How did people live in ancient times, when the sun had gone out and we found ourselves indoors in houses, public buildings or places of pleasure?

With our cities dazzling us with artificial light, how can we imagine that our predecessors could have lived, loved, laughed, worked, celebrated or gone to the theatre without the help of electric bulbs, multicoloured spotlights, chandeliers, neon or halogen lights, but lit by small flames comparable to those of our candles or, at most, by torches or candelabras that were a little brighter?

This exhibition was subsequently hosted by the Historical Museum in Olten (3 June to 17 October 2004) and the Roman Museum in Avenches (13 May to 2 October 2005).

A publication has been produced to accompany the exhibition.