“Behold, it’s the Hungarian Pompeii!” reads the sign at the museum that was opened in 1894 to house the discoveries of this ancient city that served as the home to the Celtic tribes and subsequently the Roman Empire. Thankfully not destroyed by a volcano (unlike Pompeii), the artifacts and structures of this city are still well-preserved among the ruins (akin to Pompeii!). With support from the European Union in 2012, the museum broadened and upgraded its facilities, now featuring bigger permanent and long-term exhibitions.

One of the most renowned artifacts from the museum has to be the Aquincum Organ, and it has been on display at the museum on-and-off since 2007. It was presented by a high-ranking official of the town to the collegium (association) of textile-dealers in 228CE, making it a remarkable ancient antique. In the 3rd century CE, as a fire ravaged through the city, the organ fell and got trapped in the basement of the house it was kept in, and only rediscovered in 1931 by archaeologists who found over 400 of its pieces, an amazing discovery for something so old. Sadly, in the Second World War, more pieces were lost but the 300 or so pieces that remained have been kept safely for the future generations at the museum. There are many other collections of things from the Roman empire, including coins, wooden artifacts, mosaic, and even animal bones from that era!

The museum has an outdoor section as well. Standing on the site of the huge excavation, it is no surprise that the archaeological ruins span one-third the size of the historical city itself and thus, there is no question of having to feature it! Though they might be ruins, you’re still able to observe the general outline of the city between the remainders of the aqueduct, amphitheatre and city walls. We can even see how there were various commercial city districts, even from a city almost 2,000 years old! Visiting the ruins, and the nearby replica of a Roman residential building, really transports you back in time to discover how people lived in Aquincum.