Baglio Anselmi Museum
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BAGLIO ANSELMI MUSEUM

Today it is the seat of the Regional Archaeological Museum.  As late as the last century it was used as a wine production factory, and was included in the Lilybeum Archaegological Park.

In 1986 it was chosen to exhibit the wreck of a Punic ship, numerous archaeological findings from the 2nd and 1st century B.C. until the 1st century A.D. , and an extraordinary collection of amphoras that testifies the lively activity at Marsala sea.
VENUS CALLIPYGIA
(a cross between marble and dream)

I’ve waited two thousand years to find you.
I’ll wait another two thousand years.
I will keep on searching for your soul,
if you have a soul,
to pour in my breath
then perhaps you’ll be mine for all time.

VENUS

The statue was found in the archaeological site east of St. John the Baptist’s Church at Boeo Cape in January 2005 by the Service for Archaelogical Heritage of Trapani Regional Board of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Environmental Conservation in the framework of a project of area improvement and stratigraphic survey of the territory.

The marble acephalous female statue is that of Venus of the Aphrodite Callipygia type, the goddess with beautiful buttocks,  and was probably 1.70-metre high.  The Greek marble, of a medium grain, perhaps comes from the Cyclades, and is rich in crystals.

The sculpture represents a naked female figure with tightly draped clothes revealing her buttocks.

Venus Callipygia reminds of the famous Landolina Venus of Syracuse.  It could be a Roman copy dated between the 1st and 2nd century A.D.  probably attributable to the Rhodes-Asian school.

 Lilybeum Aphrodite bears the same characteristics as the goddess adored in Syracuse. 
Here, according to Atheneus’ accounts (XII, 5, 5,4), a temple devoted to Aphrodite Callipygia was built.

PUNIC SHIP

You ploughed the blue sea intrepid.
You took on tempest and storm.

You’ve come to us through distant ages.
You’ve come up from the depths of sea
a veritable marvel for our eyes.

Safe from the winds
you lie now in a museum
in posterity for those to come.

PUNIC SHIP

The Punic ship was found during a campaign  under Archaeologist Honor Frost’s guidance in the portion of sea towards Isola Lunga (Long Island) dello Stagnone.  However, earlier than 1969 Diego Bonini a dredge Captain, while picking up sand from the sea bottom in that area, noticed pieces and fragments of ancient wood. 
Coordinated by the Regional Board of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Environmental Conservation, the underwater research was started and the prow and poop of the ship were found.  In 1971 the rescue operation was assigned to Ms. Frost.

The wreckage seems to date back to the middle of the 2nd century B.C. during the Egadi Islands battle that in 241 B.C. concluded the first Punic war.
Baglio Anselmi - open
Venus Callipygia - open
Punic ship - open
Punic ship - open
Collection of amphoras - open