The special presentation Vitrine EXTRA, which periodically showcases different ancient objects as temporary additions to the permanent exhibition at the Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, explores the colorful traces of Greco-Roman antiquity in its sixth edition. Based on a relief depicting the god of light, Mithras, the presentation highlights the vibrant polychromy of Roman statues and monuments – impressively showcasing how colorful they originally were!
Address
Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities, Hochparterre
Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Vienna
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Opening times
Tue - Sun, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thu until 9 pm
Tickets
Adults €23
Reduced admission €19
Kids / Teens under 19 free
On average, visitors spend around 1.5 hours in the Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities.
Greco-Roman antiquity was once much more colourful than it appears to us today. Many statues, monuments, and architectural elements were richly painted in colours that over the course of centuries have often not survived. This multi-colour phenomenon (polychromy) has been intensively studied for a number of years, and now for the first time this research is concentrated in the Danube area around Vienna and Carnuntum. The interdisciplinary research project Colours revealed – Polychromy of Roman monuments of the Danube provinces, with the aid of scientific methods, searches for remains of colour pigments which were once applied to the stones and are now scarcely, or not at all, visible to the naked eye. With non-invasive methods such as multispectral analysis – the investigation of the interaction of different materials with diverse forms of light – even the smallest traces of colour can be detected.
The polychromy of ancient monuments was not only a design medium, but might also have underscored specific messages via a special colour symbolism. This will also be examined in the research project. Additional important evidence for the understanding of the objects is provided by insights into painting techniques as well as the procedures and coordination of a variety of working processes. A special focus of the project lies on the reliefs and sculptures from the Mithras cults from Carnuntum and the Vienna basin area: on these objects, the significance of colour in religious and ritual contexts will be investigated. The relief exhibited here of the bull-killing Mithras, from Stixneusiedl (Lower Austria) represents a particularly impressive example in this regard.
In the early summer of 1816, a relief depicting the bull-slaying god Mithras was discovered in the vineyards near Stixneusiedl (Lower Austria). The upper part, including Mithras’ torso, was missing. Later that same year, the artifact was transferred to the imperial collections in Vienna and handed over to the k. k. Münz- und Antikenkabinett – the predecessor of today’s Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities. Even at the time of its discovery, the numerous preserved traces of ancient paint were admired, and, fortunately, a rough cleaning – which was quite common at the time – was avoided.
Since its discovery more than 200 years ago, the relief has undergone no significant restoration interventions – apart from the addition of the lost upper half and the overpainting of the ancient color traces in the early 19th century. This provides ideal conditions for examining the ancient paint layers today using modern methods. In 2023/24, the relief was comprehensively documented, conserved, and restored. During this process, overpainted or later concealed areas were uncovered once again.
The figure of the light god Mithras is known to us through more than 600 relief depictions. These once brightly colored artworks present the god in a central scene: Mithras overpowers a mighty bull, presses it to the ground, and slays it with a short sword or dagger. This act of killing symbolizes a renewal of the world order. At the same time, the scene alludes to the cycle of death and rebirth, as well as the fertility associated with it. After the bull's death, new life emerges: ears of grain sprout from its tail, a dog and a snake drink its blood, and a scorpion reaches for its genitals.
Mithras was one of the most significant deities of a mystery cult in the Roman Empire. Originally from the Indo-Iranian region, he was – like many so-called Oriental deities – integrated into Roman religious beliefs. Due to his connection to light, he was considered closely related to the Roman sun god Sol. In the Roman period, his cult was reinterpreted and spread throughout the empire from the late 1st century AD. As a result, Mithraism also made its way into the Roman provinces of present-day Austria, particularly to Carnuntum.
Colours revealed – Polychromy of Roman monuments of the Danube provinces
The Vitrine EXTRA #6 draws from the research project Colours revealed – Polychromy of Roman monuments of the Danube provinces, funded by Heritage Science Austria of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Digital Platform for the Research Project
The digital research platform Goobi of the KHM-Museumsverband provides a dedicated research website for the project Polychromon: Current research on polychromy of ancient stone monuments.
As part of the special presentation Vitrine EXTRA, various antique objects are presented temporarily in the permanent exhibition of the Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities of the Kunsthistorisches Museum at regular intervals.
Our exhibitions take you back to the rich history of our museum. Here, proven masterpieces meet newly explored themes - a look at art, culture and the past that continuously illuminates the collection.
