At 11:00 a.m., the museum will unveil the catalog for its latest exhibition, The Myth of the Ambisontes: Rome’s Mercenaries in the Isonzo Valley.
The exhibition brings together artifacts that have, until now, been divided between two cities: Trieste and Vienna. These pieces, unearthed in excavations conducted between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, are being displayed together for the first time. The collection offers a rare glimpse into the enigmatic Ambisontes, a group of mercenaries who served the Roman Republic while inhabiting the fertile and strategically significant Isonzo Valley.
The presentation will take place in the museum’s Conference Room, located on the second floor at Piazza della Cattedrale 1. Admission is free, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Following the unveiling of the catalog, Professor Mitja Guštin, a leading expert on the region’s archaeology, will deliver a lecture exploring the history and significance of the discoveries made in the upper Isonzo Valley. His talk will delve into the first millennium B.C., a period often referred to as the Iron Age, during which this region served as a crossroads of cultural exchange and military activity. Professor Guštin will provide insights into the sites and burial grounds that continue to enrich our understanding of the area’s past.
“The Isonzo Valley holds an extraordinary wealth of archaeological treasures,” Professor Guštin remarked in a preview of his talk. “Even today, the land continues to yield new discoveries, shedding light on a time when history and legend intertwined.”
The event and accompanying exhibition promise to captivate history enthusiasts and casual visitors alike, offering a rare opportunity to connect with the storied past of a region that has long served as a bridge between cultures.
For more information, visit the museum’s website at www.museoantichitawinckelmann.it.
