"Holy Bits and Heavenly Hits: The Curious World of Roman Relics."
Much as the informed tourist seeks to discover the best gelateria, pizza or selfie spot in Rome, so religious pilgrims sought out relics. The odd bits of clothing, hair or bone belonging to one of the celebrities of the Heavenly chorus, was as exciting as an autograph from a movie or sports star today. Today they are curiosities to some, repugnant to others, but there are still many faithful who find meaning inside those ubiquitous reliquaries in Rome. This lecture will explore the raucous world of relics - what they are, what are their types, and what to do with them. We'll look at robberies, realities, and reverence with a special focus on the key relics for Rome's Jubilee years.
We'll talk about provenance and devotions, but also their importance for the history of art, and most pertinently, how to talk to either believers or doubters about the "thorny" question of Roman relics.
