Read the sky

Under the stars in the Mediterranean

Affiche Hervé Di Rosa
Discussion sur la réforme du calendrier sous le pape Grégoire XIII (1502-85) pour remplacer le calendrier julien (détail), Rome, 15 octobre 1582. Huile sur panneau © Archivio di Stato, Sienne, Italie, photo Luca Betti

Bande annonce de l'exposition « Lire le ciel - Sous les étoiles en Méditerranée »

09_Johannes Vermeer, L Astronome, ou L Astrologue, 1668 © GrandPalaisRmn (musee du Louvre), F Raux
09_Johannes Vermeer, L Astronome, ou L Astrologue, 1668 © GrandPalaisRmn (musee du Louvre), F Raux
Lire le ciel, Mucem, scénographie agence Nathalie Crinière, Juillet 2025 © Nadine Jestin - Hans Lucas - Mucem
Lire le ciel, Mucem, scénographie agence Nathalie Crinière, Juillet 2025 © Nadine Jestin - Hans Lucas - Mucem

From the Moon to the Shepherd Star, from the Big Dipper constellation to Saturn's rings, the celestial vault and the stars that inhabit it are the object of immense fascination.

The “Reading the Sky” exhibition focuses on the understanding of the night sky in the Mediterranean, as seen from Earth. From the first surveys of the ancient Mesopotamian sky to the vogue for contemporary astrology, via medieval Arab-Muslim astronomy and the Galilean revolution, the societies of the Mediterranean basin have referred to the stars to situate themselves in the cosmos and organize their lives on Earth. Knowledge and beliefs circulated between the two shores, creating a common culture of the sky that still nourishes our contemporary approach to the stars.

Interview with exhibition curators Juliette Bessette and Enguerrand Lascols

Through this dialogue between the arts and sciences, the exhibition aims to question our current relationship with the starry sky. Since ancient times, observing the regularity of the stars has been used to organize daily life, for example, to find one’s way around or to draw up a calendar. Celestial phenomena are also interpreted as signs that have an influence on daily life: phases of the Moon, comet transits, movements of the planets in front of the constellations, and so on. This link between the macrocosm and the microcosm has played a role in the management of states and governments, and in the study of individual behavior, as astronomy and astrology have long worked hand in hand.

While modern astronomy has helped to challenge many of these beliefs, popular culture continues to weave an intimate bond with the stars, seeing the sky as a medium for projecting its deepest questions. Today, as the stars fade away under the light pollution of our cities, we continue to search for the constellations with our eyes, to contemplate the beauty of the starry sky and to think about our relationship with the environment.

“Reading the Sky” presents exceptional works of art and everyday objects that bear witness to this history, set against contemporary works of art that respond to them. In a transdisciplinary approach dear to the Mucem, the exhibition combines archaeological, scientific and ethnographic objects with works of art, manuscripts and oral heritage. It features more than one hundred works from the Mucem’s collections, and benefits from over two hundred loans from national, regional and international collections.

From the Moon to the Shepherd Star, from the Big Dipper constellation to Saturn's rings, the celestial vault and the stars that inhabit it are the object of immense fascination.

Discussion sur la réforme du calendrier sous le pape Grégoire XIII (1502-85) pour remplacer le calendrier julien (détail), Rome, 15 octobre 1582. Huile sur panneau © Archivio di Stato, Sienne, Italie, photo Luca Betti

The “Reading the Sky” exhibition focuses on the understanding of the night sky in the Mediterranean, as seen from Earth. From the first surveys of the ancient Mesopotamian sky to the vogue for contemporary astrology, via medieval Arab-Muslim astronomy and the Galilean revolution, the societies of the Mediterranean basin have referred to the stars to situate themselves in the cosmos and organize their lives on Earth. Knowledge and beliefs circulated between the two shores, creating a common culture of the sky that still nourishes our contemporary approach to the stars.

Bande annonce de l'exposition « Lire le ciel - Sous les étoiles en Méditerranée »

Interview with exhibition curators Juliette Bessette and Enguerrand Lascols

09_Johannes Vermeer, L Astronome, ou L Astrologue, 1668 © GrandPalaisRmn (musee du Louvre), F Raux
09_Johannes Vermeer, L Astronome, ou L Astrologue, 1668 © GrandPalaisRmn (musee du Louvre), F Raux

Through this dialogue between the arts and sciences, the exhibition aims to question our current relationship with the starry sky. Since ancient times, observing the regularity of the stars has been used to organize daily life, for example, to find one’s way around or to draw up a calendar. Celestial phenomena are also interpreted as signs that have an influence on daily life: phases of the Moon, comet transits, movements of the planets in front of the constellations, and so on. This link between the macrocosm and the microcosm has played a role in the management of states and governments, and in the study of individual behavior, as astronomy and astrology have long worked hand in hand.

While modern astronomy has helped to challenge many of these beliefs, popular culture continues to weave an intimate bond with the stars, seeing the sky as a medium for projecting its deepest questions. Today, as the stars fade away under the light pollution of our cities, we continue to search for the constellations with our eyes, to contemplate the beauty of the starry sky and to think about our relationship with the environment.

Lire le ciel, Mucem, scénographie agence Nathalie Crinière, Juillet 2025 © Nadine Jestin - Hans Lucas - Mucem
Lire le ciel, Mucem, scénographie agence Nathalie Crinière, Juillet 2025 © Nadine Jestin - Hans Lucas - Mucem

“Reading the Sky” presents exceptional works of art and everyday objects that bear witness to this history, set against contemporary works of art that respond to them. In a transdisciplinary approach dear to the Mucem, the exhibition combines archaeological, scientific and ethnographic objects with works of art, manuscripts and oral heritage. It features more than one hundred works from the Mucem’s collections, and benefits from over two hundred loans from national, regional and international collections.

Related activities or events

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Free of charge

Open house for the "Reading the Sky" exhibition

Open House
Get a free preview of the “Reading the Sky” exhibition at this exceptional (and fancy-dress!) open house. Don’t hesitate to dress up in your best starry-night costumes to become the star of Orchestar Karaoke, before dancing under the stars to Pola Facettes’ DJ set. No masquerade costume to hand? Make-up and costume stands will make you glow in the dark!  

Stars in the eyes

Young Audiences -Guided Tour
Storytelling tour in conjunction with the exhibition “Lire le ciel, Sous les étoiles en Méditerranée” (Reading the sky, under the stars in the Mediterranean) for ages 4 and up This tour plunges us into the mysteries of the sky through myths, tales and astrological stories… You’ll come away with stars in your eyes!  
Free of charge

Flash Tours

Guided Tour
All summer long, our guides offer you free flash visits, without reservation, to discover the exhibitions of the Mucem in a different way. The summer program in detail : Mediterranean July 5, 6, 7 and 9, 2 to 4 p.m. July 10 to August 31 (except Tuesdays), 3 to 4 p.m. Read the sky July 10 to August 31 (except Tuesdays), 2 to 3 p.m. Hervé Di Rosa July 5, 6, 7 and 9, 2pm to 4pm (after Méditerranées) July 26 to August 17 (except Tuesdays), 2 to 3 p.m. Architecture July 26 to...
Free of charge
Les contes des étoiles

Tales from the stars

Under the stars

Young Audiences -Guided Tour
Flash visits, from 4 years and up Duration: 15-20 minutes Meet the guides in the exhibition room “Reading the sky. Under the stars in the Mediterranean” Using the works in the exhibition as a starting point, the museum guides invite you to delve into the mystery of the sky, through stories that will enthrall young and old alike! Set design throughout the week with Aérosculptures.
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