Rome, Italy
EXCLUSIVE AFTER-HOURS VISIT TO THE SISTINE CHAPEL with Dr. Rocky Ruggiero
October 7, 2024
2 hours
$550
EXCLUSIVE WEBINAR BUNDLE
“Exclusive Webinars in March”
Presented by Dr. Rocky Ruggiero and special guests Quentin Hardy, Dr. Jeremy Wasser, and Dr. Fabrizio Ricciardelli
Dates & Times:
Thursday, March 7
2:00 – 3:00pm ET | 11:00am – 12:00pm PT |
7:00 – 8:00pm London
Thursday, March 14, 21 & 28
2:00 – 3:00pm ET | 11:00am – 12:00pm PT |
6:00 – 7:00pm London (Please note the time change)
EXCLUSIVE WEBINARS | “Exclusive Webinars in March”
Each webinar will include a 45-minute lecture followed by 15-minutes of Q&A.
Please note:
EXCLUSIVE WEBINAR | “Imitation Games, Then and Now: The Renaissance Roots of A.I.”
Presented by Quentin Hardy
Artificial Intelligence is powerful, futuristic, and a little scary. But away from the hype, it’s quite familiar, and closely tied to some of the most powerful themes and aspirations of the Renaissance: Imitation, perfection, classical learning and a new exploration of the world. You will learn about A.I. in ways you can (finally!) understand, and see how the works of artists like Giotto, Brunelleschi, Da Vinci and Michelangelo contributed to our contemporary dream of creating computers that think.
EXCLUSIVE WEBINAR | “Stigmata: The Art and Medicine of the Wounds of Christ”
Presented by Dr. Jeremy Wasser
A central tenet of the Christian faith is that Jesus was crucified by the Romans and died on the cross at Golgotha. The Gospels describe five specific wounds that Jesus suffered during his crucifixion. Known as the Five Holy Wounds or the Five Precious Wounds these are the nail holes in his hands and feet and the wound in his side. Jesus suffered additional injuries during the Passion including the laceration of his forehead and scalp by the Crown of Thorns. All these wounds are collectively referred to as “stigmata”, from the Greek word “stigma” (στίγμα) originally indicating a mark on the skin or a brand. In the 2000 years since the crucifixion of Jesus, some 300 people have been reported to have spontaneously manifested on their bodies some or all of Jesus’ wounds. The first and most famous of these “stigmatics” was St. Francis of Assisi.
So, what are we in the 21st century to make of the phenomenon of stigmata? Is it solely a miracle bestowed on individuals with a special relationship to God and thus a sign of divine grace? Or are there, at least in some instances, medical explanations, either somatic or psychosomatic, for the appearance of these wounds? In this webinar I will first review the Roman practice of crucifixion at the time of Christ. What insights can science provide regarding these claims? Can we, in the end, separate the miraculous from the medical?
EXCLUSIVE WEBINAR | “The Re-Birth of Cities in Medieval Europe”
Presented by Dr. Fabrizio Ricciardelli
In Europe city-states developed following diverse origins. There were: 1) ancient roman cities; 2) new cities founded near castles; 3) new cities founded near monasteries; 4) cities built in hostile but naturally protected environment (like Venice); 5) settlements established for defensive purposes; 6) cities built in consequence of pilgrimage. This lecture will examine the historical origins of various types of medieval European cities.
EXCLUSIVE WEBINAR | “The Men behind the Madness: Caravaggio’s Roman Patrons”
Presented by Dr. Rocky Ruggiero
While much has been written about Caravaggio’s revolutionary paintings and borderline sociopathic behavior in early 17th century Rome, much less attention has been given to his patrons. This lecture will explore those patrons with names such as Del Monte, Cerasi, Mattei, Giustiniani, and Barberini whose commissions reflect a tolerance, if not tacit approval, of Caravaggio’s unhinged approach to both his personal and professional life.
