Mann's Alexander Mosaic restoration becomes public reality show

The National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN) will turn the restoration of its iconic Alexander Mosaic into a public spectacle, broadcasting every step on social media. The 5.82 x 3.13 meter, 7-ton Roman mosaic from around 100 BCE, discovered in Pompeii's House of the Faun in 1831, depicts the Battle of Issus between Alexander the Great and Darius III of Persia. Starting late January 2021, the seven-month project supervised by the Central Institute for Restoration (ICR) will be an open workshop, promoted with the University of Molise (UNIMOL) and the Center for Research on Archaeometry and Conservation Science (CRACS). Director Paolo Giulierini called it a grand restoration unfolding before the world's eyes. The first phase (late January–February) involves visual and tactile inspection, followed by removal using a custom mechanical system. The most spectacular phase (April–July) will treat the mosaic's back, with restorers using TIM-provided smart glasses to monitor correspondence between the intervention area and the hidden surface. The museum's YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram channels will stream the process.