28.3 Lecture on the ”Grotto of Tiberius” at Sperlonga, Rebecca Levitan

Colorfu illustration of a Roman grotto

Tuesday 28 March 2023 at 6 pm
Villa Lante al Gianicolo

Exploring the Natural, Artificial, and Monstrous in the ”Grotto of Tiberius” at Sperlonga

Rebecca Levitan, PhD
University of California, Berkeley

Revisiting the so-called “Grotto of Tiberius” – an ancient cave decorated in the Roman period with sculptures depicting scenes from the Iliad and Odyssey – this talk will survey the site’s history, results of previous excavations, and current research and digital documentation. Focus will fall on the juxtaposition of natural and artificial elements in the Grotto to create a unique display environment for the the sculptural program.

Rebecca Levitan is currently finishing her PhD in the History of Art Department at the University of California, Berkeley, where she studies the art and architecture of the ancient Mediterranean world. Her research centres around Greek sculpture, as well as the reception of classical antiquity in Europe and the United States. She has excavated and surveyed in Greece (American excavations at the Athenian Agora, Sanctuary of the Great Gods, Samothrace, Small Cycladic Islands Project) and Italy (Gabii Project, Pompeii Archaeological Research Project: Porta Stabia). She received her BA in Art History from Emory University and her M.Litt in Ancient History from the University of St. Andrews. She is currently the inaugural Simon Keay Fellow at the British School in Rome.

To attend this lecture, please fill out the registration form.