The new Museum of Romanity in Nîmes, France brings ancient Gaul to life

The new Museum of Romanity in Nîmes, France brings ancient Gaul to life. 

Once a major metropolis in Roman Gaul, Nîmes today boasts a plethora of important sites including the temple of Maison Carré , a large and well-preserved amphitheater, and a massive Roman guard tower.  Now the city boasts the new Museum of Romanity, covering 2500 years of life in ancient Gaul.  The museum features dozens of multimedia devices throughout, including interactive maps, 3D reconstructions, audio and video clips, augmented reality and fun mini-games for kids to augment displays of  carved columns and porticos, beautifully preserved frescoes, coins in near-mint condition, marble and bronze statues and religious inscriptions. The highlight of the museum is its magnificent collection of mosaics that once covered floors and walls in the homes of the wealthy with the most beautiful being the 400 square foot Pentheus mosaic depicting the vivid and tragic end of the mythical Pentheus.


 Image:  The Roman Pentheus Mosaic at the Museum of Romanity in Nimes, France 2nd century CE.  Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons contributor Herbert Frank. 

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