With the conquests of the Roman Republic at the end of the 2nd century and throughout the 1st century BCE works of Greek art began to flow to Rome and Italy as spoils from the Mediterranean. The victorious chiefs wanted to celebrate their triumphs and decorate the city.
Works of art were placed in temples, porticoes and basilicas, which over time were transformed into great museums of Greek art. In this way, for example, Athena Phidias, Zeus Myron, Aphrodite and Ares Skopas, or the Granikos Lysippus Monument were transported.
With time, the desire to possess great Greek works moved from the public to the private sphere. Famous Roman families began to massively apply for all works of Greek culture in order to beautify their possessions at the same time. This is how the passion for collecting was born among the Roman elite.
