Archaeological Museum of Naples

Italy is known all over the world for its great heritage of culture, art and archaeology. For lovers of archaeology, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples is just a paradise. The history of ancient Greece in Europe begins here. Well, how this zone was developed during the period of the Roman Empire is well known. In addition, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius engulfed entire Roman cities like Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabia, but at the same time conveyed to us a complete picture of life 2000 years ago. The main part of the museum consists of the found frescoes, statues, mosaics, household items of the cities killed during the eruption, but there are also other collections, for example, Egyptian, a collection of ancient coins, jewelry with a unique Farnese bowl (a cameo made of sardonyx), a collection of inscriptions, a collection of Great Greece, a collection displaying the prehistoric period, etc. No other museum in the world can find such a rich collection of antique bronze statues (usually bronze later melted), most of which were found in the Villa Papyrus. Marble "Farnesian Bull" or "Dirka's Punishment" is the largest ancient sculptural composition. But besides her, there is a huge handsome Hercules with apples from the gardens of Hesperides in his hand, the famous "Doriphorus" or "Speaker" standard of ideal proportions, all lingering admiring the beauty of the Venus of Callipiga. The mosaic "Battle of Alexander the Great" admires not only its size, but it is, after the only surviving Greek fresco from Paestum "Diver", a unique example of painting ancient Greece, as it is a copy of the painting by the famous Greek artist Philoxeno from Eretria. The museum is also interesting for its collection of everyday objects, surprising how elegant were simple objects. Here you can see even the instruments of surgeons, musical instruments, antique cosmetics. And the collection of silverware is the only one in the world in its size (the main part of it is a find, a real treasure, in the house of Menander, weighing 84 kg, 118 items) and artistic value.
Many people are interested in the unique "Secret Cabinet", some consider this collection a real highlight of the museum. It was finally opened to visitors as recently as 2000. Copies exhibited here will tell how the Romans treated eroticism and sex. Phallus was a symbol of fertility, protected from evil spirits, was a talisman from the evil eye. In 2 hours you can see the most important elements of the collections. It is ideal to combine a visit to the museum with a trip to Pompeii, Herculaneum or Oplontis.

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