This was the exhibition Luxury, Assyrians and Alexander the Great at CaixaForum Madrid

Newly CaixaForum shown in Madrid otra exposure result of collaboration with british museum london.

On this occasion during your visit you will take a tour of luxury in the Ancient Middle East.

In order to visit the exhibition, it is interesting to know that luxury in ancient times was a source of power, and with it the status of people was reaffirmed.

From 900 to 300 BC, many powerful rulers in the East considered the acquisition of luxury goods a very important military objective.

These created great empires by accumulating the wealth obtained in battles.

History of luxury, from Assyrians to Alexander the Great

From the assyrian empire until the great conquests of Alexander the Great, artisans, merchants and consumers of precious objects were united by thousands of kilometers from India to Spain.

They built sumptuous palaces and magnificent gardens where they could display the treasures obtained in battles.

The royal warehouses were filled with immense quantities of jewels and objects of all kinds obtained in the plundering of war.

These also served to finance the construction and decoration of palaces. in which the military victories achieved and the subjects bringing offerings to satisfy the new rulers were represented.

The perfectly carved reliefs showed horses, chariots and all kinds of demonstrations to reinforce the new political power and thus intimidate foreign rivals.

El assyrian empire was born north of the current Iraq, in the state of asur, a place with natural defenses, large open plains but that needed a formidable army to protect and expand the empire.

The Terribles assyrian kings They waged many wars and conquered territories from the Persian Gulf to Egypt, and the cities became increasingly cosmopolitan as a result of the deportations of the inhabitants of the conquered countries.

With their rule, trade routes were revived and more and more luxury items were demanded.

Both the assyrian empire as later the Babylonian and Achaemenid They managed to create an environment in which beautiful pieces of craftsmanship were made with a wide diversity of tastes.

Through these trade routes, items and materials were exchanged throughout. Middle East.

This empire began its decline with the destruction of its capital Nineveh, in the year 612 BC at the hands of the allied armies of the kings of Media y Babylon.

The Phoenicians, at the same time assyrian empire expanded, they acted as artisans and merchants; In addition to being intermediaries for the Assyrian rulers, they also wanted to increase their influence and power.

These traveled westwards towards Italy, Spain and North Africa, establishing new settlements.

Items of cut ivory, glass and metal would be highly valued among the ruling population, as well as the purple dye they obtained from snails.

The Phoenicians were great carvers of ivory to decorate furniture, combining different styles as a result of the commercial movement they had.

Glass containers of great beauty were found on the island of Rhodes, as it was a manufacturing center.

These containers were made using a technique originating from Mesopotamia, molded, air-dried clay was immersed in hot glass and then traces of molten glass were added to create vividly colored drawings.

When the glass had cooled, it was removed by scraping the clay inside.

They were normally small containers for the use of expensive cosmetics and perfumes, and later the blown glass technique was used.

Glass was one of the most sought after and valued luxury materials.

What to see at the Luxury exhibition, from the Assyrians to Alexander the Great

In the CaixaForum Madrid exhibition you will see 217 pieces from the British museum, a collection that collects 600 years of history of luxury.

The route is divided into seven sections, starting with the assyrian empire in the year 900 BC and seeing its influence on Babylon y Persia.

You will also see the influence of Phoenician trade and the fundamental role of Alexander the Great in the transmission of these parts.

There are sculptures, ceramics and unique pieces that come from the Oxus treasure, which is one of the most important groups of gold and silver pieces that have been discovered from the Persian Empire.

The little perfume bottles are especially pretty, and you will find them in multiple shapes, such as a woman-shaped glass, flower-shaped earrings, gold coins. Alexander the Great, stone cups and ivory items, as well as gold jewelry.

In one of the rooms there is a sensory experience where a recreation of the lush Hanging Gardens of Nineveh.

Here you will be able to perceive, through a multisensory map, the exotic aromas and sounds of one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.

The final part is dedicated to the rise of Achaemenid Empire and how Alexander the Great He exercised territorial control with his conquests, from which he obtained the wealth obtained by the Persians.

For the little ones there is a space where they can do an activity to learn how to turn everyday objects into luxury pieces, their true treasures.

Throughout the tour there are information panels and touch screens so you can learn in detail about some of the pieces found in the exhibition.

Schedule of the exhibition Luxury, from the Assyrians to Alexander the Great

The Exhibition schedules Luxury, from the Assyrians to Alexander the Great en CaixaForum Madrid They are, Monday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 20 p.m., and you can visit it until January 12, 2010.

CaixaForum Madrid exhibition ticket prices

The ticket prices To see this exhibition, the general price is 6 euros, with free admission for those under 16 years of age and customers of The Caixa.