https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beyond-the-marble-season-2--6348677Beyond the Marble, a podcast illuminating the hidden treasures within the museum’s remarkable archaeological collection.

Whether strolling through the grand halls of the Galleria Borghese or glimpsing images in books and travel photos, have you noticed the exquisite ancient artifacts displayed on the museum's ground floor?

Alongside Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s extraordinary sculptures, these treasures tell their own fascinating stories. Yet, they are often overlooked by the audience, who tend to focus on the grand masterpieces of modern sculpture displayed at the center of each room.

Beyond the Marble invites listeners on a captivating journey into the Ancient world, revealing timeless tales from a vibrant past that continue to resonate today.

Originally created to make the archaeological collections accessible to visitors with visual impairments, the project evolved to include international visitors as well, giving them the chance to explore these collections beforehand and engage with the museum's archaeology in a richer, more immersive way.

This initiative ensures that everyone can experience the wonders of the Borghese archaeological collection.
To evoke vivid mental imagery, the artwork descriptions have been carefully developed in collaboration with Prof. Lucilla D'Antilio, a blind sculptor and professor.

The experience extends beyond the podcast itself, with tactile paths introduced within the museum, designed for both people with visual disabilities and sighted visitors.

These tours are enhanced by sculptor-made replicas, offering everyone the opportunity to engage with the artworks through touch.

We welcome listeners to share their impressions and engage in dialogue with the creators: Dr. Stefania Vannini, art historian and curator at the Ministry of Culture and Accessibility Coordinator at the Galleria Borghese, and Rasul Mojaverian, archaeologist.

For feedback and inquiries, please reach out via email at ga-bor.accessibilita@cultura.gov.it.

The narration is provided by actors Claire Palazzo and Marcus Marcelli.

The music is by Michael Levy. https://ancientlyre.com/]]>enArtsCopyright Galleria Borghesehttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/3efafbb37dc62fd02b05f63d81d09e42.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beyond-the-marble-season-2--6348677Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:03:36 +0000Galleria BorgheseGalleria Borghesefeeds@spreaker.comThe Borghese Gallery presents Beyond the Marble, a podcast illuminating the hidden treasures within the museum’s remarkable archaeological collection. Whether strolling through the grand halls of the Galleria Borghese or glimpsing images in books and...Beyond the Marble, a podcast illuminating the hidden treasures within the museum’s remarkable archaeological collection.

Whether strolling through the grand halls of the Galleria Borghese or glimpsing images in books and travel photos, have you noticed the exquisite ancient artifacts displayed on the museum's ground floor?

Alongside Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s extraordinary sculptures, these treasures tell their own fascinating stories. Yet, they are often overlooked by the audience, who tend to focus on the grand masterpieces of modern sculpture displayed at the center of each room.

Beyond the Marble invites listeners on a captivating journey into the Ancient world, revealing timeless tales from a vibrant past that continue to resonate today.

Originally created to make the archaeological collections accessible to visitors with visual impairments, the project evolved to include international visitors as well, giving them the chance to explore these collections beforehand and engage with the museum's archaeology in a richer, more immersive way.

This initiative ensures that everyone can experience the wonders of the Borghese archaeological collection.
To evoke vivid mental imagery, the artwork descriptions have been carefully developed in collaboration with Prof. Lucilla D'Antilio, a blind sculptor and professor.

The experience extends beyond the podcast itself, with tactile paths introduced within the museum, designed for both people with visual disabilities and sighted visitors.

These tours are enhanced by sculptor-made replicas, offering everyone the opportunity to engage with the artworks through touch.

We welcome listeners to share their impressions and engage in dialogue with the creators: Dr. Stefania Vannini, art historian and curator at the Ministry of Culture and Accessibility Coordinator at the Galleria Borghese, and Rasul Mojaverian, archaeologist.

For feedback and inquiries, please reach out via email at ga-bor.accessibilita@cultura.gov.it.

The narration is provided by actors Claire Palazzo and Marcus Marcelli.

