REGINA VIARUM 2023

A view of the Almone River in the Regional Park of the Appian Way. The Almone was the third most important watercourse in Ancient Rome, originating from a spring in the Alban Hills near Marino. Enriched by the waters of the Fonte Egeria, it flowed into the Tiber on the Ostian shore. Ovid tells of a solemn ceremony related to the river that took place every year on March 27th, starting from 205 B.C., called “Mavatio matris deum”. During this ceremony, at the point where the Almone joined the Tiber, the black stone symbolizing the goddess Cybele (Magna Mater) and the sacred objects from her temple on the Palatine Hill were washed.

Note: The text above was written by the Artist. No modification was made by COCA.

Matteo Bastianelli

Italy

https://www.matteobastianelli.com/

Matteo Bastianelli (b. 1985) is a documentary photographer and filmmaker based in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Italy. Above all he works on personal projects and commissions related to social, environmental and human rights issues with a keen interest in the themes of memory, identity, inclusion and sustainability. His photographic and film projects have been regularly published and commissioned by some of the most important media outlet worldwide, such as Al Jazeera, CNN, Internazionale, The New York Times, National Geographic, The Guardian, Voice of America, Washington Post. A selection of Bastianelli’s accolades includes National Geographic Society’s Covid-19 Emergency Fund for Journalists, Emerging Talent Award at Reportage by Getty Images, American Photography Awards, PDN’s Photo Annual, Canon Young Photographers’ Award, among others. His projects have been widely shown in group and solo exhibitions and screenings around the world.