RedaccionDíaz Ayuso ha enfatizado que, despite the passage of centuries, the Roman footprint remains marked in Spain in theaters, amphitheaters, mosaics, or triumphal arches, complemented by museums, archaeological sites, and exhibitions like the one opening today at MARPA.
«Rome continues to live in us because we are Westerners, children of Greece, Rome, and Judeo-Christianity,» emphasized the Madrilenian president, highlighting how this civilization brought together for centuries the thinking and beauty capabilities of the Greeks, the political organization talent of the Romans, and respect for every human life, which is always dignified and free.»
The exhibition brings together over 170 original pieces from national and international collections and can be viewed for free until September 28th in the Crystal Courtyard of the Alcalá site.
During the visit, Díaz Ayuso was able to discover some of the most prominent elements of this exhibition curated by the director of the National Museum of Roman Art in Mérida, Trinidad Nogales, and the director of the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities of the National Archaeological Museum, Ángeles Castellano. Among these are helmets, daggers, or greaves (leg protectors worn by warriors) specially brought from Pompeii.
Thus, the exhibition allows visitors to approach with maximum rigor the historical phenomenon of gladiatorial combat from its origins, its relationship with power, the development of games, and the social role of its protagonists. The importance of the amphitheater building, the scene of the combats and a fundamental space in urban planning, is also illustrated with a spectacular museography that includes a small-scale reproduction.
Similarly, visitors will discover pieces reflecting the presence of gladiator shows in Roman art or popular culture, especially in Hispania, and learn about the reasons for the disappearance of these warriors and their permanence in the collective imagination thanks to literature or cinema to contrast that cinematic vision with scientific and archaeological reality.
The 170 pieces come from collections at the National Museum of Roman Art in Mérida, National Archaeological Museum, Archaeological Museum of Seville, Archaeological Museum of Córdoba, Museum of Albacete, Museum of Mallorca, Prado National Museum, National Sculpture Museum, National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Capitoline Museums, National Roman Museum, and Museum of Roman Civilization.
Opening Hours and Free Guided Tours
The exhibition, with free admission, can be visited during the regular museum hours located in the historic center of Alcalá de Henares from Tuesday to Saturday, from 11:00 to 19:00, and on Sundays and holidays, from 11:00 to 15:00. Additionally, MARPA offers guided tours at 12:00 and 13:15 on weekends and holidays. These visits can be reserved by calling 91 879 66 66.
For the exhibition, the Archaeological and Paleontological Museum of the Community of Madrid has published two works, a study book on gladiatorial combat with contributions from national and international experts on the subject, and a catalog showcasing the exhibited pieces and texts.
More information on the website of the Archaeological and Paleontological Museum of the Community of Madrid.
