Rome Vittoriano Museum hosts Armenian Genocide exhibition

On the occasion of the Armenian Genocide centennial, the Vittoriano Museum of Rome has opened an exhibition dedicated to the 20th century’s first major crime against humanity, and the Armenian civilization.

The cultural event, entitled “Armenia: People of Ark”, is a joint initiative by the Armenian Ministry of Culture, the Armenian embassies to Italy and the Holy See of Vatican, and the Mechitarist Congregation and Italian-Armenian organizations.

A press conference attended by representatives of over 50 Italian media outlets was held before the opening ceremony to introduce the exhibition’s message and importance. The participants heard Armenian Ambassador to Italy Sargis Ghazaaryan, Prof. Louis Godart, an advisor to the Italian president on the preservation of cultural heritage and Paolo Kessisoglu, a popular Italian-Armenian artist.

In his speech, Ambassador Ghazaryan said the exhibition’s aim was to introduce the 3,000-year old Armenia history and civilization and the devastating impact of the Genocide (which he described as a death attempt against the nation and its civilizzation). He said the nation’s rebirth and future strong efforts towards creating an independent statehood proved to be its reaction to death attempt perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish rulers. The ambassador further highly praised the Armenian community in Italy (which has a history of 2,000 years) and its contribution to the country development. He also remembered prominent Italian public and political figures (Luigi Luzzatti, Filippo Meda and Giacomo Gorrini) who condemned the 1915-1916 brutal massacres of the Armenians.

Highlighting the exhibition’s importance, Prof. Godart said he finds the Armenian civilization a part of the European set of values and the common Christian heritage - a unique barrier against the Islamist extremism. He described the Armenian Genocide as “one of the darkest chapters of human history” and highly praised the Armenian nation’s strong spirit and ability to preserve its identity.

The exhibition’s opening was attended by Armenian Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan, Director of Vittoriano Museum Alessandro Nicosia and the Armenian ambassadors to Italy and the Holy See. It brought together thousands of visitors, including Italian public and political figures, senators and other lawmakers, diplomats and representatives of the Armenian community. Opening speeches were delivered by Minister Poghosyan, the museum’s director and Ambassador Ghazaryan.

Exhibits and videos, on display in seven different halls, offer the victors a unique journey into the origins of Christianity in Armenia, the Armenian scripts’ history and handwritten books, architecture and art, the centuries-old Armenian Italian relations and the Armenian culture and history’s abound presence in Italy. Documentary records on the Armenian Genocide are showcased in a separate hall.

The exhibition will run until May 3. It is widely covered by the Italian media, including the public broadcaster and the print publications.