Napoli Celebrates Alexander the Great with Major Exhibition
A fresco originating from Boscoreale, unearthed between 1899 and 1902 and dating back to the 1st century BCE, illustrates Alexander the Great adorned with a kausia and partly shielded by an eight-pointed star. Observing him is a seated female figure representing Asia, with a blue area symbolizing the Dardanelles Strait, alluding to Alexander's conquest in 334 BCE. Scholars recognized him by making comparisons with the Gran Musaico housed at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (MANN), which was relocated to Naples in 1843 and has been undergoing restoration since January 2023. The exhibition "Alessandro Magno e l'Oriente," curated by Filippo Coarelli and Eugenio Lo Sardo, showcases 170 pieces, including a bust-herma from the Louvre and the Vaso dei Persiani, highlighting Alexander's expansive empire.
Key facts
- Fresco from Boscoreale identified as Alexander the Great.
- Fresco dates to first half of 1st century BCE.
- Fresco discovered between 1899 and 1902.
- Gran Musaico is considered the only true likeness of Alexander.
- Gran Musaico is over 3 by 6 meters.
- Gran Musaico found in 1831 at Casa del Fauno, Pompeii.
- Gran Musaico moved to Naples in 1843.
- Restoration of Gran Musaico began January 2023.
- Original painting attributed to Apelles.
- Exhibition 'Alessandro Magno e l'Oriente' at MANN.
- Exhibition curated by Filippo Coarelli and Eugenio Lo Sardo.
- Exhibition features 170 works.
- Exhibition includes bust-herma from Louvre, copy of Lysippus original.
- Exhibition includes Vaso dei Persiani from Canosa di Puglia.
- Alexander's empire spanned Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, western Himalayas, Indus Valley.
Entities
Artists
- Alessandro Magno
- Apelle
- Filippo Coarelli
- Eugenio Lo Sardo
- Lisippo
Institutions
- Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (MANN)
- Louvre
- Casa del Fauno
Locations
- Boscoreale
- Pompei
- Napoli
- Canosa di Puglia
- Francia
- Afghanistan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
- Himalaya occidentale
- valle dell'Indo
- Dardanelli
- Europa
- Asia
- Persia
- Gandhara
- Taxila
- India