The Herculaneum papyri in Madrid

A show titled 'Villa of the Papyri' by the Ercolano Virtual Museum (MAV) will take viewers on a voyage through the philosophical writings of the Epicurean school.

Running October 17-April 23, the show will feature more than 100 archeological finds on loan from the Naples National Museum and National Library. It will take place in Madrid's former slaughterhouse, the 800-square-meter Casa del Lector, which is dedicated to the promotion of reading. Run by the German Sanchez Ruiperez Foundation, it is directed by former culture minister Cesar Antonio Molina, who also worldwide director of the Cervantes Institute.

The exhibit will be divided into two sections: one called ''Reading'', a virtual reconstruction of the Villa of the Papyri and its Epicurean philosophical library as they were in 79 BC, and one called ''Re-reading'', which brings visitors to Ercolano in 1750, when the Bourbon monarchy's excavations brought the past to light.

''The idea was to do a specific show, not a repetition of the one currently at the British Museum, which also worthy'', explained MAV Director Ciro Cacciola. ''We are trying to systematically look at ancient Roman civilization by focusing on reading and writing''.

MAV will also produce a multimedia section with previously unpublished materials. The stars of the show will be the papyruses themselves, many of them rolled up and others stretched, and carried on special climate-controlled and vibration-less trucks.

''We can now spread the word about our immense cultural heritage through new technologies, putting the new generations in touch with archeology'', explained Nicola Oddati, who curated the show along with Spanish colleague Carlos Garcia Gual.

''It will be an archeological but also a technological show, with an immersion through virtual reconstruction bringing viewers into the atmospheres, fragrances and sounds of the Villa of the Papyri. The show travels to Naples next year, to a still to be defined location'', Cacciola explained.

It will also be a formidable promotion for Naples and the Campania region as a whole.

''We will be showing a cross section of what we are capable of exporting in order to share culture, which is an absolute common good'', explained regional council member in charge of culture, Caterina Miraglia.

Source: ANSA [June 11, 2013]

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