Townsville Bulletin

ECHOES OF EMPIRE

- MICHAEL THOMPSON

GLADIATORS, catapults and all other things Ancient Roman will be on full display when a gallery worthy of an empire sets up camp in Townsville this weekend.

Ancient Rome: The Empire that Shaped the World, will be on display at the Museum of Tropical Queensland, and is showcasing

replica art, machines and technology from the famous era.

Created by internatio­nally acclaimed Artisans of Florence, the exhibition is made up of over 50 displays including frescoes, catapults, armour, busts and weapons all reconstruc­ted from Ancient Roman records.

Director of Travelling Exhibition­s for Artisans of Flor

ence Thomas Rizzo said the exhibition showed just how much of impact Ancient Rome has had on modern life.

“When you see the technology that was developed by the Romans 2000 years ago, you can really see just what an impact it has on our modern day lives,” he said.

“I think that’s what people get out of it.

“Anywhere around the

world you can see how it’s impacted, from our pipe systems, our roads and even the cranes the Romans used were basically modern without a motor.”

The exhibition has toured the world, including SouthEast Asia, the United States and Europe, and has travelled through regional Australia.

Mr Rizzo said the ‘handson’ features of the exhibition

proved popular with people of all ages.

“Rather than just looking and reading about things, a lot of it is interactiv­e and you can actually get involved. It’s a great way of discoverin­g the past,” he said.

Ancient Rome: The Empire that Shaped the World is free with museum admission, opens today and closes on Sunday November 14, 2021.

 ?? Picture: Evan Morgan ?? Tim Brennan, 6, from Kelso, takes a sneak peek at the touring Ancient Rome exhibition at the Museum of Tropical Queensland.
Picture: Evan Morgan Tim Brennan, 6, from Kelso, takes a sneak peek at the touring Ancient Rome exhibition at the Museum of Tropical Queensland.

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