New exhibition in Copenhagen shows how fashion reflected power in Rome

Summary

A new exhibition at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen explores how fashion, color, and scent functioned as tools of political power in the Roman Empire. The exhibition features 171 artifacts, including a digitally reconstructed pink-painted statue of Tiberius and interactive scent stations.

Why it matters

The exhibition reframes ancient Rome not merely as a military-political structure, but as a society where visual and olfactory signals were fundamental mechanisms of governance and social hierarchy. The polychromatic analysis of Tiberius challenges the 'white marble' assumption that has shaped perceptions of classical art for centuries. Sensory reconstructions involving scent and sound make a 2,000-year-old power dynamic tangible for modern audiences.

Highlights

• Tiberius's toga was actually painted a vibrant pink. In the 1st century AD, this color symbolized wealth and divine authority.
• Tyrian purple dye was obtained by boiling Mediterranean sea snails in lead vats for days, making it one of the rarest pigments.
• Three rare tunics had never before been removed from the British Museum for a single exhibition.

Critical take

The article reads more like a carefully prepared press release than an independent journalistic piece. Nearly all concrete claims rely on curator statements or a single catalog citation. The branded perfume partnership with Karmameju and 'gossip' listening stations raise legitimate questions about how much academic depth lies behind the sensory spectacle.