The music is by Michael Levy. https://ancientlyre.com/]]>false8a97ece2-6f0a-57b6-b7e2-419e7b83ac02episodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/20-awe-and-wonder--62362486Beyond the Marble” concludes, it’s worth returning to the theme of love.
Not the sublime and idealized love of Sappho, but a more cynical, unscrupulous Eros, as portrayed by Ovid. For the Roman poet, love isn’t a bolt from the blue; it’s a strategic game, an art to master, filled with tricks and deceptions.
To explore this love, we must discuss Jupiter and his transformations. In particular, the myth of Jupiter turned into a swan to seduce Leda—a story as alluring as it is controversial—will be examined through the sculpture of Leda and the Swan, a remarkable work that embodies the drama and eroticism of this ancient legend.
It is a tale that continues to challenge our beliefs and spark our imagination.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62362486Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:03:07 +0000Galleria BorgheseAs the journey of “Beyond the Marble” concludes, it’s worth returning to the theme of love. Not the sublime and idealized love of Sappho, but a more cynical, unscrupulous Eros, as portrayed by Ovid. For the Roman poet, love isn’t a bolt from the...Beyond the Marble” concludes, it’s worth returning to the theme of love.
Not the sublime and idealized love of Sappho, but a more cynical, unscrupulous Eros, as portrayed by Ovid. For the Roman poet, love isn’t a bolt from the blue; it’s a strategic game, an art to master, filled with tricks and deceptions.
To explore this love, we must discuss Jupiter and his transformations. In particular, the myth of Jupiter turned into a swan to seduce Leda—a story as alluring as it is controversial—will be examined through the sculpture of Leda and the Swan, a remarkable work that embodies the drama and eroticism of this ancient legend.
It is a tale that continues to challenge our beliefs and spark our imagination.]]>656accessiblecontent,ancientrome,ancientworld,archaeologicalsites,archaeology,artifactstories,audiodescription,blindaccessibility,culturalaccessibility,heritage,history,historypodcast,historyuncovered,inclusiveaudio,inclusiveheritage,metamorphosis,museums,mythology,poetry,romefalse210fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/19-the-wandering-path--62362491Beyond the Marble”, as the voice of the marble worker Quintus Julius Miletus reaches us from a distant past.
Sculpted on a funerary altar in the Portico of the Galleria Borghese, his epitaph tells the story of a man who came to Rome to witness grand games and live off his art.
But his words offer more than a daily account: they refer to the "labyrinth," a universal symbol of challenges and deceptions, urging us to reflect on life's journey, its uncertainties, and its mysteries.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62362491Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:03:03 +0000Galleria BorgheseA silence lasting centuries breaks in this episode of “Beyond the Marble”, as the voice of the marble worker Quintus Julius Miletus reaches us from a distant past. Sculpted on a funerary altar in the Portico of the Galleria Borghese, his epitaph tells...Beyond the Marble”, as the voice of the marble worker Quintus Julius Miletus reaches us from a distant past.
Sculpted on a funerary altar in the Portico of the Galleria Borghese, his epitaph tells the story of a man who came to Rome to witness grand games and live off his art.
But his words offer more than a daily account: they refer to the "labyrinth," a universal symbol of challenges and deceptions, urging us to reflect on life's journey, its uncertainties, and its mysteries.]]>817accessiblecontent,ancientrome,ancientworld,archaeologicalsites,archaeology,artifactstories,audiodescription,blindaccessibility,culturalaccessibility,educationalpodcast,heritage,history,historypodcast,historyuncovered,inclusiveaudio,inclusiveheritage,museums,mythology,romefalse29fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/18-the-stuff-of-dreams-in-the-house-of-dreams--62362489In this episode, the two Sleeping Nymphs of the Portico will lead us into the enigmatic world of dreams in antiquity—full of messages, omens of the future, and warnings from gods and the souls of the departed.
We will uncover the power of Asclepius, the god of medicine who could heal the sick through his night visits, and encounter other mysterious beings that inhabit the border between dreams and reality.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62362489Thu, 29 May 2025 08:57:10 +0000Galleria BorgheseThe Galleria Borghese is a realm suspended between dream and reality. In this episode, the two Sleeping Nymphs of the Portico will lead us into the enigmatic world of dreams in antiquity—full of messages, omens of the future, and warnings from gods...In this episode, the two Sleeping Nymphs of the Portico will lead us into the enigmatic world of dreams in antiquity—full of messages, omens of the future, and warnings from gods and the souls of the departed.
