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Author Topic: A Bit of Syracuse  (Read 1029 times)

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Offline PtolemAE

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A Bit of Syracuse
« on: July 20, 2012, 05:55:32 pm »
A few photos from recent visit to Syracuse (Sicily).  Some from the main town area which includes an 'archaeological park' (with the theaters, tombs, etc.) and the island or Ortygia in the harbor which has an unusual freshwater spring called 'The Fountain of Arethusa'.  The file names should explain them.

The Paolo Orsi museum, near the archaeological park, houses a remarkable collection of artifacts including Greek painted pottery as large as a person, gorgon reliefs, and much more.  The Paolo Orsi Museum's ancient coin collection has many coins you're likely to see only in books unless you visit them here.  The collection occupies a large room on the lower level, nicely presented in cases showing hoards, time periods, etc.  It is remarkable.  They have a few Ptolemaic coins in their collection, but not on display.  Perhaps they will be displayed eventually now that it's known that some of their Ptolemaic bronzes are as Sicilian as any of their other coins.

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Offline Andrew McCabe

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Re: A Bit of Syracuse
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2012, 06:35:10 pm »
A mesmerising place. Paolo Orsi was a truly great numismatist. The intact Greek temple enclosing a Christian church is one of my favourite buildings on the planet, because it has continued in uninterrupted use since the Greeks built the temple. Only the Hagia Sophia compares in spirit. And perhaps the Pantheon.

Offline PtolemAE

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Re: A Bit of Syracuse
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2012, 09:59:25 pm »
A mesmerising place. Paolo Orsi was a truly great numismatist. The intact Greek temple enclosing a Christian church is one of my favourite buildings on the planet, because it has continued in uninterrupted use since the Greeks built the temple. Only the Hagia Sophia compares in spirit. And perhaps the Pantheon.

I believe a couple of their Ptolemaic coins were part of Orsi's founding collection.  The only thing at the museum that exceeded the experience of the amazing coin collection itself was the privilege of having a little study area set up out in a corner of the main collection room and access to those Ptolemaic coins that are otherwise inaccessible because they don't display any of them.  The curator and museum director were very kind and helpful.  Spent nearly one whole day there. 

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