EXCAVATING MODERNITY EXCAVATING MODERNITY THE ROMAN PAST IN FASCIST ITALY Joshua Arthurs CORNELL UNIVERSITY PRESS Ithaca and London Copyright © 2012 by Cornell University All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850. First published 2012 by Cornell University Press Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Arthurs, Joshua, 1975– Excavating modernity : the Roman past in fascist Italy / Joshua Arthurs. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8014-4998-7 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Archaeology and state—Italy—History—20th century. 2. Fascism and culture—Italy—History—20th century. 3. Italy—Civilization—Roman influences. 4. Italy—Historiography—20th century. 5. Museum exhibits—Political aspects—Italy—History—20th century. I. Title. CC101.I8A78 2012 930.1093—dc23 2012001334 Cornell University Press strives to use environmentally responsible suppliers and materials to the fullest extent pos- sible in the publishing of its books. Such materials include vegetable-based, low-VOC inks and acid-free papers that are recycled, totally chlorine-free, or partly composed of nonwood fibers. For further information, visit our website at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu. Cloth printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 For HWA Contents List of Illustrations ix Acknowledgments xi List of Abbreviations xiii Introduction 1 1. The Third Rome and Its Discontents, 1848–1922 9 2. Science and Faith: The Istituto di Studi Romani, 1922–1929 29 3. History and Hygiene in Mussolini’s Rome, 1925–1938 50 4. The Totalitarian Museum: The Mostra Augustea della Romanità, 1937–1938 91 5. Empire, Race, and the Decline of Romanità , 1936–1945 125 Conclusion 151 Notes 157 Bibliography 197 Index 213 vii Illustrations 1. Editorial cartoon from Roma futurista , 1918 20 2. Inauguration of the 1930 academic year at the Istituto di Studi Romani 40 3. The Augusteo symphony hall in the early stages of demolitions, 1937 70 4. Mussolini inaugurates the demolitions for Piazzale Augusto Imperatore, 1934 71 5. The Mausoleum of Augustus after excavations 73 6. The Theater of Marcellus, 1925 78 7. Via del Mare and the Theater of Marcellus, 1933 79 8. Inauguration of the Mostra Augustea della Romanità, 1937 98 9. Mostra Augustea della Romanità, façade of the Palazzo delle Esposizioni 102 10. Mostra Augustea della Romanità, room III 104 11. Mostra Augustea della Romanità, Temple of Augustus at Ancyra 111 12. Front cover of La Difesa della Razza , 1939 138 13. Propaganda leaflet from the Italian Social Republic 149 ix