State Museum presents Julius Caesar: Roman Military Might and Machines
September 9, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – The South Carolina State Museum presents its next major blockbuster exhibition, Julius Caesar: Roman Military Might and Machines, opening Saturday, Sept. 26.
From the triumphant victory of Julius Caesar over the Gauls at the Siege of Alesia in 52 B.C. to the transformation of Rome from a Republic into the mighty Roman Empire, this international traveling exhibition brings to life one of the most technologically significant times in the history of mankind.
Covering the key themes of military genius, logistics and measurement, civil technology, entertainment and lifestyle, the Colosseum and gladiators, this interactive exhibition provides a fascinating look at an era of massive construction and large-scale technical innovation. The exhibition features reproductions, replicas, models of ancient technology and designs dating from the height of the Roman Empire. The collection will transport guests back 2,000 years to the time of Julius Caesar, mighty centurions and fearsome gladiators.
“This exhibition is a fascinating way to see how Romans built on previous technology and shrewdly used it in their great military and civic achievements,” said curator of history JoAnn Zeise. “The Romans innovated in so many different fields – art, engineering, science and mathematics. You can explore the technologies, machines and gadgets in much of the same way as Romans who built them. Everything was developed from historical accounts and records and is a realistic as possible.”
Traveling through the exhibition, guests will explore more than 30 intricately designed and functional inventions from the height of the Roman Empire, most of which continue to provide major benefits in today’s modern world. Some inventions include war, transportation and civil engineering machines, sundials and water clocks, grinding mills, pottery wheels, arches, cranes and other technologies. The Roman story will also be told through replicas, recreated scaled artifacts, digital files of images, computer animations and more.
The exhibition allows guest to be hands-on with the opportunity to construct a roman mosaic, challenge friends to ancient Roman games and experience being a Roman legionnaire in the invincible Testudo military formation. In addition, guests can travel to Rome by having their souvenir photo taken in front of the Coliseum or inside a gladiator combat arena and can take home Roman gifts and souvenirs from the special blockbuster exhibit gift shop.
The State Museum is partnering with Legio VI Ferrata Fidelas Constans, South Carolina’s Roman legion, to present several programs and events during the run of the exhibition, including Roman military reanactors at the exhibit’s opening day on Saturday, Sept. 26, an ancient Roman festival on Saturday, Dec. 5 and an Ides of March program on Saturday, March 12, 2016.
Julius Caesar: Roman Military Might and Machines is an award-wining traveling exhibition that was hand-crafted by the Artisans of Florence – International and NICCOLAI TEKNOART S.N.C. (Firenze). The exhibition opens Saturday, Sept. 26 and will run through May 22, 2016 at the State Museum. There is an additional fee to see the exhibition. Visit scmuseum.org to learn more.
About the South Carolina State Museum
As the state’s largest and most comprehensive museum, the South Carolina State Museum, offers a unique, entertaining and educational experience to visitors throughout its 225,000 square foot facility located in the heart of downtown Columbia’s Congaree Vista. The State Museum is housed in one of its largest artifacts, an 1894 former textile mill listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places. In addition to beautiful meeting spaces throughout the facility, guests can explore outer space in one of the largest planetariums in the Southeast, watch an interactive 4D movie and look through a vintage telescope in a one-of-a-kind observatory. These exciting opportunities are all in addition to the four floors of South Carolina art, cultural history, natural history and science/technology. Visit scmuseum.org to learn more.
