ROME: Empire, Power, People at Melbourne Museum is one of those rare exhibitions that feels instantly familiar and still full of surprises. You walk in thinking you know Rome: Julius Caesar, emperors, marble statues, gladiators, sandals, swords and the odd dramatic betrayal. And yes, all of that grandeur is here. But what makes the exhibition sing is how quickly it moves beyond the postcard version of Ancient Rome and into the messy, social, funny, human world beneath the empire.
Exclusive to Melbourne, the exhibition brings together more than 180 objects from the Imperial period, spanning the 1st to 3rd Century CE, with many on display here for the first time. There are statues, mosaics, frescoes, jewellery and everyday objects, ranging from the humble to the wildly luxurious. The result is not just a history lesson, but a full-bodied portrait of a civilisation that still somehow feels close enough to touch.
The familiar names provide the entry point. Caesar’s shadow hangs over the room, along with the political ambition, power games and spectacle that helped shape Rome into an empire. But the real joy is in the unfamiliar details: bustling marketplaces, spiritual life, domestic objects, beauty, status, and yes, how the Romans partied. You get a sense of people not just conquering and governing, but eating, drinking, decorating, showing off and making meaning out of daily life.
The scale of the exhibition is impressive, but it never feels dusty or remote. Through scenography and multimedia, Melbourne Museum gives the objects room to breathe. The grandeur is there in the stone, the design and the theatrical sweep of the rooms, but so is the intimacy. A piece of jewellery or a household item can say as much about Rome as a statue of power.
It is also wonderfully accessible. Kids can latch onto gladiators and big visual moments; adults can follow the politics, craftsmanship and social detail; history buffs can linger over the objects; casual visitors can simply enjoy being swept along. It is all ages without feeling watered down.
Rome: Empire, Power, People runs until 25 October 2026 at the Melbourne Museum.
