The Museum l'Arles Antique
The legacy of the Roman Empire in our area is displayed in a very modern museum: "L'Arles Antique" relating to the founding of the Roman colony of ARELATE in 46 BC by Julius Caesar.
Statues like the copy of the "Venus d'Arles" are also displayed, showing how the Romans idolized women in the days of their splendour in Arles.
Apart from all the objects discovered in our area, we can admire models of all the main Roman buildings:
Up to now, apart of the architectural function no one knows what these galleries were used for: little shops or places to stock goods? You can see the arches of the galleris on the left of the photo. They represent gigantic architectural achievement tp prop up the forum.
Children are attracted to this museum, as everything is done to make them imagine Roman life: their habits, their way of life, their main entertainments, their political organization. Large maps show the amazing network of roads which our current motorways follow!
Oil lamps, coins, amphoras, marble sarcophaguses, steles, jewellery, strigiles, vases, mosaics, statues, are presented in the most attractive way.
When we visited the museum, we all noticed a remarkable bronze statue of a Samni gladiator, wearing a helmet with a detachable visor. It's 19cm high and was discovered in 1912. it dates from the 2nd century of our era.
The forum (30 - 20 BC) which was the center of the city was leaning against a hill; so Roman architects imagined a series of galleries called "cryptoportiques" under the level of the ground.
The museum is also meant to develop archeological research and the training of professional people. There is also a restoration workshop.