AEGYPTUS – Dal Nilo al Mediterraneo. Oasi e deserto in epoca romana

Video art, archaeology and artificial intelligence to tell the story of the Roman desert from 4 July to 15 November 2026 The exhibition, promoted by the Ministry of Culture, tells a still little-known chapter of ancient history: the Roman presence in the oases of the Western Egyptian Desert between the 1st century BC and the 5th century AD ; The initiative falls within the strategic lines promoted by the Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli, aimed at combining scientific research, technological innovation and the enhancement of cultural heritage. A vision that identifies culture as a fundamental tool for dialogue and shared knowledge, capable of strengthening relations between peoples, enhancing a common historical heritage and fostering new opportunities for international cooperation, especially in the Mediterranean and Africa. Thanks to the fundamental contribution of the archaeologists engaged in the Greco-Roman excavations in Egypt, carried out with the support of the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, AEGYPTUS is configured as a large immersive and crossmedia installation that transforms the visit into a sensory and narrative experience. Video art, digital reconstructions, images of archaeological excavations, animations and artificial intelligence accompany the public in discovering the landscape of the oases and the Roman desert, making the account of contemporary archaeological research accessible and engaging. The layout provides a route that opens with the display of significant archaeological finds from both the collections of the Museo Nazionale Romano, which curated their identification and selection, and from the recovery and investigation activities carried out by the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, protagonist of the Museo dell'Arte salvata housed inside the Aula Ottagona. The dialogue between the finds and the audiovisual and digital contents creates an original interweaving of history and innovation, offering a new key to reading Roman Egypt. At the centre of the narrative emerge the oases, places of encounter and exchange between cultures, trade, religions and different peoples, in a strategic territory that for centuries was a bridge between Africa, the Mediterranean and the Near East. More than a traditional exhibition, AEGYPTUS is a true event that invites reflection on the value of archaeological research and on the capacity of cultural heritage to tell stories still little known to the wider public, also through different art forms and new technologies. From this perspective, the desert does not appear as a periphery of the Empire, but as a vital space of connection, exchange and cultural contamination, where different experiences, identities and civilisations intertwine. A magical world where Roman settlements appear as a mirage in the heart of the desert. The exhibition will be accompanied by a Public Program of meetings and talks with Italian and international archaeologists and scholars, designed to bring the public closer to the themes of research, protection and enhancement of cultural heritage. The events will take place in the first week of the exhibition's opening, from 21:00 to 23:00, in the space in front of the exhibition venue. The project will also be accompanied by a scientific catalogue, edited by the Department of Literary, Philosophical and Art History Studies of the University of Rome Tor Vergata. The project, conceived by Elisabetta Bruscolini, is curated by Alfonsina Russo, Elisabetta Bruscolini, Angelo Piero Cappello, Federica Rinaldi, Alessio De Cristofaro, within the framework of cultural cooperation activities with Africa and the Mediterranean. Contributing to the realisation of the project were: Studio Convertino for the video art work and the graphic design; Riccardo Boccuzzi for the production of the AI film; Studio VPS architetti for the exhibition design; Mappe di Mondi for the organisation. The lighting design of the exhibition was realised with the technical sponsorship of IGuzzini Illuminazione S.p.A. The initiative involves scholars and archaeologists from important universities and institutions in Italy and abroad, including the University of Rome Tor Vergata, the University of Milan, the Polytechnic University of Milan, the University of Salento, the University Federico II of Naples, the University of Padua and the University of Leicester.