Alexandria: Past Futures

Gold cobra bracelet, ca 332 BCE © Musée royal de Mariemont

Alexandria: Past Futures, an exhibition of some 200 artifacts from major European museum collections, highlights one of the greatest cities of the ancient Mediterranean at the peak of its cultural influence. The exhibition provides a fresh perspective on Alexandria, one of the great centres of ancient civilisation, and sheds light on its urban, political and religious organisations, the everyday life of its citizens, and its influence on science and philosophy, which spanned from the third century B.C. to the fourth century of our era. Some twenty contemporary works of art enhance the theme of the exhibition and, thanks to a carefully designed scenography, provide an analytical and poetic backdrop to its various parts. In addition, incursions into other periods – Byzantine, Arabic, Modern – will enrich the focus of the exhibition and provide a more comprehensive understanding of Alexandria throughout history.