We will uncover the power of Asclepius, the god of medicine who could heal the sick through his night visits, and encounter other mysterious beings that inhabit the border between dreams and reality.]]>949accessiblecontent,ancientrome,ancientworld,archaeologicalsites,archaeology,artifactstories,audiodescription,blindaccessibility,culturalaccessibility,educationalpodcast,heritage,history,historypodcast,historyuncovered,inclusiveaudio,inclusiveheritage,museums,mythology,romefalse28fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/17-a-little-toxic-love--62362493
This tale weaves together absolute love, pain, and madness, inviting us to reflect on how we cope with suffering today.
A myth that reveals an intense yet incomprehensible relationship with pain, a far cry from our modern experience.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62362493Thu, 29 May 2025 08:57:04 +0000Galleria BorgheseIn the Egyptian Room, a small sculpture captivates and disturbs: Attis, the young god whose tragic story intertwines with the goddess Cybele, the Great Mother. This tale weaves together absolute love, pain, and madness, inviting us to reflect on how...
This tale weaves together absolute love, pain, and madness, inviting us to reflect on how we cope with suffering today.
A myth that reveals an intense yet incomprehensible relationship with pain, a far cry from our modern experience.]]>879accessiblecontent,ancientrome,ancientworld,archaeologicalsites,archaeology,artifactstories,audiodescription,blindaccessibility,culturalaccessibility,educationalpodcast,heritage,history,historypodcast,historyuncovered,inclusiveaudio,inclusiveheritage,museums,mythology,romefalse27fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/16-knossos-rome-paris--62362487In an act of seemingly innocent devotion, the tyrant breaks a sacred pact, unleashing a series of irreversible events driven by his insatiable thirst for power.
The relief in the Galleria Borghese that captures this moment serves as a warning: nothing is ever as it seems, and sometimes our fate rests solely in our hands.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62362487Thu, 22 May 2025 11:37:19 +0000Galleria BorgheseA ritual that would change everything: King Minos of Crete offers a gesture to Poseidon, foreshadowing a legendary catastrophe. In an act of seemingly innocent devotion, the tyrant breaks a sacred pact, unleashing a series of irreversible events...In an act of seemingly innocent devotion, the tyrant breaks a sacred pact, unleashing a series of irreversible events driven by his insatiable thirst for power.
The relief in the Galleria Borghese that captures this moment serves as a warning: nothing is ever as it seems, and sometimes our fate rests solely in our hands.]]>985accessiblecontent,ancientrome,ancientworld,archaeologicalsites,archaeology,artifactstories,audiodescription,blindaccessibility,culturalaccessibility,educationalpodcast,heritage,history,historypodcast,historyuncovered,inclusiveaudio,inclusiveheritage,minotaur,museums,mythology,romefalse26fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/15-amongst-the-waves--62362495
This exceptional piece depicts a young satyr riding a dolphin at water’s edge, seems to have inspired many great artists.
But what truly lies behind this surprising and whimsical image?  ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62362495Thu, 22 May 2025 11:37:14 +0000Galleria BorgheseThe Satyr riding a Dolphin, an enigmatic sculpture in the Egyptian Room, blends ancient allure with Renaissance fantasy. This exceptional piece depicts a young satyr riding a dolphin at water’s edge, seems to have inspired many great artists. But what...
This exceptional piece depicts a young satyr riding a dolphin at water’s edge, seems to have inspired many great artists.
But what truly lies behind this surprising and whimsical image?  ]]>941accessiblecontent,ancientrome,ancientworld,archaeologicalsites,archaeology,artifactstories,audiodescription,culturalaccessibility,educationalpodcast,heritage,history,historypodcast,historyuncovered,inclusiveheritage,museums,mythology,romefalse25fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/12-piecing-together-infinity--62362488In the Galleria Borghese, among the Roman mosaics of the Egyptian Room, the sea takes shape in the faces of its ancient deities.
There’s Oceanus, the old father of all waters, guardian of life and its secrets. Then there’s Nereus, the god of calm waters and safe harbors, symbolizing hope and new beginnings, inviting us to explore the unknown.
But that’s not all: amidst the waves, a Nereid, a beautiful nymph, emerges from the unfathomable depths to calm the stormy seas and guide sailors to safety.
Yet after immersing ourselves in this sea of stories and deities, how do we find our way?
The answer may be right above us: just look up, and the vault of the Egyptian Room might show us the way.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62362488Thu, 08 May 2025 15:10:37 +0000Galleria BorgheseThe sea, with its timeless mystery, has always intrigued and challenged us. In the Galleria Borghese, among the Roman mosaics of the Egyptian Room, the sea takes shape in the faces of its ancient deities. There’s Oceanus, the old father of all waters,...In the Galleria Borghese, among the Roman mosaics of the Egyptian Room, the sea takes shape in the faces of its ancient deities.
There’s Oceanus, the old father of all waters, guardian of life and its secrets. Then there’s Nereus, the god of calm waters and safe harbors, symbolizing hope and new beginnings, inviting us to explore the unknown.
