A Close Encounter with the University of Melbourne's Classics and Archaeology Collection – For Adults

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Get up close with ancient Greek and Roman objects from the University of Melbourne’s Classics and Archaeology collection, in a National Archaeology Week experience for adults!

This two-part experience will begin with a guided visit to the 'Ancient Lives: Insights from the Classics and Archaeology Collection' exhibition at the Old Quad (University of Melbourne), including short introductory talks from the exhibition curators, Dr Caroline Tully and Dr Tamara Lewit, both Honorary Fellows at the University of Melbourne. This exhibition combines two presentations – 'Amor et Mors: Vessels for the Beautiful Body in Life and Death' and 'White, Tawny, Blood-red, Black: Wine in the Greek and Roman Worlds' – and presents about 100 objects from the University of Melbourne Classics and Archaeology Collection.

After the exhibition, participants will have an opportunity to visit the Object Based Laboratories with Gijs Willem Tol, Associate Professor in Roman Archaeology, where they can get up close with the University's teaching collection of ancient artefacts including handling some ancient coins.

Order of events:

• 12PM Guided exhibition visit
• 1PM Object Based Laboratories visit
• 2PM Event concludes

Important event information:

• This is a free event, with bookings required. Places are strictly limited.
• This tour is for adults. View the students' session (ages 8–18) here.
• On the day, please meet at the clock tower on the University of Melbourne Parkville campus. A map will be emailed to you after booking.

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Dr Tamara Lewit, curator of White, Tawny, Blood-red, Black: Wine in the Greek and Roman Worlds within the exhibition Ancient Lives, is an honorary fellow in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, the University of Melbourne, and a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, London. She specializes in the archaeology of wine in the Roman world and her chapter ‘Innovation in wine-making technologies: the role of local artisans and farmers’ will appear in Vine-growing and winemaking in the Roman world (ed. D. Van Limbergen, E. Dodd and M. S. Busana, 2024). You can read more about her research on her website Tamara’s Secrets and in ‘Pressing Matters in the Roman World’ (Pursuit 2018). She was also researcher for two children’s novels set in the Roman Empire, The Boy Who Stepped Through Time and A Message Through Time, by her sister Anna Ciddor.

Dr Caroline Tully is a lecturer in the Centre for Ancient Cultures at Monash University and an exhibition curator at the State Library of Victoria. Her research interests include the reception of ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art and architecture within Neoclassical and Egyptian Revival styles, particularly funerary monuments, and she also specialises in Bronze Age Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean art and religion. For sixteen years Caroline was a professional tapestry weaver at the Australian Tapestry Workshop, and she maintains an interest in archaeological textiles, particularly the garments of Minoan Crete. See her publications on the University of Melbourne website.

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This event was previously postponed from Saturday 25 May and will now take place at the rescheduled time above. Part of a program to celebrate National Archaeology Week, co-presented by The University of Melbourne, Hellenic Museum and CO.AS.IT. Museo Italiano.

Image: Installation view Ancient Lives, Old Quad, 2023. Courtesy of Museums and Collections Department, The University of Melbourne. Photo: Christian Capurro.