Ancient Roman Exhibition Held in Beijing

Beijing, 23 Aug (ONA) --- For those in Beijing who have a keen interest in the ancient Roman history, they now can catch a glimpse of how Rome was built by visiting the National Museum of China, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

"Tota Italia: Origins of a Nation," an exhibition hosted by the museum till 9 October presents 503 pieces of precious antiques from fourth century B.C. to first century A.D. from 26 museums across Italy.

As the flagship project of the China-Italy Year of Culture and Tourism, the exhibition aims at showing the historical process of the Italian peninsula's political and cultural unification as well as its cultural plurality.

Stephane Verger, co-curator of the exhibition from Italy, told Xinhua that the exhibition "reflects Italy on a historical level."

Verger, also the director of the National Roman Museum, said "communication between civilizations is absolutely essential, it has always been there, and that is what the exhibition is about."

In the first week following the exhibition's opening, 20,000 visitors stepped into the museum to take a look at the antiques. So far, it has attracted more than 100,000 visitors.

Many of the antiques have never been exhibited outside the European country before, and some masterpieces even never left their museums.

---Ends/Hilal