A view of the outer peristyle garden at the Getty Villa
Planting for Power: The Elite Gardens of Ancient Rome
GETTY VILLA
Auditorium
This is a past event
Roman gardens provided more than food and ornamentation; they were often planted to help construct the public persona of their elite owners. Exotic plants from the east appeared as proud trophies of military triumphs, and ancient texts tell of prominent statesmen competing to introduce new fruit species. Historian Annalisa Marzano examines the considerable effort that went into crafting luxurious outdoor spaces and providing edibles for the markets of Rome.