Jena, July 09, 2026 – The Archaeological Museum of the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena is celebrating its 180th anniversary with a unique exhibition. Until tomorrow, Friday, July 10, visitors can experience ancient reliefs in a completely new light at the Institute of Classical Archaeology.
- What: Exhibition “Lichtwechsel – Antike Reliefs neu sehen” (Changing Light – Seeing Ancient Reliefs Anew)
- Occasion: 180th anniversary of the Archaeological Museum Jena
- When: Thursday, 09.07., and Friday, 10.07.2026, from 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM
- Where: Institut für Altertumswissenschaften, Fürstengraben 25, 07743 Jena (View on Google Maps)
- Admission: Free
Staging through changing light colors
The exhibition presents historical plaster casts that have been acquired since the mid-19th century through the commitment of Jena citizens. The special feature of the current presentation is the targeted lighting: instead of classic white museum lighting, the exhibits are illuminated with color-changing lights. The different light colors drastically alter the perceived plasticity, contrast, and fine details of the reliefs.
The works shown were originally located at great heights on their original structures—including the Temple of Zeus in Olympia, buildings on the Athenian Acropolis, and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus—and could never be viewed at close range in antiquity. The lighting design also makes it possible to understand the changing effect of the reliefs throughout a natural daylight cycle.
Students design anniversary exhibition
The project was conceived and realized as part of a two-week Spring School at the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena. Students from the Chair of Classical Archaeology developed both the innovative exhibition design and the marketing. The project once again demonstrates the creative diversity of the Jena museum landscape, which integrates seamlessly into the active city life, also shaped by other summer highlights such as the Kulturarena Jena.
Service: Opening hours and guided tours
The following organizational information applies to visitors:
- Opening hours: Thursday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Guided tours: Guided tours take place on Saturdays at 3:00 PM at changing locations. Topics can be found online at www.gw.uni-jena.de.
- Individual inquiries: Additional tours can be arranged via email at antikensammlungen@uni-jena.de.
- Accessibility: All exhibition rooms of the Chair of Classical Archaeology are barrier-free.
🎭 Culture & City Life: Plaster casts as cultural heritage
The collection of plaster casts at the Archaeological Museum in Jena is a valuable testament to civic engagement. For 180 years, Jena citizens have donated funds to secure detailed copies of ancient masterpieces for research and teaching. These historical casts are now independent cultural assets, as they often document a better state of preservation than the original sites, which have been heavily damaged by environmental influences.
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Exhibition: LICHTWECHSEL
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.