The National Roman Museum is of course situated in Rome, but the collection is divided among different buildings around the city. One of the branches of NRM is situated in the Palazzo Altemps. Designed in XV century, this building passed from hand to hand of many well-off families, until 1997 when it became a part of the museum. Today it is home to one of the most impressive collections of Greek and Roman sculptures. It is usually not crowded with people and during your visit to Rome this is that rare place where you can feel the luxury of contemplating the sculptures, probably alone just like all those popes, cardinals and other collectors of this kind of beauty. Or, if you are like me and you usually do street photography, you can just take your time and click: the sculptures look very much alive but I am sure they will not move. Here are the stars of the collection.
Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus
The Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus, III century AD
Palazzo Altemps Room
One of the rooms in Palazzo Altemps in Rome
Demeter
Bust of Demeter; A Roman copy of Greek sculptures from IV or V century BC; The tip of the nose is restored and the diadem had pearls which are now missing; II century AD
Aristotle
Bust of Aristotle; A Roman copy of a Greek original maybe commissioned by Alexander the Great in 330 BC by Lysippos ; The mantle of alabaster, right ear and part of the nose were added in XVII century; II century AD
Zeus
Zeus; A Roman copy of a Greek archetype from V century BC; Restored during time but the beard and curls are original ; II century AD
Labors of Hercules
The Labors of Hercules; One side of a sarcophagus; III century AD
Crouching Aphrodite
Crouching Aphrodite; a Roman copy of a Greek original by Doidalsas; II century AD
Dionysos
Dionysos; II century AD
Pan teaching Daphnis
Pan teaching Daphnis; A Roman copy of a original by Heliodoros
Hera
Head of Hera; The datation is debated – II century BC until II century AD
Hermes Loghios
Hermes Loghios; II century AD copy of V century BC bronze attributed to Phidias; Restored by Alessandro Algardi in XVII century, he added the right arm
Dionysos and Satyr
Dionysos and Satyr; A Roman copy of IV century Greek original; II century AD
Gaul Suicide
Gaul killing himself and his Wife; A Roman copy of III century BC Greek bronze original; II century AD
Athena Parthenos
Athena Parthenos; I century BC copy by Athenian sculptor Antiochus of the famous original from V century BC by Phidias; Arms and nose are part of XVII century restoration
Aphrodite of Knidos
Aphrodite od Knidos; A Roman copy of a IV century BC Greek original by Praxiteles; Arms, Legs and Head are part of the restoration done in XVII century by Ippolito Buzzi
Apollo Citharoedus
Apollo Citharoedus; Head, hands, left leg and the instrument are restored in XVII century; I century AD
Judgement of Paris
Judgment of Paris ; Probably part of the large sarcophagus; From left to right: Hera, Athena, Hermes, Aphrodite, shepherdess Oenone, Paris, personification of Mount Ida; II century AD
All photos by Mina Bulic