Building an Empire

From World Heritage sites to lesser-known monuments, Building an Empire invites visitors to explore the urban planning and architecture of Roman cities, revealing both their shared features and distinctive identities.

A common urban language. This family-friendly digital exhibition invites visitors of all ages to journey through seven celebrated archaeological sites of the Roman world : Pompeii (Italy), Aphrodisias (Turkey), Garni (Armenia), Palmyra (Syria), Leptis Magna (Libya), Carthage (Tunisia), and Baelo Claudia (Spain). This urban sample, drawn from the shores of the Mediterranean, aims to shine a light on the similarities and differences among these Roman worlds.

Behind the scenes of a world power. The exhibition reveals how Roman cities flourished, colonising and adapting  customs, beliefs, and craftsmanship of local communities into a shared architectural language. Using maps and infographics, it presents the strategies that made this vast urban expansion possible, as well as the physical structures that underpinned the once seemingly boundless power of the Roman Empire. 

Family fun. Families wander through giant projections of streets, temples, ampitheatres, and public squares in a vivid digital environment. The exhibition ends with a hands-on room, featuring a world-building game using a 3D printed figurine kit that visitors can take home, as well as a photo opportunity, complete with Roman costumes and a backdrop of a heritage site of their choice. 

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Threatened throughout history by looting, urbanization, mass tourism, armed conflicts and climate change, cultural heritage is in peril, and there is an urgent need to document it.

Founded in 2013, Iconem is a French technology company specializing in the digitization of endangered heritage around the world. Working closely with local experts and authorities, we combine digital technologies with heritage expertise to create large-scale 3D models of historic sites, as well as provide professional training to support conservation efforts. To raise awareness amongst general audiences, Iconem creates audiovisual content and exhibitions, inviting visitors on immersive journeys through exceptional heritage around the world.