The babble of students’ voices in the break between lectures fills the entrance area of the building at Hallerstrasse 12. Passing the crowd, heading two floors down, the voices become more muted and give way to a quiet hum. I’m entering the realm of Josy Luginbühl, curator of the Collection of Classical Antiquities, which belongs to the Institute of Archaeological Sciences at the University of Bern. A special place in the middle of Bern, featuring plaster casts of statues whose originals are exhibited in various European museums.

A space that lets ancient art shine in a whole new light

Anyone entering the Collection of Classical Antiquities immediately notices the industrial feel of the room, which was once used as a storage room by Kümmerly & Frey, a publisher of maps. On the high ceilings, colorful pipes can be seen, which accentuate the charm of the converted industrial building. Plaster casts of statues that are thousands of years old stand on limestone bases and Euro pallets, which are immersed in a cool light by neon tubes. In contrast to the modern design, the sculptures convey an atmosphere of bygone eras. The casts have been located in Bern since 1806, initially moving around from place to place and then finding their present home in the basement of the university building in 1994.

A tour of the collection takes us chronologically through the ancient world: from archaic, classical and Hellenistic times to Roman times. Josy Luginbühl’s gaze immediately falls on the two blue armchairs that have been moved since her last visit – an indication that drawing students were here recently. This is exactly what the collection was originally created for: for drawing lessons. Today, it is mainly used for academic teaching. The three-dimensional statues that are true to their original size offer an insight into art that cannot be taught through photos and books. “You simply experience them differently,” Josy Luginbühl says. If you wanted to view the statues in this form, you might have to travel a long way.

The hermaphrodite: a fusion of the sexes

One special exhibit in the collection is the statue of the hermaphrodite. At first it seems that a woman is resting on the specially made pedestal. But on closer inspection, the male side of the sculpture becomes visible. The two-sex statue dates from the Hellenistic period and is not only artistically fascinating, but has also been on an exciting journey. The original was once situated in Rome before it went to Paris, where the cast was produced. The hermaphrodite was one of the first plaster casts to find its way to Bern more than 200 years ago.

The plaster casts are more than just copies of statues. “Sometimes the copy is what preserves the original,” says Josy Luginbühl. Many originals no longer exist today in their original form but can still be experienced by visitors thanks to the plaster casts. The collection is not just accessible to students but also to the general public and today forms an important part of the Institute of Archaeological Sciences at the University of Bern. Regular events fill the room with life again and again and put the ancient treasures into a modern context.