Phoenix VR

The Giessen Collection of Classical Antiquities received a prestigious architectural setting when it was relocated to the new Ludoviciana University building at Ludwigstraße 23, which opened in 1880. Together with the Institute of Archaeology, the collection occupied the foyer and two windowed halls at the front of the building, covering over 300 square meters. The display of archaeological objects attracted both university members and external visitors. The collection of original ancient artifacts, which is still on display at the Oberhessisches Museum today, was supplemented by an extensive collection of plaster casts of ancient statues, used not only in teaching but also for drawing courses.

During the building's remodeling in 1940, the plaster cast collection was relocated to a "sculpture hall" above the newly constructed vestibule leading to the main assembly hall. The statues, prominently displayed on the first floor, were visible from the foyer through five large wall openings. Larger-than-life casts of the "Venus Townley" and "Ares Borghese" statues welcomed visitors to the left and right of the two staircases, guiding them to the collection. This is where the plaster casts were located when the building was extensively destroyed during the air raid on Giessen on December 6, 1944—a date whose 80th anniversary will be commemorated in 2024. Today, the university building's architectural framework has been rebuilt, and the original collection has been preserved thanks to timely relocation, but only small remnants of the once-extensive plaster cast collection remain.

The "Phoenix VR" project, led by the Classical Archaeology Department at JLU Giessen, aims to reconstruct the lost collection in its original arrangement in virtual space using 3D models. This project will allow students and visitors to experience the plaster cast collection and its original impact, and it will be incorporated into exhibitions, teaching, and research.

Contact: Dr. Michaela Stark und Dr. Claudia Schmieder