Joe Farrell: Helen North Lecture @ Swarthmore

The city of Rome is a symbol of civilization's power and durability, but also of its fragility and vulnerability to the forces of barbarism and chaos. A series of invasions and attacks, both literal and metaphorical, describe a tragicomic history of ruin and renewal that is unparalleled in the experience of any one city, but resonates with that of all cities. 

Versions of "the sack of Rome" as a theme in history, myth, poetry, art, criticism, travel literature, cinema, and popular culture contrast sharply with one another, and yet collectively they draw from and contribute to what has proven to be a most enduring source of artistic inspiration and philosophical reflection.

This event is open to the public.