The Classical Past: Greece and Rome

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Can you picture the glory and grandeur of ancient Greece and Rome? Athletes contended for victory, fame—and coveted prizes—in the first Olympic games. Trading ships loaded with olive oil, wine, grain, and other goods sailed the blue-green waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Poets, politicians, playwrights, philosophers, sculptors, architects, and artisans created a legacy that has inspired Western culture throughout the following millennia. In this limited security exhibition, the Classical World comes to life through photographic reproductions of objects chosen from the permanent collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Fourteen panels explore the Classical World, including the development of direct and representative democracy, natural resources, warfare,art,politics, and social structures.