Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 5:00pm
In-Person and Virtual Lecture*
Advance registration is required
The Institute of Fine Arts
1 East 78th Street, New York, NY 10075
and on Zoom
Presenters
Dr. Seán Hemingway, John A. and Carole O. Moran Curator in Charge of the Department of Greek and Roman Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Dr. Mario La Rocca, General Director, Dipartimento dei Beni Culturali e dell’Identità Siciliana
Dr. Caterina Greco, Director, Archaeological Museum of Palermo “Antonino Salinas”
Dr. Felice Crescente, Director, Archaeological Park of Selinunte, Cave di Cusa, and Pantelleria
Prof. Clemente Marconi (Institute of Fine Arts–NYU), Director, IFA–NYU and UniMi mission in Selinunte
Prof. Andrew Ward (Emory University), Field Director, IFA–NYU and UniMi mission in Selinunte
This year marks a major step forward in the work of the mission on the Acropolis of Selinunte of the Institute of Fine Arts–NYU and the University of Milan. A new permit, issued by the director of the Archaeological Park, Dr. Felice Crescente, extends the area of operation of our mission to the entire main urban sanctuary. Covering two hectares, this was one of the largest sacred areas in the Greek Mediterranean during the Archaic and Classical periods, well known for its abundant monumental architecture but still largely unexcavated underneath the levels of the Punic phase, when the site was abandoned within the context of the First Punic War. This extension has already led to remarkable new finds related to the original articulation of the area during the past excavation season, which has also produced remarkable new finds in the area of Temple R.
Another major reason for celebration this year is the new collaborative agreement between the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Assessorato dei Beni Culturali e dell’Identità Siciliana, which was announced in May. This agreement provides for long-term loans of ancient masterpieces to the museum and the exchange of three-year loans between the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Archaeological Regional Museum “Antonino Salinas” of Palermo. The agreement follows decades of successful collaboration between the museum and the Republic of Italy, and it started with a series of loans from Selinunte currently on view in the Met’s Greek and Roman galleries.
*The program will be presented onsite at the James B. Duke House and live-streamed to those who join us by Zoom. Zoom details will be available upon registration for virtual attendees.