The Power of Fashion in the Roman Empire

In autumn 2026 the Glyptotek opens the largest special exhibition on antiquity in the history of the museum.

At a time when fashion and staging the self demand more attention than ever, antiquity opens new perspectives on the ways – then and now – we view ourselves and each other.

The exhibition The Power of Fashion in the Roman Empire is based on the museum’s extensive research on the colours, dress, jewellery, perfumes and fashion of the ancient world. This ambitious special exhibition, extending over more than 1,000 m2 is a first in Denmark and internationally. Fashion and identity are closely linked. Our clothing can be read as a language that communicates our identity – gender, age, cultural background and social status, as well as political and at times religious affiliations. Whether we are conscious of it or not, we communicate our identities to others through our clothing, just as we ‘read’ other people on the basis of what they wear. This is also the way it was in ancient Rome. Most of the fabrics of antiquity have sadly been lost to time, but we still have marble and bronze sculptures portraying men and women in different forms of dress. What stories are hidden within the folds of their garments when we see them with contemporary eyes? And what do they reveal about identities in antiquity – and fashion today? Antiquity continues to be relevant. Then as now we see clothing, fashion and the way we look as a means to signal identity, status and power, and the sculptures remind us that staging the self is far from a new phenomenon.

Visualisation of what the statue of Emperor Tiberius would have looked like when it was still painted.

Accessibility

Please note that, due to stairs, this temporary exhibition is unfortunately not accessible to wheelchair users or visitors with significant reduced mobility.

Drawing in the exhibition

Please note that drawing is not permitted in the special exhibition The Power of Fashion in the Roman Empire.

Read Drawing Regulations for the Glyptotek.

The exhibition is generously supported by

Augustinus Fonden

Aage og Johanne Louis-Hansens Fond

Beckett-Fonden

Dronning Margrethe II’s Arkæologiske Fond

Ernst B. Sund Fonden

Jorck’s Fond

Knud Højgaards Fond

Landsdommer V. Gieses Legat

Lillian og Dan Finks Fond

Manufakturhandlerforeningen I Kjøbenhavns Almene Fond

Nationalbankens Jubilæumsfond

Ny Carlsbergfondet

Toyota-Fonden

Sponsorship

Arper

Ege Carpets

Jotun

Karmameju Skincare

Kvadrat

Ramsing & co.

Power of fashion — Photo: Anders Sune Berg

Særudstilling power of fashion — Photo: Anders Sune Berg

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Exhibition Opening: The Power of Fashion in the Roman Empire

The Glyptotek of the Future

The Power of Fashion in the Roman Empire

In autumn 2026 the Glyptotek opens the largest special exhibition on antiquity in the history of the museum.

Visualisation of what the statue of Emperor Tiberius would have looked like when it was still painted.

Accessibility

Drawing in the exhibition

The exhibition is generously supported by

Sponsorship

Photo: Anders Sune Berg

Photo: Anders Sune Berg

Buy ticket or season ticket

The Power of Fashion in the Roman Empire

Visualisation of what the statue of Emperor Tiberius would have looked like when it was still painted.

Photo: Anders Sune Berg

Photo: Anders Sune Berg

Buy ticket or season ticket