Views of Rome
Views of Rome
As part of ARTHIST 347, I contributed to Views of Rome, a digital humanities project led by Dr. Eric Varner that reexamines iconic Roman monuments through student-driven research and digital scholarship. Our class worked as research assistants, supporting the expansion of this online archive and enriching its scholarly content through the study of ancient architecture, historical misidentifications, and visual documentation.
My individual contribution centered on the Minerva Medica (Nymphaeum), a monumental Late Roman structure located in the Horti Liciniani. I conducted extensive historical and architectural research, drawing from both primary and secondary sources, to produce a scholarly entry that contextualized the building’s original function, construction techniques, and later interpretations. A key part of my analysis focused on its long-standing misidentification as a temple dedicated to Minerva—a misconception that originated in part from the discovery of the Minerva Giustiniani statue and was later perpetuated in Renaissance cartography and antiquarian studies.
In particular, I examined the influential role of Pirro Ligorio, a 16th-century antiquarian and cartographer, whose imaginative reconstructions and early maps helped shape the visual and intellectual
Ligorio, P. (ca. 1561). Antiquae Urbis Imago. Views of Rome, Emory Center for Digital Scholarship. https://viewsofrome.digitalscholarship.emory.edu/
legacy of ancient Roman monuments. Ligorio’s maps frequently featured misattributed or stylized representations of ancient ruins, including the Minerva Medica, reinforcing the temple narrative and influencing later scholarly and popular perceptions. By studying Ligorio’s works in tandem with archaeological evidence, I explored how early modern visual culture contributed to enduring misinterpretations of Roman topography.
This project allowed me to synthesize art historical analysis, critical writing, and digital curation. It also emphasized the importance of reexamining historical narratives and visual sources to better understand the complex layers of interpretation that surround Rome’s ancient landscape. My contribution ultimately supported Views of Rome’s broader mission: to make Roman cultural heritage more accessible, accurate, and engaging for both public and academic audiences through Emory’s digital platform
Check out my entry: