VILLA OF THE PAPYRI:
archaeology, reception and digital reconstruction
Christ Church, Oxford (September 22-23, 2007)
Speakers:
Archaeology:
Mario Capasso (Università degli Studi di Lecce)
Antonio De Simone (Università Suor Orsola Benincasa Napoli)
Carol Mattusch (George Mason University)
Eric Moormann (Radboud Universiteit, Nijmegen)
David Sider (NYU)
Reception:
Dana Arnold (University of Southampton)
Kenneth Lapatin (The J. Paul Getty Museum)
Reconstructions:
Diane Favro (UCLA)
Reinhard Förtsch (Universität zu Köln)
Richard Janko (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)
Dirk Obbink (University of Oxford)
Mantha Zarmakoupi (University of Oxford)
The Villa of the Papyri is a unique archaeological site and, although still largely underground, has been very influential in the field of classical studies and the modern imagination owing to its discovery and underground exploration in the 18th century. The papyri (the only intact library to survive from Greco-Roman antiquity) and bronze sculptures found in the villa have contributed to our knowledge and understanding of the ancient world and the architecture of the villa has inspired today’s architects and tycoons. This villa has become for us the “ideal model” of Roman luxury villa culture. It is also an object of much international attention in debates about excavation, restoration, and management of archaeological sites. The purpose of this conference is to address the cultural significance of this ancient site in its contemporary Roman context as well as its cultural reception since its discovery in the late 18th century, and address the ways in which digital archaeology may assist our efforts to understand and investigate such sites. Papers from leading experts will address the importance of the Villa’s architecture and findings, especially papyri (David Sider) sculptures (Carol Mattusch) and wall paintings (Eric Moormann), discuss their implication on the ownership of the villa (Mario Capasso), tackle their reception since the Villa’s discovery in the late 18th century (Dana Arnold, Kenneth Lapatin), and present the current state of the excavations in the Villa (Antonio De Simone) as well as new work on the papyri from the Villa (Richard Janko). Furthermore, a digital model of the Villa that incorporates the data from the new excavations will be presented (Mantha Zarmakoupi) and this virtual and real re-piecing of the villa’s fragments will be compared to the fragmented understanding of Pliny’s villas (Reinhard Förtsch). Finally, the conference will conclude with discussions on the role of digital reconstruction in the study of and research on the archaeology of the villa (Diane Favro) and in the work on the library and bookrolls (Dirk Obbink).
Sponsored by The ‘Friends of Herculaneum’ Society
Registration: Krystyna Cech, herculaneum@classics.ox.ac.uk
Further information: Mantha Zarmakoupi, mantha.zarmakoupi AT sjc.ox.ac.uk; Krystyna Cech, herculaneum AT classics.ox.ac.uk
Registration fee (till 31.07.2007): £30, £15 students
Registration fee (after 31.07.2007): £45, £25 students (full registration fee)
£25, £15 students (September 22 delegate)
£25, £15 students (September 23 delegate)
archaeology, reception and digital reconstruction
Christ Church, Oxford (September 22-23, 2007)
Speakers:
Archaeology:
Mario Capasso (Università degli Studi di Lecce)
Antonio De Simone (Università Suor Orsola Benincasa Napoli)
Carol Mattusch (George Mason University)
Eric Moormann (Radboud Universiteit, Nijmegen)
David Sider (NYU)
Reception:
Dana Arnold (University of Southampton)
Kenneth Lapatin (The J. Paul Getty Museum)
Reconstructions:
Diane Favro (UCLA)
Reinhard Förtsch (Universität zu Köln)
Richard Janko (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)
Dirk Obbink (University of Oxford)
Mantha Zarmakoupi (University of Oxford)
The Villa of the Papyri is a unique archaeological site and, although still largely underground, has been very influential in the field of classical studies and the modern imagination owing to its discovery and underground exploration in the 18th century. The papyri (the only intact library to survive from Greco-Roman antiquity) and bronze sculptures found in the villa have contributed to our knowledge and understanding of the ancient world and the architecture of the villa has inspired today’s architects and tycoons. This villa has become for us the “ideal model” of Roman luxury villa culture. It is also an object of much international attention in debates about excavation, restoration, and management of archaeological sites. The purpose of this conference is to address the cultural significance of this ancient site in its contemporary Roman context as well as its cultural reception since its discovery in the late 18th century, and address the ways in which digital archaeology may assist our efforts to understand and investigate such sites. Papers from leading experts will address the importance of the Villa’s architecture and findings, especially papyri (David Sider) sculptures (Carol Mattusch) and wall paintings (Eric Moormann), discuss their implication on the ownership of the villa (Mario Capasso), tackle their reception since the Villa’s discovery in the late 18th century (Dana Arnold, Kenneth Lapatin), and present the current state of the excavations in the Villa (Antonio De Simone) as well as new work on the papyri from the Villa (Richard Janko). Furthermore, a digital model of the Villa that incorporates the data from the new excavations will be presented (Mantha Zarmakoupi) and this virtual and real re-piecing of the villa’s fragments will be compared to the fragmented understanding of Pliny’s villas (Reinhard Förtsch). Finally, the conference will conclude with discussions on the role of digital reconstruction in the study of and research on the archaeology of the villa (Diane Favro) and in the work on the library and bookrolls (Dirk Obbink).
Sponsored by The ‘Friends of Herculaneum’ Society
Registration: Krystyna Cech, herculaneum@classics.ox.ac.uk
Further information: Mantha Zarmakoupi, mantha.zarmakoupi AT sjc.ox.ac.uk; Krystyna Cech, herculaneum AT classics.ox.ac.uk
Registration fee (till 31.07.2007): £30, £15 students
Registration fee (after 31.07.2007): £45, £25 students (full registration fee)
£25, £15 students (September 22 delegate)
£25, £15 students (September 23 delegate)