Valuable ancient sculptures return to Jena – celebration on November 12th!

Valuable ancient sculptures return to Jena – celebration on November 12th!

It's a celebration! The Friedrich Schiller University of Jena is getting its valuable casts of ancient sculptures and reliefs back. This retransmission is important not only for the university, but for all scholarship in the region. The return will be celebrated at a public ceremony on Wednesday, November 12th, at 6 p.m. in the Rosensälen (Fürstengraben 27). Visitors are warmly invited to take part in this special occasion. How uni-jena.de reported, the event will be accompanied by greetings from high-ranking representatives, including Prof. Dr. Andreas Marx, the president of the university, enriches.

A highlight of the evening will be the keynote speech by Dr. Heike Richter, who deals with the topic “Traveling in circles: Biography(s) of casts of ancient sculpture at the Chair of Classical Archeology at the University of Jena”. This lecture provides insights into the exciting history of the casts and their way back to Jena. Prof. Dr. Eva Winter emphasizes that the casts are a sign of the scholarship of Jena's citizens and that they have been collected over the years through donations and entrance fees.

A piece of history returns

The collection of ancient casts has an eventful history. It was originally housed in the Archaeological Museum of the University of Jena in 1908, but the paths continued: in 1962 it moved to Sondershausen Palace and in 1983 finally to the antiquities collection of the State Museums in Berlin. Big loss? I think so. Nevertheless, many casts have returned to Jena on permanent loan since the 1990s. A true hodgepodge of history!

The casts are particularly valuable for research and teaching. Although there is no question that it is difficult to accurately assess their value, some casts today show even more precise images than the originals, which have suffered greatly from environmental influences. Concern about the preservation of these valuable pieces is not unfounded, as there is currently no archaeological museum left. For the time being, the casts will be exhibited at various locations around the university.

A network full of potential

But Jena is not alone. A whole network works in the background, led by Prof. Dr. Johanna Fabricius at the Free University of Berlin recorded the plaster casts of ancient sculpture. Over 2,000 of these casts are now accessible online, and the project has had a stimulating effect on the visibility and documentation of the collection. This is an exciting foray into the digital future, as on schkult.fu-berlin.de is to be read.

With a variety of collaborations and a clear goal in mind, the scientists responsible get the best possible out of the collections. The extensive documentation, some of which includes almost 9,000 photos, not only ensures a good hand in preserving these works of art, but also provides deeper access for interested parties and researchers.

Overall, the return of the casts is not only a sign of hope for the scientific community in Jena and beyond, but also a celebration for everyone interested in antiquity and its art. Be there and celebrate with us!