Are museums lying about their antiquities? Is the Gladiator film an accurate depiction of life in ancient Rome? Strap in for a wild ride with Liz Marlowe, archaeologist and whistleblower, as she uncovers the dirty truth behind the global trade of Roman antiquities, and describes what Hollywood gets wrong about ancient Rome.

Elizabeth Marlowe, Chair of the Department of Art and Professor at Colgate University, nominates brussel sprout ice cream as the worst flavor, kick-starting our episode with a laugh. But we quickly move to more pressing matters: the shadows cast over Roman antiquities and the ethical dilemmas museums face. Elizabeth shares eye-opening insights from her 2022 article, "When Will Museums Tell the Whole Truth About their Antiquities?" and we navigate the murky waters of artifact provenance and institutional responsibility.

Through Liz's investigative lens, we expose how many US museums have been less than transparent about the looted origins of their Roman collections. From photographing gallery labels to sparking legal actions that lead to the repatriation of artifacts to Turkey, this episode reveals the often-concealed truths behind those ancient treasures. We also dissect the broader implications of these practices, questioning how the illicit trade continues and what changing attitudes could mean for the future of artifact acquisition.

For the first time on a general media outlet, Liz shares the story of one of the most influential antiquities dealers in U.S. history – Jerome Eisenberg, who teamed up with an insurance salesman to market ancient artworks with promises of financial returns. We discuss the fallout that ensued when ethical norms about antiquities shifted between the 1980s and 2000s.

Finally, we turn our attention from the allure of artifacts as investments to Hollywood’s portrayal of ancient Rome. Liz critiques Hollywood's romanticized yet historically flawed depictions of ancient Rome and we discuss how these portrayals feed into modern ideologies, sometimes with negative consequences. This episode promises to challenge your understanding of cultural heritage and the ethics of preserving our past. Don't miss it!

Elizabeth Marlowe in Hyperallergic
“When Will Museums Tell the Whole Truth About Their Antiquities?”
https://hyperallergic.com/760120/when-will-museums-tell-the-whole-truth-about-their-antiquities/

“A Cleveland Museum’s Bad Bet on a Looted Roman Statue”
https://hyperallergic.com/862516/cleveland-museum-bad-bet-looted-roman-statue/

Jale İnan, Turkish archaeologist - Biography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jale_İnan

Liz’s email contact:
emarlowe@colgate.edu

Liz on X:
https://x.com/ElizMarlowe

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