Arts Society Thames
Invite you to a Special Interest Day:
Rome’s Southern Shores
On: Monday 3rd April 2023
Time: 10:30am until 3:30pm
Lecturer: Paul Roberts
Includes: 3 Lectures (2xAM/1xPM)
Refreshments: Morning coffee and Lunch
Venue: Bourne End Community Centre
Cost: £40 – to include coffee and a buffet lunch
Morning Talks 1 & 2: From Greece to the Normans: The Splendour of Sicily
These focus upon the rich architectural and artistic heritage of Sicily - the largest and one of the wealthiest islands of the ancient Mediterranean. In the first talk we see the mysterious Carthaginians, and their distinctive culture, still visible on the small island of Motya, and then the Greeks, with beautiful cities such as Agrigento, and Syracuse and Segesta, preserving some of the Mediterranean’s most stunning ruins. We see temples and theatres and the rich culture of these western Greeks;
Our second talk on the history and archaeology of Sicily begins with the Romans. Sicily was Rome’s first foreign province and its wealth, peace and prosperity, is reflected in the monument-filled cities of Syracuse and Taormina, and in the sumptuous ‘mosaic villa’ of Piazza Armerina. After Rome, we see the influence of the Arab invaders and then finish with Norman Sicily - an extraordinary artistic flourishing, culminating in the mosaics of the mighty Norman basilicas of Cefalu and Monreale.
Afternoon Talk 3: Leptis Magna and Cyrene: Cities of the Sands
This looks at two of the mightiest cities of Roman Africa, lost under the sands for centuries now once more brought to light, and both today in the troubled country of Libya so currently unvisitable. To the east lies Cyrene founded by Greek colonists, while to the west is Leptis Magna, first built by Phoenicians ‑ the ancestors of Hannibal – spreading out from their capital at Carthage. Both cities have a very distinctive atmosphere. Spiritual Cyrene, filled with sacred Greek temples and precincts sits in a stupendous setting, on top of a great green mountain, rising out of the desert. Mighty Leptis sprawls along the coast and was the birthplace of the mighty Emperor Septimius Severus. With its great imperial suites of buildings - forum, basilica, stadium and arena - it is truly a mini-Rome. We also look at some of the wonderful finds in the British Museum and elsewhere, which were discovered in these beautiful cities of the sands.
To Book Your Place
If you want to attend please contact Inka tel.# 07772 995409, or Claire tel.# 07587 142522 for further information or to book a place.