Exhibition of archeological finds at museum of antiquities in alexandria, egypt

Archeological in Museum of Antiquities in Alexandria.

In the presence the Ambassador of Italy Claudio Pacifico, the permanent exhibition of the archaeological finds brought to light by Prof. Paolo Gallo – Research Professor of Egyptology at the University of Turin and Director of CMAIA Italian Archaeological Mission on Nelson Island was opened at the Museum of Antiquities, Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The collection is set in showcases that have been specially designed according to the most advanced technology in the field, which in turn are housed in a new extension of the Museum of Antiquities of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a room built with the support of the Italian Foreign Affairs, the Italian Cultural Institute in Cairo and Edison, which operates in the hydrocarbons concession of Abu Qir (Egypt).

The Italian mission has been excavating on Nelson Island, in the Abuqir area, since 1997, bringing to light the only preserved settlement of a Greek community that came to Egypt following Alexander the Great. Apparently the settlement was meant to be permanent, as confirmed the by the impressive public buildings (huge cisterns for rainwater collection, a temple, defensive walls). However, after a few decades, it was deserted in great haste, as suggested by the several objects of daily use (household implements, vases and looms, etc.) left abandoned in the houses. Equally interesting is the necropolis that the Italian mission excavated under the site, dating back to an earlier time, between the 26th and the 30th Dinasties. It is the only Pharaonic necropolis found so far on the coast of Alexandria.

The most significant finds from Nelson Island are exhibited in two large showcases where the two different contexts have been reconstructed. On one side is a Greek dwelling, with all its relevant items, dating back between the late 4th century BC and the early 3rd century BC. On the other side is the Pharaonic burial place setting, with its grave goods.  

Therefore, the exhibition is not confined to a mere display of archaeological finds with relevant captions, but it enables visitors to interpret the objects thus contextualized, on two levels, one relevant to their original microcosm, the other to their original function. As a result, each item can be easily approached, appreciated and enjoyed not only by experts, but also by the general public.

The inauguration of the Nelson Island collection is yet another opportunity to celebrate the Italian contribution to the birth and development of Graeco-Roman archaeology in the Alexandria area over more than a century.  One of the founding fathers of the Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria in 1892 was, in fact, an Italian Egyptologist, Giuseppe Botti, who also excavated Kōmesh-Shugāfah necropolis in the same year, then passing on to the so-called Pompey’s Pillar area in 1896, and bringing to light the Serapeum. He was succeeded in the direction of the Graeco-Roman Museum, for 28 years, from 1904 to 1932, by another brilliant Italian Egyptologist, and papyrologist, Evaristo Breccia, who excavated in the Alexandria area and other sites in Egypt for about thirty-five years. In the 20th century the most prominent figure was undoubtedly the archaeologist Achille Adriani, who replaced Breccia in the direction of the Graeco-Roman Museum and was particularly renowned for his works on the topography, city planning, history of architecture and sculpture of Graeco-Roman Alexandria. He published works of unprecedented scientific worth, among which his unmatched Repertorio d’arte dell’Egitto greco-romano (Art Index of Graeco-Roman Egypt). Thus, the Italian presence in Alexandria in the field of archaeology, Hellenistic and Graeco-Roman studies has always been positive, constructive and rich in results, and the legacy of great figures like Botti, Breccia and Adriani has been masterfully taken up by Prof. Gallo and his team, whose Nelson collection bears witness of a continuity Italy is very proud of.

Information on the exhibition: http://antiquities.bibalex.org/home/index.aspx?lang=en