by InTrieste
The Winckelmann Museum’s esteemed marble relief depicting gladiator combat will headline the Colosseum’s new exhibition, “Arena Spectacles,” which debuts tonight at 7:30 PM. The evening includes a guided tour, “A Night at the Colosseum,” offering an immersive exploration of the imperial entrance, the arena floor, and the subterranean chambers.
This 60-minute tour will unveil the exhibition’s permanent new installation. This display brings to life the storied history of the Colosseum’s spectacles through innovative holographic projections, educational videos, and original artifacts on loan from prestigious institutions.
A highlight of the exhibition is a marble relief loaned by the Winckelmann Museum of Antiquities in Trieste. This intricate piece portrays a dramatic scene atop a stack of wood: a retiarius, armed with a trident and dagger, stands poised for combat, his feet surrounded by stone projectiles. He faces his natural adversary, a secutor, who ascends from the left, shielded by a helmet and shield. The right side of the relief, where another secutor once stood, is regrettably broken. Despite its fragmentary state, the Greek inscription celebrates the retiarius’ triumph and subsequent freedom from combat. This remarkable artifact hails from the island of Kos, Greece, and was donated to the Winckelmann Museum by the Austrian Lloyd Navigation Company in 1888.
In conjunction with this exhibition, TryeCo of Ferrara has produced a meticulous 3D copy of the relief. Through advanced digital data acquisition, they created a digital model and subsequent 3D print. This reproduction is now showcased in Trieste, temporarily replacing the original. Once the original relief returns from Rome, the 3D copy will become a permanent feature at the ParCo of the Colosseum.
