Internet Outreach

In keeping with the current Vision Statement of the University of Pennsylvania Museum, wherein the institution is seeking a stronger educational outreach to the public worldwide, MASCA is developing a complex of websites centered on the theme of Roman Lifestyles—coverage of practical aspects of everyday life, both technical and social in the Roman World. Already in place are two pairs of websites:

Glassmaking in Roman Times
masca.museum.upenn.edu/roman_glass/index.html

Fine Glassware in the Roman World
masca.museum.upenn.edu/fine_glassware/index.html

Roman Wine: A Window on an Ancient Economy
masca.museum.upenn.edu/roman_wine/index.html

Roman Wine: Windows on a Lifestyle
masca.museum.upenn.edu/roman_wineii/index.html

Similar websites on such topics as the Roman fascination with perfumery and herbalism, health & diet issues in the Roman World, the social and practical aspects of the Roman Spectacles, Roman preoccupation with funerary rituals, Roman trade in eastern exotics, Roman dining, and Roman attitudes towards the education of its children, will be developed within this project over the coming year.

The Roman Lifestyles network of websites is intended to be an academic backbone to our interactive website, The Roman Day. In particular, it adds the dimension of time to that project’s content, by covering some of its topics for the entire eight centuries that the Romans held sway in the Mediterranean World. It is a resource hub that we believe can satisfy the most inquisitive of our audiences. At the same time, Roman Lifestyles ties into the Museum’s exhibition program; in particular, the permanent galleries, Worlds Intertwined: Etruscans, Greeks & Romans, which opened in March 2003.

MASCA has also created a website entitled Roman Glassware in the University of Pennsylvania Museum, which catalogues 265 vessels from the Museum's collection of Roman glassware.

Roman Glassware in the University of Pennsylvania Museum
http://masca.museum.upenn.edu/rg_lineart/index.html