Egyptian fayum portraits exhibit opens in Rome to showcase cultural exchange

The Ara Pacis Museum in Rome began hosting the exhibition "The Power of Portraits: From Fayum to Rome" on November 5.

The show runs until May 2, 2027, to promote cultural and archaeological cooperation between Egypt and Italy. Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathi, stated that the exhibition follows decades of archaeological cooperation, including excavations and restoration work conducted by Italian missions in Egypt.

He noted that the display allows the Italian public to explore the fusion of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artistic traditions. These traditions merged in ancient Egypt to create unique works like the Fayum portraits, which depict individual human features and beliefs regarding the afterlife. Dr. Hisham El-Lithi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the exhibition uses modern scientific analysis to reveal how these works were produced.

The display also follows a 2015 UNESCO recommendation to strengthen partnerships between museums. Experts noted that the restoration of the "Tondo of the Siblings" painting involved technical cooperation between Egyptian and Italian experts to preserve the heritage for future generations. Dr. Dina Soliman of the University of Egypt for Science and Technology stated that the portraits are historical documents showing the Egyptian society during the Greek and Roman periods.

Unlike idealized ancient art, these portraits capture the actual faces of individuals of different ages. The exhibition features 40 artifacts, including a portrait of a young man discovered by an Italian mission in the Demiat El-Seba area in 2022.