Virtual Jerusalem
From 20 August to 15 September 2024, visitors to the Bibelhaus Erlebnismuseum (BIMU) in Frankfurt will experience the holy city of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus in virtual reality. In the special exhibition ‘Virtual Jerusalem - Coins in the Jerusalem Temple 2000 years ago in virtual reality’, they will travel back in time to the Temple of Herod.
Ancient coins from the original Classical Archaeology Collection at the University of Tübingen complement the virtual show. Beyond the core period of the complete exhibition, the virtual show with VR glasses can be seen in the Bibelhaus until 30 November. The accompanying programme includes guided tours, lectures and workshops. For the current streaming series ‘Those About To Die’, special guided tours provide historical background from the ancient world.
Museum visitors can immerse themselves in the virtual reality of Jesus’ time. Through interactions with avatars and 3D models of ancient coins, they experience the handling of money in the temple. Using the latest technology in virtual reality, visitors can walk through the Herodian Temple. It is one of the most impressive buildings in the ancient Mediterranean world. VR goggles enable a three-dimensional experience. Due to the expected high number of visitors, the BIMU would ask you to book your visit during opening hours by emailing or calling 069/664265-25.
Accompanying programme
With original exhibits from the Holy Land, guided tours show the historical connection between the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple and the Colloseum in Rome. The starting point is the series ‘Those About To Die’. In it, blockbuster director Roland Emmerich deals with the brutal business of the Roman circus games almost 2000 years ago.
Another highlight in the accompanying programme is an expert guided tour on Thursday, 3 October at 4 pm with Michael Tilly, Professor of New Testament and Ancient Judaism at the Protestant Theological Faculty of the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. On the Day of German Unity, the focus will be on the roots of anti-Semitism 2000 years ago. Further expert tours and an open day at the Frankfurt Museumsuferfest on 25 and 26 August will also offer deeper insights into the special exhibition.
The BIMU is showing the exhibition in cooperation with the Museum of the University of Tübingen (MUT). It was developed in the university’s Collaborative Research Centre 1391 ‘Other Aesthetics’ in collaboration with the Tübingen Digital Humanities Centre. The German Research Foundation funded the project. The team included Professor Dr Stefan Krmnicek from the Institute of Classical Archaeology, computer scientist Kevin Körner and theologians Michael Tilly and Jakob Trugenberger. Based on the ‘ExPresS-XR’ software from the developer Dreiling, the findings on the Herodian Temple, which was destroyed in 70 AD, were implemented.
Trailer: Temple tax and pigeons
Explore the ancient temple in full size with the help of virtual reality. Experience the everyday life of the people who visited it and learn more about money and religion in antiquity. A trailer shows what visitors can expect in the Bible House.
