Page 146 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

144  SICIL Y AREA B Y AREA

Syracuse: Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi

Founded in 1967 (and opened to the public in 1988), in order to
establish a proper home for the enormous quantity of material
excavated from digs throughout southeastern Sicily, the Regional
Archaeological Museum has over 18,000 pieces on display. The
museum is named after the eminent archaeologist Paolo Orsi,
head of the Antiquities Department of Sicily from 1888, who was
instrumental in fostering interest in the island’s past and was
personally responsible for many important excavations and
discoveries. The collections named after him have been
reorganized since the museum moved from its Ortygia
site. Two more sections have since been opened: Il
Medagliere, a unique collection of coins and
medals dating from the Greek period to
the medieval era, and an
area dedicated to the
magnificent tomb of a
Roman noblewoman
that was discovered
in the catacombs of Section B
San Giovanni in the
northeast of Sicily.

. Funerary Statue Courtyard
This came from the digs at
Megara Hyblaea and dates
from 560–550 BC. The
inscription on the right thigh
shows it was dedicated to
the physician Sambroditas.
Upper Floor

Section A
Section D

Key to Floorplan
Prehistory and protohistory
. Venus Anadyomene Greek colonies in eastern Sicily
Also known as the “Landolina Subcolonies, Hellenized towns
Venus” from the name of its
discoverer, this is a Roman Sicilian culture and topography
copy of a Greek statue. Sarcophagus of Adelfia
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p204 and pp214–16

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