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.EMPIRE - CONFLICT - MYTH
2000 years after the Varus Battle
Special exhibitions are planned in Haltern, Kalkriese and Detmold
In 2009, two thousand years will have past since the Varus Battle ended, in a devastating defeat of the Roman Army in the remote region Germania, according to Roman authors. The exact date is not known. However, the Varus Battle in 9 AD was a turning point in European history. Due to the course of events and its historical background, its research and multifaceted ramifications, it is even today - and especially after 2000 years - an event which enables people to comprehend the past and thus the present.
The programme will be just as multifaceted.
The "VARUSSCHLACHT im Osnabrücker Land GmbH" is planning three special exhibitions in order to show the collaborative project “EMPIRE CONFLICT MYTH - 2000 years Varus Battle” as museum exhibitions. For this purpose, the “VARUSSCHLACHT im Osnabrücker Land GmbH” co-operates with the “Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (Römermuseum Haltern)“, the “Landesverband Lippe“ and the “Kreis Lippe (Lippisches Landesmuseum Detmold)“.
Each of these three museums involved will focus on one of the three aspects “Empire”, “Conflict” and “Myth” in their exhibitions. Thematic correlations will be made between the other special exhibitions.
In the context of this co-operation, the "VARUSSCHLACHT im Osnabrücker Land – Museum und Park Kalkriese" would like to contribute two exhibitions: A permanent exhibition in the new museum opened in 2002 and an additional special exhibition which specifically focuses on the aspect “Conflict” named in the title of the project.
The permanent exhibition in the Museum Kalkriese is dedicated to the main theme of the year and the site - the “Varus Battle”. Archaeological and multidisciplinary research have been conducted in Kalkriese for two decades. The new exhibition will therefore summarise and present the scientific conclusions. These will be displayed in the historical context. Special attention is paid to the ongoing research.
The special exhibition will present finds from all over Europe which describe the people’s lives in the northern part of Central Europe from the pre-Roman Iron Age to the Migration Period. Were the “old Germanic tribesmen” really as fierce and barbaric, as they were later described? On the basis of archaeological finds and historic records, the special exhibition will debate the causes, the course of events and the consequences of conflicts and wars in the ancient world.
The patrons of this remarkable and transregional co-operation of three museums titled “EMPIRE CONFLICT MYTH - 2000 Years Varus Battle” are prominent figures:
Dr. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany
Prof. Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament
Christian Wulff, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony
Dr. Jürgen Rüttgers, Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia
In addition to the exhibition project “EMPIRE CONFLICT MYTH – 2000 Years Varus Battle” and to the permanent exhibition as well as to the special exhibition, exciting presentations and numerous activities are planned in the Museum and Park Kalkriese, in the city and Rural District of Osnabrück: A scientific conference, an international archaeological youth camp, music, theatre, presentations, theme days on history where everyone can participate and other special offers – come and see what's on. You’ll be surprised. Join in!