An extraordinary exhibition dedicated to the enduring relationship between the Siren Parthenope and the city of Naples. A journey through history, myth, archaeology, and cultural anthropology, spanning from the first Greek settlement on the Pizzofalcone promontory to the vibrant street art of contemporary Naples.a.
The exhibition features over 250 works dating from the 8th century BC to the present day. This prestigious project is enriched by significant loans from more than forty museums across Italy, Europe, and the United States. Supported by a multidisciplinary scientific committee, the exhibition has also benefited from the active collaboration of local Superintendencies and universities across the Campania region.
The concept for the exhibition stems from a reflection on the centuries-old roots of the Siren in the Neapolitan collective imagination. While it is common knowledge that Parthenope is the mythical founder of the city, and many identify with this hybrid being—linked to the sea, navigation, music, and seduction—such widespread familiarity often leads to fragmented narratives.
The exhibition path aims, first and foremost, to clarify the iconography of the Sirens and the extraordinary metamorphosis they underwent over the centuries: from birds with human heads to women with bird legs, and finally, in the Early Middle Ages, to women with fish tails. Starting from the archetypal encounter with Odysseus as narrated by Homer, the display illustrates the mythical tales of the Sirens and their functional transformation from dangerous enchantresses to benevolent guardians, or génies des passes.
Where
Piazza Museo 19, Napoli (NA)
