Minerva Magazine - September/October 2017

In this issue

Metamorphoses of the mind
We still appreciate the ‘indiscreet, sexy and witty’ verse of the Roman poet Ovid, who died in exile 2000 years ago, and we continue to see the wildly amorous world of the Greek gods through his eyes. John Davie

For the love of the gods
Inspired by Ovid’s collection of Classical myths – stories of divine love and seduction – an exhibition at the National Archaeological Museum
in Naples looks at how they have been interpreted by artists. Dalu Jones

Unbelievable treasures
Damien Hirst’s faux antiquities, supposedly rescued from a Roman shipwreck, are his most audacious art works to date; are they a tribute to marine archaeology or just a load of old crock? Sean A Kingsley

In the lap of luxury
The elegant silver tableware, elaborate drinking vessels and dazzling jewellery that rich Romans used to show off their wealth is displayed at an exhibition in Arles in the South of France. Nicole Benazeth

The galloping goldsmiths
The Scythians are often seen as a band of illusive nomadic warriors, but the autumn exhibition at the British Museum reveals that they could also produce beautifully crafted gold objects. St John Simpson

Magnificent Monteverdi
Born 450 years ago, the great Italian composer is known for his three surviving operas, inspired by Greek mythology and Roman history,
with glorious music that has a timeless quality. Tom Ford

Taking the tablets
Monumental inscriptions tell us about the grand events of the Roman Empire but the Vindolanda and Bloomberg Tablets reveal intimate details of the everyday lives of soldiers and citizens in Britain. Paul Chrystal

Metamorphoses Of The Poet's Mind

John Davie pays homage to the great Roman poet Ovid who died in exile 2000 years ago this year.

9 mins

For The Love Of The Gods

An exhibition in Naples examines the timeless power of Greek myths, which are as vibrant today as when the Roman poet Ovid penned his Metamorphoses 2000 years ago.

7 mins

Unbelievable Treasures

Is Damien Hirst’s trove of ‘antiquities’ brought up from the sea-bed just a shipload of crock, or is it an historically accurate, if anarchistic, tribute to marine archaeology?

9 mins

In The Lap Of ​​​​​​​Luxury

Nicole Benazeth visits an exhibition of treasures in Arles that shows how the other half lived in the ancient world.

8 mins

The Galloping Goldsmiths

Everyone has heard of the Scythians but where did they come from, how did they live and what was it that helped them to rise to power?

6 mins

Magnificent Monteverdi

Tom Ford pays tribute to the ground-breaking Italian composer, born 450 years ago, one of the great musicians celebrated in the V&A‘s upcoming exhibition Opera: Passion Power and Politics.

7 mins

Read all stories from Minerva

Minerva Magazine Description:

Now available for iPad, Minerva magazine gives anyone with an interest in archaeology and antiquities a compelling insight into the ancient world. Minerva explores the lost civilisations of the past, from Ancient Egypt to Greece, Rome and the mighty empires of the Middle East and Asia.

For over 25 years, Minerva has revealed record-breaking auction results, exciting new finds, and untold stories of the distant past, spanning the Stone Age to the Dark Ages and beyond.

Each issue includes:
• News of finds and research from around the world
• Original research by international experts
• Reviews of major new exhibitions
• Latest trends and auction reports from the antiquities market
• In-depth features on history’s most fascinating people and events
• Profiles of leading figures from the world of archaeology
• Reviews of new publications and a must-have events diary