What was life like in ancient Rome? Sure, yes, sophisticated system of government and aqueducts (actually, given the state of things, maybe we need to revisit both those achievements), but also, what was everyday life like? The Tampa Museum of Art tells us that contests, combat, and commemoration were all integral — and interwoven — parts of ancient life (this goes for Greek, Etruscan and Egyptian cultures, too). TMA has drawn on its permanent collection to present an exhibit that focuses on these three elements of ancient life. The Classical World in Focus: Contests, Combat, and Commemoration frames the curated artifacts by exploring their mythological and historical context. If you’ve seen the collection before and think “yes, well, been there, done that” — don’t be so hasty. This is a different, closer look at some of the items in the collection, and it should bend your brain in new ways.
The Classical World in Focus: Contests, Combat, and Commemoration | Tampa Museum of Art, 120 Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa | $5-$15; members, free | 813-274-8130, tampamuseum.org
This article appears in Jul 12-19, 2018.
