the Origins of Rome
The origins of Rome are the stuff of legend and prehistoric archaeological work. Today we look for a balance between the stories the Romans themes told and what we learn from new excavations and the scientific analysis of older discoveries. Below is a detail of a wolf from a coin of 77 BCE.
Readings
Claridge: Villa Giulia sections, First sections of Historical Overview (stop at 2nd cent BCE), supplemental readings on myth of Rome’s foundations; Alive! chapter 1: The site and Foundation of Rome; review food and drink and eating out sections of CultureSmart! in chapter 5 and read chapter 4.
Logistics
We will become familiar with riding public transportation as we make our way to a gorgeous museum in a historic villa and gardens.
Afterwards we share a meal together to experience restaurant culture!
THemes
What survives and why? How does the Museum try to help us imagine the past? How do we use later texts to interpret older images? What makes something sacred? Why so much terracotta?
Blog Prompt
What seemed especially old and what seemed surprisingly modern? Was there one myth or god or symbol you kept seeing? Why do you think it was so ‘popular’? As you moved through the city on your own did any of the same style of architecture or images re occur? Where and when?
Gallery
Rome via Brooklyn 