David Hernandez, the Eli J. and Helen Shaheen Associate Professor of Classics, has been awarded a significant three-year grant of $250,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities in support of his archeological project at Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome.
Built in second-century Rome, Castel Sant’Angelo was initially created as a mausoleum for the Roman emperor Hadrian and his dynatsty — making it one of the most notable tombs in the world. Over the centuries, the towering rotunda was used as a fortress and residence for medieval Roman Catholic popes, and today, it serves as a museum that welcomes more than a million tourists each year.
Together with Paolo Vitti, an associate professor of the practice at the School of Architecture, Hernandez will use the NEH grant to write a two-volume book, tentatively titled “The Mausoleum of Hadrian and Castel Sant’Angelo: The Tomb and its Afterlife,” that will serve as the first comprehensive interpretation of the landmark site.
“New studies demonstrate that major aspects of the mausoleum's original architecture are presently misunderstood, including its design, display, and intended symbolism,” Hernandez said.
“With this grant, we are able to undertake on-site fieldwork over the course of three years and publish a comprehensive study of the archaeology, architecture, and history of Castel Sant’Angelo, one of the most significant and iconic monuments located in the heart of Rome,” Hernandez said. “I am deeply honored and immensely grateful to receive this research support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.”
