AIA Society - Rome

In Rome, summertime bursts with archaeological projects and digs. This month, we are featuring the Aventinus Minor Project, led by the Archaeology and Classics department at The American University of Rome. This project wrapped up its 5th season on Friday with students and the project director, Dr Wueste, presenting research updates at a community event. Interested in learning more? Check out on Instagram or at their website https://www.aventinusminor.org/.

Want to have the AIA Rome Society feature your summer Roman archaeology project? Drop us a message!

Imagine a complex society that thrived without cities. In the rugged highlands of pre-Roman Samnium (Abruzzo, Italy), the Samnites built monumental fortifications and organized vast territories without the urban centers we usually associate with political power.

Dr. Giacomo Fontana was awarded $8,500 from the Archaeological Institute of America for his project, Unveiling Monte Pallano. Directed through the Digital Texas Tech University Archaeology Research and Exploration (DARE) Lab, the project combines airborne LiDAR, multispectral remote sensing, geophysical prospection, surface survey, and spatial modeling to reconstruct this non-urban world.

The project will also provide training for Texas Tech students through a new anthropology summer Study Abroad program launching this year.

College of Arts and Sciences, Texas Tech University

Pompey the Great was one of the last powerful figures at the end of the Republic. Famously both a rival and ally to Julius Caesar, Pompey played a large role in the political and military sphere of Rome. His ambition led to the nickname "the butcher," while his military tactics led to a triple a triumph and comparison to Alexander the Great (hence "the great" added to his name).

After civil war broke out and Pompey retreated to Egypt, he was murdered at Pelusium. It was in his theater, today located at the area sacra Largo Argentina, where Caesar was also assassinated.

Is it too late for us to jump on this meme? Support your archaeology friends with simple changes to your every day language.

Rome celebrates 2778 years today. Archaeological evidence, particularly on the Palatine hill supports the legendary dating of the city, lending credit to what would otherwise by a murky origin story (but we aren't saying the she wolf is fact! Just the dates and locations!) Celebrations took place throughout the weekend and the evening of Rome's birthdate.

The Latest News from the AIA – April 2026 Join thousands of fellow archaeology supporters for our annual AIA Giving Day!  We’re inviting you to celebrate your love of archaeology by making a gift on or before April 21. Even better, a group of generous donors will match every donation—dollar for dollar—up to $50,000! That means your g...

AIA choice lecturer Prof. Harriet Flower presents "Highly Educated Slaves and Freedmen in Republican Rome," an evening lecture . Known for her work in memory, prestige and power projection, and social life, Professor Flower explores the life of intellectual trendsetters who were enslaved in ancient Rome. She notes that every aspect of Roman life permeated with enslaved peoples in every echelon of sociery, from leisure to work.

With households of up to over 50 staff, Roman enslavers found it economically beneficial to educate or fill their staff with educated men: to what extent did these highly educated individuals shape the history of Rome? Dr. Flower points out that these men were brought into the inner circle of emperors, admired by top orators like Cicero, staged theatricals, published biographies of dictators, and opened schools that became famous.

There's still time to get a seat and campus access for our upcoming AIA lecture!

RSVP: https://calendar.johncabot.edu/event/learned-slaves-and-educated-freedmen-in-republican-rome

Event:
Speaker: Prof. Harriet I. Flower, Andrew Fleming West Professor of Classics, Princeton University
Title: Highly Educated Slaves and Freedmen in Republican Rome
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Time: 6:15 PM – 7:30 PM (introduction at 6:15, followed by a 40–50 minute lecture and Q&A)
Location: Aula Magna Regina, Guarini Campus, John Cabot University, Via della Lungara 233, Rome 00165

Summary
Slaves and freedmen played an essential yet understudied role in the literary culture of the Roman Republic. Their uncredited work as editors, researchers, and intellectual collaborators supported Rome’s elite and shaped the development of Latin literature. Prof. Flower’s lecture explores the social prestige associated with intellectual labor in a slave society, the economic value of educated enslaved individuals, and the systems through which they were trained or acquired. Her talk draws on her recent book, Intellectual Property: Learned Slaves and Educated Freedmen in Republican Rome (Princeton University Press, 2025).

Registration (Required for Campus Access)
All attendees must reserve a spot via the JCU Events Calendar or the QR code on the poster

Don't you hate it when you're on a life mission and someone steps on your toes?!

Julius Caesar is viewed by historians (and Cicero) as one of the greatest influences in losing the republic of Rome to a sole ruler. Prior men, such as Sulla and Marius also contributed to this slide towards imperialism (never as a "king," the Romans hated that word! Just ask the Tarquins), as they tried to fix what they thought was wrong with the government. Despite attempts to distill Roman history into easy-to-read chapters, there is no single man or law that led to the fall of the roman republic. The situation was a lot more nuanced and complicated than this little online trend would suggest!

For a more in depth understanding of ancient Rome, follow our page for upcoming lectures, seminars, and events!

Before April Fools Day was April Fools Day, these folks kept us on our toes (and our heads buried in the classics!)