RMO's 'Galleria' Presents Twelve Mini-Exhibitions on Antiquity

The Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (RMO) in Leiden has launched 'Galleria', a series of twelve small-scale exhibitions that explore diverse topics related to antiquity. The presentations range from the labyrinth of Pharaoh Amenemhat III at Hawara (ca. 1800 BC) to modern Moroccan fibulae, prehistoric illustrations by Bob Brobbel, and contemporary drawings by Elisa Pesapane. The museum's approach is experimental but results in a disjointed experience, with uneven depth and context across the displays. Notable highlights include 'Fibula's vol verhalen' linking Roman and Moroccan clothing pins, 'Verleden land' featuring Brobbel's bird's-eye views of Dutch archaeology, and Pesapane's 'Odysseus en de verdronkenen en geredden' reimagining the Greek hero. However, the rapid shifts between topics and inconsistent labeling—sparse for Egyptian-inspired clocks, text-heavy for 'Herinneringen aan Palmyra'—undermine coherence. The review concludes that visitors may feel lost, much like Herodotus in the labyrinth.