Highlight

Disability in Roman Times – an exhibition at Verulamium Museum.

Mix Mornings with Emma Lovell

A new exhibition at the Verulamium Museum, “Mapping an Even Path: Health and Disability in Ancient Verulamium”, delves into the nuanced relationship between ancient Roman society and the concepts of health and disability. Curator Kyle Lewis-Jordan, an archaeologist and disability advocate, spearheaded this project to uncover how ancient Romans perceived and supported individuals with disabilities, while also drawing parallels to modern experiences.

The exhibition challenges assumptions about the harshness of life for disabled individuals in ancient times. “While our scientific understanding has advanced significantly, evidence suggests that ancient Romans made genuine efforts to care for and include those with physical or mental differences,” Kyle explains. Archaeological finds and local artifacts from Verulamium provide a basis for imagining how people with disabilities might have lived within this Roman town.

A significant highlight is the exhibition’s accessibility. For the first time, the museum has introduced features like tactile maps, Braille guides, and an audio descriptive tour. Easy-read guides and embossed images allow visitors with visual or learning disabilities to engage with the content. Jordan, who uses a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy, worked closely with local disabled individuals to curate the exhibition. Their lived experiences were pivotal in interpreting ancient artifacts and creating fictive narratives of Roman life, like the imagined lives of Quintus and Flavia, two disabled individuals living in Verulamium.

The project, funded by Arts Council England as part of the “Revisiting the Romans” series, aims to reframe how we view ancient societies. “Human beings, past or present, share a common intuition to care for one another,” says Kyle. Visitors are invited to reflect on these enduring connections, and how ancient perspectives resonate with modern debates about inclusion.

Related website : https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/

More about: History

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