Think of ancient Rome, and images of imposing sculptures or large-scale monuments might come to mind. Join classicist Emily Gowers, author of The Small Stuff of Roman Antiquity, for a different perspective. She explores the importance of “small things” revealed by Roman writers and ancient artifacts, including some of the tiny artworks in the Getty Villa’s collection. What do insignificant-seeming objects tell us about the physical and emotional needs of Romans who cherished, handled, and used them? Do they give us a special kind of access, or do they make us feel more distant from the past?
The Power of Small Things in the Roman World
Talk
Statuette of a Mouse, 1st century BCE, Roman (?). Bronze. Getty Museum. Gift of Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman
About
Emily Gowers
Professor of Latin Literature
Emily Gowers is professor of Latin literature at the University of Cambridge, chair of the Faculty Board of Classics, and a fellow of St John’s College. Her research focuses on many aspects of Roman literature and history as well as culture more generally. In addition to her many papers, articles, and chapters, her books include The Loaded Table: Representations of Food in Roman Literature (Oxford University Press, 1993), Rome’s Patron: The Lives and Afterlives of Maecenas (Princeton University Press, 2024) and The Small Stuff of Roman Antiquity (University of California Press, 2025). This recent book grew from lectures Emily gave during an invited Sather Professorship at UC Berkeley in 2022 and is available in an open access digital version.
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