The Mont’e Prama Giants in Turin
The History of Sinis at the Royal Museums of Turin during the conference at the “Ballroom” on the eve of Juventus-Cagliari.
The Mont’e Prama Foundation, together with the Rossoblù club and FASI, gathered at one of the most important museums in Northern Italy to showcase the wonders of Sardinia. Among the key figures in the event was archaeologist Attilio Mastino.
The “Ballroom” on the second floor of the Royal Palace of Turin hosted today, Saturday, October 5, the latest stop in the joint communication campaign involving the Mont’e Prama Foundation, Cagliari Calcio, and the Federation of Sardinian Associations in Italy. The conference featured four speakers who presented the archaeological heritage of Sinis and Sardinia, as well as the Sardinian collection hosted at the Royal Museums of Turin. This new event aimed to promote and spread awareness of the island’s cultural assets.
The conference opened with greetings from Elisa Panero, Director of the Antiquities Museum at the Royal Museums. Following her, Anthony Muroni, President of the Mont’e Prama Foundation, Stefano Melis, General Director of Cagliari Calcio, and Bastianino Mossa, President of FASI, took the floor.
“We can never express enough pride and pleasure in being alongside the Mont’e Prama Foundation, President Muroni, and the professionals who work every day to highlight, study, and deepen the immense archaeological and cultural heritage of Sardinia,” said Stefano Melis, General Director of Cagliari Calcio. “We are in the midst of a long-lasting journey that, at every opportunity, brings new emotions. Like those of this weekend in Turin, where last season we experienced decisive moments. Today we are visiting another important setting during our trip. Turin is a key hub for our fans outside the island, and so the combination of culture, sport, and Sardinia is even more successful.”
“Playing in Juventus’ home always brings to mind a new, cutting-edge stadium that meets the current standards of top-level sports. That’s why, as we are thrilled to continue this journey for a third season, acting as amplifiers for Sardinian excellence, we also express the hope of one day hosting the Giants and other fundamental symbols of our magnificent history in the museum space of the new Cagliari stadium. We hope to take the last few but decisive steps on the road to the new stadium. Our goal is to build it as soon as possible, successfully completing the final stages with the institutions, partners, and relevant authorities to realize a project that has never been so close.”
“We are happy to be able to showcase and discuss the cultural heritage of ancient Sardinia,” said Elisa Panero, Director of the Antiquities Museum. “This year we are celebrating the three-hundredth anniversary of our institution, and it’s very interesting to think that shortly after its founding, the first Sardinian artifacts arrived here. For us,” Panero continued, “this is a very important opportunity to also highlight what Sardinian treasures we can preserve in our museum.”
Anthony Muroni, President of the Mont’e Prama Foundation, highlighted the Foundation’s commitment to promoting Sardinian archaeological heritage on the mainland, “thanks to the collaboration with Cagliari Calcio and FASI.” “After the MAXXI in Rome, the Uffizi in Florence, the Aquileia Park, the Triennale in Milan, the MAN in Naples, and the archaeological site of Pompeii,” Muroni emphasized, “another important cultural venue in Italy, such as the Royal Palace, is hosting one of our events. On the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of the Giants,” said the Foundation’s president, “the appointment in Turin was essential to introduce the Sinis Natural Archaeological Park.” “We are honored to be able to do this in such an important museum, in front of the many curious visitors and the many Sardinians living in Piedmont, who always show us great support.”
“Piedmont has around 10,000 members in Sardinian clubs,” said Bastianino Mossa, President of FASI. “For us, this is another important opportunity to showcase Sardinia’s cultural heritage to the many potential visitors to our island, as well as to the many Sardinians living on the mainland who are ambassadors of Sardinia.”
The conference then moved into its core with a presentation by Elisa Panero, Director of the Antiquities Museum at the Royal Museums, titled “The Sardinian Collections at the Royal Museums.” Following her, Attilio Mastino, archaeologist and former rector of the University of Sassari, spoke on “Hampsicora, the Punics, Sardinians, and Romans in Turin.”Giorgio Murru, Director of the Scientific Area at the Foundation, gave a talk on “The Giants Before the Giants,” a journey into the world of Sardinian archaeology, accompanied by images from Nicola Castangia. The event concluded with “The Myth of the Golds of Tharros,” presented by Ilaria Orri, curator of the Tharros archaeological site and archaeologist at the Foundation.
The two-day event organized by the Foundation in Turin began with participation in the event organized by the Sardinian Club of Nichelino, which, together with FASI, hosted an exhibition of island products, Sardinian art, and a photographic display dedicated to the Mont’e Prama Giants at one of the city’s largest shopping centers.
