Monument, Image, and Power: The Aqueducts of Ancient Rome, New York, and Boston

Join us on the evening of November 2 at 7pm in the historic Waterworks Museum building in Chestnut Hill. Our guest will be Dr. Peter J. Aicher, Emeritus Professor of Classics from the University of Southern Maine. Dr. Aicher's research has focused on the monumental structures of Ancient Rome. The aqueducts of Rome, in particular, loomed large in the imagination of the builders of America’s monumental water supplies. This lecture explores especially the role of monumental display in the aqueducts of ancient and papal Rome, New York City, and Boston, displays that reflect historical context and evolving sources of political power. The talk is richly illustrated with the speaker’s photographs of the monuments in each region.

Peter J Aicher is the author of the books Guide to the Aqueducts of Ancient Rome and Rome Alive: A Source-guide to the Ancient City, and is a contributor to a forthcoming UNESCO volume on ancient water supplies in cultural contexts. He has published and lectured widely on ancient Roman monuments, and his expertise in ancient aqueducts and the city of Rome has also been featured on television documentaries broadcast by NOVA, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic. 

Meet in the Overlook Gallery at 7pm for the free talk. The lecture is open to the public.