Barry Strauss is the Lucy Shoe Meritt Scholar in Residence at the American Academy in Rome, a professor of history and a professor of classics at Cornell University.
What part of the United States did you come from?
New York. Native of Brooklyn, resident of Ithaca.
Describe a particularly inspiring moment or location you've experienced in Rome thus far.
Most of my work here has focused on the Theater and Porticus of Pompey. That’s not surprising since I am writing a book on the death of Julius Caesar, and Caesar was assassinated there (and not in the Roman Forum or on the Capitoline, as many erroneously think). It’s been invaluable to visit the remains of the site in the Largo Argentina and Campo Marzio. By far the most inspiring moment, however, was the day I visited the basement of the Teatro Argentina, along with AAR Fellow Steven Ellis. The two of us got a tour of the remains of the Porticus, and they were dazzling. I’ve also benefited from long and rich talks about the theater-porticus complex with AAR Visiting Scholar Jim Packer. And I had a fascinating meeting with Antonio Monterroso, the Spanish archaeologist who says that he has found a monument in the ruins of the Porticus marking the precise spot where Caesar fell. I owe all of these exciting opportunities to the Academy, and I am deeply grateful.
To what extent, if any, has your work changed since your arrival?
I have a much firmer grounding in the material culture of ancient Rome—the art, the architecture, and above all, the topography. Things that made no sense when I read about them halfway around the world now seem a lot clearer.
Have you had any "eureka!" moments or unanticipated breakthroughs in the course of your work here?
In addition to my work on Pompey’s theater-porticus complex, I’ve gone in search of the horti caesaris, that is, Julius Caesar’s villa and gardens whose most famous guest was Cleopatra. I’ve been surprised to discover that they probably were both further away from the center of Rome than I had thought and further up the hill from the Tiber. They probably covered what is now the Villa Sciarra and perhaps even reached the grounds of the Academy.
What aspect of your work are you most looking forward to?
I’m greatly looking forward to putting it all together on paper. That’s also a challenge—see the next question.
What part of your project has been or do you anticipate will be the most challenging?
Writing is always both a joy and a challenge. Since I am writing for a wide audience I need to strike the right balance between scholarship and popularization and between description and narrative. The community at the Academy, with its mix of scholars and creative artists, is an excellent place to “test drive” my ideas.
What's surprised you most about living in Rome?
How far away the centro storico seems from our perch here on the Gianicolo.
How have you managed the balance between your work (time in the studio/study) and engagement with Rome and Italy (travel, sightseeing, interactions with locals)?
There is so much to do here that I’ve had to give something up—sleep!
How do you anticipate your time at the Academy will influence future work?
I hope that I’ve put down roots in Italian soil and I expect that they will grow in my next projects. I’ll continue to look for firmer grounding in the material reality of ancient Rome.
What is your favorite spot at the Academy? Or in Rome?
That’s hard to answer because there are so many. In the Academy, my favorite spot is the Library Apartment and its view over the garden. The three umbrella pines outside our window make an indelible memory. Then again, the view of Rome below from the terrace in front of the Acqua Paola is a knockout.