But that’s not all: amidst the waves, a Nereid, a beautiful nymph, emerges from the unfathomable depths to calm the stormy seas and guide sailors to safety.
Yet after immersing ourselves in this sea of stories and deities, how do we find our way?
The answer may be right above us: just look up, and the vault of the Egyptian Room might show us the way.]]>792accessiblecontent,ancientrome,ancientworld,archaeologicalsites,archaeology,artifactstories,audiodescription,blindaccessibility,culturalaccessibility,educationalpodcast,heritage,history,historypodcast,historyuncovered,inclusiveaudio,inclusiveheritage,mosaics,museums,mythology,romefalse22fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/11-the-fairest-thing--62362492We refer to something elusive that can never be fully defined. In antiquity, love took the sensual form of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and desire.
Among the sculptures in Room I of Galleria Borghese, one stands out: a magnificent head of Aphrodite, reminiscent of Sappho, the poetess who sang about love like no other.
For Sappho, Eros is an overwhelming feeling that shakes the soul, often accompanied by pain.
Yet, as the poetess teaches us, love remains, despite everything, the most beautiful experience we can have.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62362492Thu, 08 May 2025 15:10:31 +0000Galleria BorgheseWhat do we mean when we talk about love? We refer to something elusive that can never be fully defined. In antiquity, love took the sensual form of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and desire. Among the sculptures in Room I of Galleria Borghese, one...We refer to something elusive that can never be fully defined. In antiquity, love took the sensual form of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and desire.
Among the sculptures in Room I of Galleria Borghese, one stands out: a magnificent head of Aphrodite, reminiscent of Sappho, the poetess who sang about love like no other.
For Sappho, Eros is an overwhelming feeling that shakes the soul, often accompanied by pain.
Yet, as the poetess teaches us, love remains, despite everything, the most beautiful experience we can have.]]>937accessiblecontent,ancientrome,ancientworld,archaeologicalsites,archaeology,artifactstories,audiodescription,blindaccessibility,culturalaccessibility,educationalpodcast,heritage,history,historypodcast,inclusiveaudio,inclusiveheritage,museums,mythology,poetry,rome,sapphofalse21fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/14-equal-to-men--62362490In this episode of “Beyond the Marble”, the Borghese sculpture of the Amazon on horseback showcases the exceptional strength of these mythical figures, often seen as symbols of independence from male control.
This is a work that reveals more than it initially appears to.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62362490Thu, 08 May 2025 09:49:20 +0000Galleria BorgheseA legendary population of indomitable warrior women, but who were the Amazons really? In this episode of “Beyond the Marble”, the Borghese sculpture of the Amazon on horseback showcases the exceptional strength of these mythical figures, often seen as...In this episode of “Beyond the Marble”, the Borghese sculpture of the Amazon on horseback showcases the exceptional strength of these mythical figures, often seen as symbols of independence from male control.
This is a work that reveals more than it initially appears to.]]>836accessiblecontent,ancientrome,ancientworld,archaeologicalsites,archaeology,artifactstories,audiodescription,blindaccessibility,culturalaccessibility,educationalpodcast,heritage,history,historypodcast,historyuncovered,inclusiveaudio,inclusiveheritage,museums,mythology,romefalse24fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/13-caution-dangerous-crossing--62362494Mysterious and powerful, Hecate offers protection, but also poses challenges.
In the ancient world, crossroads were not merely places of passage; they were critical points filled with dangers and shadows.
It was here that travellers faced crucial choices, with the risk of losing their way always looming.
Hecate lurks at the intersection, ready to watch over and test those who are unsure of which path to take.
One misstep could lead you into darkness.  ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62362494Thu, 08 May 2025 09:49:12 +0000Galleria BorgheseOne sculpture, three bodies, three faces, three ages: Hecate, the dark goddess, protector of crossroads and thresholds, lady of the moon and black magic. Mysterious and powerful, Hecate offers protection, but also poses challenges. In the ancient...Mysterious and powerful, Hecate offers protection, but also poses challenges.
In the ancient world, crossroads were not merely places of passage; they were critical points filled with dangers and shadows.
It was here that travellers faced crucial choices, with the risk of losing their way always looming.
Hecate lurks at the intersection, ready to watch over and test those who are unsure of which path to take.
One misstep could lead you into darkness.  ]]>634accessiblecontent,ancientrome,ancientworld,archaeologicalsites,archaeology,artifactstories,audiodescription,blindaccessibility,culturalaccessibility,educationalpodcast,heritage,history,historypodcast,historyuncovered,inclusiveaudio,inclusiveheritage,magic,museums,mythology,romefalse23full