Christopher Siwicki

Terracotta statues from the sanctuary of Minerva at Lavinium (supposedly founded by Aeneas). Fourth to third centuries BC (2)
Aeneas’s Journey in Ancient Italy

Greater attention is often paid to the causes of wars than to their aftermath. The Boston Tea Party of 1773 is immortalized in paintings, but the resettlement…

Terracotta votives from the sanctuary of Minerva Medica, between 4th to 1st centuries BC.
New Capitoline Museums Exhibit Will Delight Archaeologists, Not Tourists

‘Rome of the Republic: The Story of Archaeology’ is a new exhibition at the Capitoline Museums in Rome. On display are fragments of the pediment of Temple A in…

‘Madonna Enthroned’ by Andrea Briosco detto il Riccio (end of the fifteenth century), with picture of the terracotta statue following its recovery in May 1945.
Saving Italian Art from World War II Destruction

In the late 1930s, the skies across Europe darkened as the world prepared for war. Beyond the efforts to save civilians in…

Figure 4. Mosaic of Phoenix, apse of St Peter’s Basilica, 1205-1209/12
Rome's Missing Medieval Past

To the casual observer, Rome is not a …

View of the Roman Forum.
Exhibition Highlights the Man Who Excavated Ancient Rome's Forum
Up until the late nineteenth century, Rome’s forum—the political center of the ancient Roman world and now one of the most visited sites in the city—was still hidden, buried under meters of debris…
Interior View of Museo Ninfeo. Photo by Christopher Siwicki.One can see glass covered sections of floor scattered through the museum that reveal archeological sites
At Museo Ninfeo Visitors Walk Through Ruins of Luxury Roman Garden
Roman ruins are not normally found in the buildings of insurance companies. Yet in the Rome headquarters of Enpam—the National Insurance and Assistance Body for Doctors and Dentists—visitors descend…
The baths of Caracalla.
Ancient Roman Baths: An Archeological Explanation
In ancient Rome, bathing was a staple, not a luxury. Bath buildings are one of the most frequently encountered types of structure at archeological sites across the Roman world, from the Middle East…
Coffered pattern mosaic, 1st century BC.
Rarely Seen Ancient Mosaics on Show in Rome
Mosaics adorned the floors, walls, and ceilings of public and domestic buildings. The best mosaics go beyond mere decoration; they are masterpieces of design and execution.