On Thursday, 18 June 2026 at 8:30 PM, the Archaeological Museum in Split will open the exhibition DELMATI – Between Myth and Reality, one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year.
For the first time: the complete story. For the first time: newly discovered finds on display.
Before the Romans. Before modern borders. Before Dalmatia became what we know today, there was a people whose name still lives on in the name of the entire region. Stubborn, resilient and fiercely independent. Sound familiar?
The Delmati were the people who gave Dalmatia its name. For centuries they shaped the landscape between the Adriatic coast and the mountainous hinterland. History often remembers them as warriors and determined opponents of Rome, but who were the people who lived here more than three thousand years ago?
Although the entire region still bears their name, the story of the Delmati has remained scattered across archaeological sites, museum collections and academic publications. For the first time, the exhibition DELMATI – Between Myth and Reality brings this knowledge together into a single narrative, offering the most comprehensive insight yet into the people who left a lasting mark on the history of Dalmatia.
The exhibition presents more than 400 artefacts from Croatian and international museums and institutions. Among the highlights are objects never before shown to the public. At the same time, the exhibition raises as many questions as it answers. Who were the Delmati really? How did they understand the world around them? How much remains to be discovered about this remarkable people? More than a journey into the past, the exhibition is an invitation to continue exploring one of the most fascinating chapters of Adriatic history.
The Delmati Take Over the Archaeological Museum in Split
DELMATI – Between Myth and Reality is much more than a display of archaeological artefacts. Visitors will step into the world of the Delmati through a specially designed exhibition environment currently being built inside the Archaeological Museum in Split. Monumental installations, immersive reconstructions and carefully crafted interpretive elements will transport visitors into the daily life, beliefs and worldview of the people who gave Dalmatia its name.
The Mysteries of the Cetina River
For the Delmati, the Cetina River was far more than a source of water or an important route through the landscape. Numerous objects recovered from its depths suggest that it played a special role in their spiritual life. Why were valuable objects deposited in the river? Were they offerings, vows, ritual gifts or something else entirely? This section of the exhibition opens some of the most intriguing questions about the Delmati and their beliefs.
More Than a Century of Resistance to Rome
While Rome was conquering much of the known world, the Delmati resisted for more than a century. How did a people without large cities or a powerful state challenge one of the greatest military powers in history for so long? Through archaeological evidence, historical sources and interpretations, visitors will discover why the Delmati became known as some of Rome's most persistent opponents.
Gods, Beliefs and Hidden Stories
The Delmati were not only warriors and herders. They also possessed a rich spiritual world that shaped their relationship with nature, landscape and everyday life. One of the exhibition's most captivating sections explores their beliefs and deities. Visitors can also expect a special surprise awaiting them in the museum lapidarium. Yet beyond its impressive appearance lies a story that reveals much about how the Delmati understood the forces that governed their world. This section of the exhibition explores what Delmatian gods can tell us about the people who worshipped them and the world they inhabited.
For Those Who Want to Discover More
The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue of more than 300 pages. Far more than a traditional exhibition publication, it offers an in-depth exploration of the Delmati, bringing together years of research and interpretation into a lasting reference work for anyone interested in archaeology, ancient history and the origins of Dalmatia.
A Team of Leading Experts Brings the Delmati Story to Life
The exhibition is the result of collaboration between leading experts from museums, universities and research institutions in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The authors are Stipan Dilber (Franciscan Museum Tomislavgrad), Marko Dizdar (Institute of Archaeology), Darija Domazet (Museum of the Cetina Region, Sinj), Sanja Ivčević (Archaeological Museum in Split), Marta Kalebota (Archaeological Museum in Split), Ana Marić (National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Marija Marić Baković (Franciscan Museum and Gallery Gorica), Vesna Matić (Archaeological Museum in Split), Lujana Paraman (Trogir Town Museum), Hrvoje Potrebica (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb), Ivan Šuta (Kaštela City Museum), Nino Švonja (Archaeological Museum in Split), Domagoj Tončinić (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb), and Marina Ugarković (Institute of Archaeology). The exhibition is curated by Marta Kalebota, Senior Curator at the Archaeological Museum in Split.
An Opening Not to Be Missed
The name of this people still defines an entire region. Yet their story has never before been told in this way. DELMATI – Between Myth and Reality invites you to step into the world of the people who gave Dalmatia its name and shaped the history of the eastern Adriatic.
Opening Ceremony
Thursday, 18 June 2026 at 8:30 PM at the Archaeological Museum in Split (Zrinsko-Frankopanska 25, Split).
Admission to the opening event is free.