The first impression is immediately a showpiece: the stone statue of a mighty lion dominating its prey, a defeated horse. The new Maastricht Museum in Centre C\u00e9ramique knows that a first impression is important, and therefore immediately presents this 1,800-year-old sculpture, which was dredged up from the Maas in 1963 at the site of the Roman bridge.<\/b><\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"tekst_foto","tekst":"The Maastricht Museum divides the city\u2019s history into five periods, presented alternately in a green and a blue environment. The Roman period is represented by a selection from the rich collection of finds housed in the Centre C\u00e9ramique depot. That collection is so extensive that choosing from it is a \u201cluxury problem,\u201d says chief curator Astrid Smeets. According to her, the intention is to complete the presentations in the coming months, after which the content will change periodically.","foto":10480},{"acf_fc_layout":"tekst","tekst":"Olterdissen and Rieu<\/h3>\r\nIt is remarkable that the museum tailors these changes to the wishes of the visitors. Director Wim Hupperetz explains: \u201cWe do things differently from usual. Normally, experts determine what the visitor gets to see. We want our presentation to be more bottom-up; visitors can indicate what they would like to see via a form or through the website.\u201d\r\nThe first reactions show a preference for local celebrities such as Fons Olterdissen, Pieke Dassen, and yes, Andr\u00e9 Rieu. The latter does not yet seem ready, in life and health, for a place in the museum, but Wim Hupperetz does see him as a suitable candidate to record the audio tour \u2014 naturally in the Maastricht dialect."},{"acf_fc_layout":"foto_tekst","foto":10483,"tekst":"
Gladiators<\/h3>\r\nAnother striking Roman find is a gravestone depicting two gladiators at the end of a fight. Helmet, shield, sword, loincloth, and arm and leg protectors are clearly recognisable. The outcome of the battle is equally clear: the gladiator on the right has been defeated and gestures with his hand to beg for his life.\r\n\r\nMore puzzling is the dodecahedron displayed in one of the cases. The remains were found as small fragments between Maastricht-Mari\u00ebnwaard and Rothem, and thanks to 3D printing, the original bronze object has been reconstructed. What no one has yet succeeded in discovering, however, is what the Romans actually used the dodecahedron for.\r\n
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