Rome Exhibition and Discussion over LunchJoin us to see Melbourne Museum’s special exhibition ‘ROME: Empire, Power, People’ followed by lively discussion about the relevance of themes such as power and human dignity, over lunch in Lygon Street.
Please scroll right through to end to see discussion points for lunch AND suggested prior reading link.
Meet at museum: 11.45 am
Exhibition: 12.00pm - 1.15pm
Walk to restaurant: 10min
Lunch: 1.30pm @ Il Gambero 166 Lygon Street
Indicate in comments if you are coming to exhibition and / or lunch.
***New Members:***
New members are more than welcome, we are a good-natured bunch who value friendship and exploring the realm of next wave humanism. Interested? Come and join the conversation!
***Cost:***
$35 adult, $30 senior, $30 concession
**PLEASE PURCHASE TICKET DIRECTLY ON MUSEUM WEBSITE FOR ROME: EMPIRE, POWER, PEOPLE FOR 12.00PM 19 APRIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT**
[https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/tickets/](https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/tickets/)
$5 CONTRIBUTION (IF YOU CAN) TOWARDS ONGOING OPERATIONAL COSTS
***About the exhibition:***
From the fall of Julius Caesar to the power and ambition of an Empire, the exhibition showcases the luxury of Imperial Rome, the spectacle of the gladiator arena, the bustling marketplaces and the everyday experiences of Romans.
Explore Ancient Rome’s political, social and spiritual worlds through over 180 objects dating from the Imperial period 1st Century CE to the 3rd Century CE, with all of the objects on display in Melbourne for the first time ever.
The splendour, drama and humanity of Rome is brought to life in detail with scenography and multimedia, giving visitors an immersive experience and vivid portrait of a civilisation that continues to shape our world today.
***Link with modern humanism and points for discussion over lunch:***
**🏛 Power, Citizenship, and Human Responsibility**
Rome’s political system—centralised under the emperor yet still tied to republican ideals—invites reflection on **human agency**, **leadership**, and **ethical governance**.
* The emperor’s authority shows how power can stabilise or destabilise societies, prompting questions about **justice**, **accountability**, and **the common good**.
* The expansion of citizenship, culminating in the *Constitutio Antoniniana* (212 CE), highlights evolving ideas about **belonging**, **rights**, and **inclusion**.
* The Senate, magistrates, and local elites demonstrate how communities negotiate **shared responsibility** and **public service**.
Humanist connection: Studying these structures encourages us in the 21st Century to consider what fair leadership looks like, how societies might distribute power, and how individuals contribute to civic life.
**🎨 Culture, Creativity, and the Value of Expression**
Roman cultural life—its literature, architecture, philosophy, and public entertainment—reveals a civilisation deeply invested in **human creativity** and **shared cultural identity**.
* Writers like Seneca, Pliny, and Juvenal explored moral questions, emotions, and the human condition.
* Monumental architecture expressed collective values: memory, pride, identity, and aspiration.
* Religious and philosophical traditions (Stoicism, mystery cults, local deities) show humans searching for meaning and ethical frameworks.
Humanist connection: These cultural expressions affirm the humanist belief that creativity, reflection, and intellectual inquiry enrich both individuals and communities.
**🏺 Social Life, Dignity, and the Human Condition**
Roman society was hierarchical, unequal, and often harsh—especially for enslaved people, women, and the poor. Yet it also reveals universal human experiences: family, work, belonging, resilience, and aspiration.
* The *familia* structure shows how people sought stability, identity, and continuity.
* Urban life—baths, markets, forums—demonstrates the importance of **community spaces** where people meet, talk, and coexist.
* The presence of slavery and inequality invites ethical reflection on **human dignity**, **freedom**, and **justice**.
Humanist connection: By examining both the achievements and injustices of Roman society, we can reflect on the importance of empathy, moral reasoning, and an understanding of how societies can uphold—or violate—human dignity.
**🌍 Why This Link Matters for Learning**
Connecting Rome to humanist values helps us:
* see history as a lens for understanding ethical questions;
* recognise the continuity of human concerns across time;
* reflect on how societies shape and are shaped by human choices;
* develop critical thinking about power, culture, and identity;
* understand that studying the past is ultimately about understanding people.
It turns the Roman Empire from a distant civilisation into a mirror for thinking about what kind of world we want to build today.
***Suggested prior reading:***
In preparation for the exhibition it is recommended to read about the events of Rome during this time period of 1st Century CE to the 3rd Century CE, and the philosopher Seneca.
[https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Rome/The-transformation-of-Rome-and-Italy-during-the-Middle-Republic](https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Rome/The-transformation-of-Rome-and-Italy-during-the-Middle-Republic)
[https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/seneca/](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/seneca/)