Worcester Archaeology Lecture Focus

On Late Roman Mansions April 15

WORCESTER ARCHAEOLOGY LECTURE FOCUS ON LATE ROMAN MANSIONS APRIL 15

AVV 208 #687877

WORCESTER, MASS. — The Worcester Art Museum will present an Archeological Institute of America (AIA) Lecture Series, “Living it Up in the Late Roman World: The Country Mansions of the Mega-Rich” on Sunday, April 15, at 3 pm. Dr Roger Wilson, Professor and Head, Classical, Near Eastern and Religious Studies, University of British Columbia, will present the lecture.

The country villas of the late Roman aristocracy gives insights into the lifestyles of the super-rich as well as their taste and preferences in the interior décor of their mansions. This lecture will begin with a review of some of the characteristics of Roman Imperial country retreats at the beginning of the Fourth Century — not only the well-known “villa” of Diocletian at Split, but also more recent discoveries such as the estate of Galerius at Gamzigrad in Serbia and the suburban palace of Maximian at Cordoba in Spain.

Architectural links will be explored between these places and some grand, Fourth Century, palatial mansions in the Roman countryside, which are likely to have belonged to private, albeit very rich, individuals. In all cases, both the use of architectural space and the choice of subject matter for the principal mosaic floors will be analyzed in the light of the ways each owner chose to show off his wealth and status. The program is free.

The museum is at 55 Salisbury Street. For more information, www.worcesterart.org or 508-799-4406.