Exhibition Vis-à-Vis 200 – The Archaeological Heritage of the Island of Vis

Exhibition Vis-à-Vis 200 – The Archaeological Heritage of the Island of Vis was originally set up in Split on the occasion of the 200^th anniversary of the Split Archaeological Museum. On May 11^th, 2023, we open the exhibition in the Klovićevi dvori Gallery in Zagreb.

In light of the latest discoveries and completed restoration and conservation works, the rarely-seen, but extremely significant Croatian heritage of the town and the island of Vis is presented in a museologically modern and attractive way. This anniversary exhibition presents more than 750 most representative monuments of the Split Archaeological Museum that were found on the island/city of Vis (ancient Issa), one of the most significant and largest archaeological sites in Croatia. Various archaeological objects (inscriptions, sculptures, vases and other ceramic vessels, terracottas, jewelry, weapons, tools, and money) bear witness to the earliest traces of life on the island, from prehistoric times to the early Middle Ages, with an emphasis on the Greek polis (city-state) Isa and its dynamic development during the Hellenistic period.

The oldest exhibit at the exhibition is a fragment of impresso pottery from the Early Neolithic (first half of the 6^th millennium BC) from Krajica cave (Tvardo cave) on Vis, while the youngest exhibits are silver jewelry and costume elements of the deceased (like earrings and buckles) from the 15^th century, found in a grave next to the church of St. Maria in Podselje (Velo Selo) on Vis. The most represented exhibits are various ceramic vessels found in Isa graves from the 4^th century BC to the 1^st century AD. They provide a great insight into the development of ceramic production in antiquity.

In several thematic units, the exhibition sheds light on the prehistoric period and the first contacts with the Greeks, Isa’s economy, the city’s daily life, money, funeral customs, Roman (imperial) sculptures, and the period of late antiquity and the Middle Ages on the island of Vis. Among the most important exhibits at the exhibition are the bronze head of the goddess Artemis, stone Greek inscriptions, and tombstones, among which is the oldest Greek verse inscription found in Croatia, on the grave stele of the Iseian hero Kalija. For the first time, after many years of complex restoration and conservation work, the exhibition presents two monumental Roman imperial sculptures from Isa. The third sculpture, the Iseian statue in armor, will be available for viewing in the Lapidarium of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb.

Given the attractiveness of the exhibition material, we have no doubt it will attract numerous art lovers, tourists, visitors of all generations, pupils and students. For that reason, we are convinced that our art workshops will also arouse great interest. In Artionica, we will organize Greek ceramics reconstruction (using a ceramic furnace) and glassmaking workshops.

The exhibition will be open until July 2^nd, 2023.