An exhibition itinerary that will accompany the visitor to discover the men who were hiding behind the helmets and armor that have become legends. An aura of mystery that hid the faces of men, very often fighters, who knew how to "die with honor" rather than "serve with ignominy". They are the gladiators, myths of ancient Roman history but who have left much wider traces. Discover all these secrets and curiosities is possible thanks to the exhibition inaugurated in Barumini, at the Giovanni Lilliu Center for Communication and Promotion of Cultural Heritage and entitled: " Gladiators and Ancient Rome in Sardinia: Myth, history and artistic representation ".

Born from the collaboration between the Barumini Sistema Cultura Foundation , the Municipality of Barumini , the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN) and the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the metropolitan city of Cagliari and the provinces of Oristano and South Sardinia , the The exhibition is divided into four sections including Amphitheaters, Weapons and Armours, Daily Life and Roman Sardinia.

In the showcase the many exhibits on display to tell the life and deeds of the gladiators, such as greaves and helmets, weapons and pottery used in daily life (ceramics, ladles, bronzes, mugs and glass bottles). But there will also be tools for well-being and body care, oil lamps with the depiction of a gladiator. There is also a high definition print of some wall paintings found in the houses of Pompeii representative of the amphitheater and food. All elements, accompanied by videos on amphitheatres, armor and on the nutrition of gladiators, which will introduce visitors to every aspect of the myth of gladiators. A path that arises from literary and epigraphic sources, from which emerges the importance that gladiators had to decree their extraordinary success, training and professional development.

SUPERINTENDENCE . “The exhibition tells how Sardinia, despite its diversity, had fully entered the cultural influence of Rome and this is demonstrated by the materials found and the effigies of the emperors who were erected in Sardinia to testify to the presence of Roman power which was trying to take root on the island - underlines Gianfranca Salis, coordinator of the functional area of the archaeological heritage of the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the metropolitan city of Cagliari and the provinces of Oristano and South Sardinia - Barumini is confirming itself as an important cultural center in Sardinia with exhibitions of the highest cultural value and extraordinary materials such as those on display - he concludes - even today the collaboration between institutions of the Superintendency, the Barumini Foundation, the Mann Museum is being strengthened".