With great sadness...
It was with great sadness that we heard of the death of Lady Patricia Daunt on 2nd of October 2023 aged 84 at her home in Islington. In the early 1990’s Patricia wrote to Professor RRR Smith, who had recently been appointed director of the Aphrodisias excavations, offering to take over as Chairman of The Friends of Aphrodisias Trust. Patricia brought the Friends back to life, and soon the Friends’ annual contributions became a significant part of the excavation’s budget. Aphrodisias hugely benefited from the diplomatic expertise and social contacts that Patricia and her husband Sir Timothy Daunt, the UK’s Ambassador to Turkey, brought with them. Her energy and love of Aphrodisias were evident in the regular tours of Anatolia that she organised with groups of friends, tours whose final destination was always Aphrodisias. She will be greatly missed.
In the meantime, Renate Nahum will stand in as a temporary Chairman as successor to Patricia.
In the meantime, Renate Nahum will stand in as a temporary Chairman as successor to Patricia.
30th Kenan Erim Annual Lecture on Tuesday 5th March 2024
The 30th Kenan Erim Annual Lecture will be held by Professor R.R.R. Smith, Director of Excavations at Aphrodisias, on Tuesday 5th March 2024 at the Art Worker's Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT. The lecture will commence at 6.30pm, and will be preceded by the AGM.
This is free for members, a suggested donation for non-members is £25.
For further information, please click here.
This is free for members, a suggested donation for non-members is £25.
For further information, please click here.
Guided tour of Petworth House, October 2023
We have been given the exciting opportunity of a guided tour of Petworth House by the curator, Emily Knight, which will include a talk from Prof Smith on the Petworth collection of Roman portrait busts and statues.
You probably know that the magnificent C17th Petworth House contains one of the most important collections of furniture, porcelain, sculpture and old masters in the country. It has a wonderful setting in a 700 acre park landscaped by Capability Brown.
You probably know that the magnificent C17th Petworth House contains one of the most important collections of furniture, porcelain, sculpture and old masters in the country. It has a wonderful setting in a 700 acre park landscaped by Capability Brown.
Expedition to Aphrodisias, June 2023
It may be possible to organise a seven-day expedition to Aphrodisias next June which, besides concentrating on Aphrodisias itself, would include other sites in Western Turkey. A possible itinerary might be to fly to Antayla, then travel north to Aphrodisias, and fly back from Izmir, perhaps having stayed en route on the shore of Lake Bafa.
For further information, please click here.
For further information, please click here.
29th Kenan Erim Annual Lecture on Thursday 16th March 2023
The 29th Kenan Erim Annual Lecture was held by Professor R.R.R. Smith, Director of Excavations at Aphrodisias, on Thursday 16th March 2023 at the Art Worker's Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT. The lecture will commence at 6.30pm, and will be preceded by the AGM.
This is free for members, a suggested donation for non-members is £25.
For further information, please click here.
This is free for members, a suggested donation for non-members is £25.
For further information, please click here.
The statues of Aphrodisias and their sculptors, Monday 9th January 2023
Dr. Julia Lenaghan, the Mica and Ahmet Ertegün Senior Aphrodisias Researcher and Aphrodisias Project Administrator will speal on ‘The statues of Aphrodisias and their Sculptors’, in discussion with Professor Bert Smith.
This meeting was held at 6.30pm on Thursday 17th February 2022, at Daunt Books, 83 Marylebone High Street, London W1.
A suggested donation is £15.
For further information, please click here.
This meeting was held at 6.30pm on Thursday 17th February 2022, at Daunt Books, 83 Marylebone High Street, London W1.
A suggested donation is £15.
For further information, please click here.
28th Kenan Erim Annual Lecture on Wednesday 9th March 2022
The 28th Kenan Erim Annual Lecture was held by Professor R.R.R. Smith, Director of Excavations at Aphrodisias, on Wednesday 9th March 2022 at the Art Worker's Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT. The lecture commenced at 6.30pm, and was preceded by the AGM.
A copy of the lecture may be downloaded here.
A copy of the lecture may be downloaded here.
Working with the statues of Aphrodisias, Thursday 17th February 2022
Dr. Julia Lenaghan, the Mica and Ahmet Ertegün Senior Aphrodisias Researcher and Aphrodisias Project Administrator spoke on ‘Working with the statues of Aphrodisias’, in discussion with Professor Bert Smith.
This meeting was held at 6.30pm on Thursday 17th February 2022, at Daunt Books, 83 Marylebone High Street, London W1
For further information, please click here.
This meeting was held at 6.30pm on Thursday 17th February 2022, at Daunt Books, 83 Marylebone High Street, London W1
For further information, please click here.
27th Kenan Erim Annual Lecture on Wednesday 19th May 2021
The 27th Kenan Erim Annual Lecture, given by Professor R.R.R. Smith, Director of Excavations at Aphrodisias, was held on Wednesday 19th May 2021 at the Art Worker's Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT. The lecture was commence at 6.30pm, and was preceded by the AGM.
For further information, please click here.
For further information, please click here.
26th Kenan Erim Annual Lecture on Wednesday 4th March 2020
The 26th Kenan Erim Annual Lecture, given by Professor R.R.R. Smith, Director of Excavations at Aphrodisias, was held on Wednesday 4th March 2020 at the Art Worker's Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT. The lecture will commence at 6.30pm, and is preceded by the AGM.
For further information, please click here.
For further information, please click here.
A visit to the exhibition "Last Supper at Pompeii", Monday, 6th January 2020
On Monday 6 January at 11.30 am the curator Dr Paul Roberts has very kindly offered to show a group of 20 Friends round his exhibition "Last Supper at Pompeii" which is on at the Ashmolean Museum till 12 January and which has been very well received. Bert will then kindly host us to lunch at Lincoln College after which a slightly smaller group is invited to a presentation back at the Ashmolean given by the curator and expert on Roman provincial coinage, Dr Volker Heuchert, on the coins that would have been circulating at Aphrodisias in ancient times.
For further information, please click here.
For further information, please click here.
The Cast Collection of Antique Sculpture, Monday, 13th May 2019
Professort Smith has agreed to show the Friends round the cast collection of antique sculpture at the Ashmolean museum in Oxford on Monday 13 May. More details will follow later, but as the curator of the cast collection Bert's guided tour is bound to be of great interest to all of us who love classical art.
For further information, please click here.
For further information, please click here.
25th Kenan Erim Annual Lecture on Tuesday 5th March 2019
The 25th Kenan Erim Annual Lecture, given by Professor R.R.R. Smith, Director of Excavations at Aphrodisias, was held on Tuesday 5th March 2019 at the Art Worker's Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT. The lecture will commence at 6.30pm, and is preceded by the AGM.
For further information, please click here.
For further information, please click here.
An Exhibition on the Cult of Antinous, Monday, 11th February 2019
There is currently a small exhibition in the Ashmolean museum in Oxford on the cult of Antinous, mounted and curated by Bert Smith. It is accompanied by a scholarly study and catalogue by Bert and his colleagues. Unfortunately the exhibition is only on display till 24 February, but Bert has kindly agreed to make himself available to any Friends who might wish to visit the exhibition on Monday 11 February at 2 pm.
For further information, please click here.
For further information, please click here.
An Illustrated Talk on the Recent Discoveries in the Tetrapylon Street, Thursday, 10th January 2019
On 10 January at 6.30 pm in Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, Dr Ine Jacobs, the specialist who under Professor Bert Smith's supervision directs the archaeological work on the Tetrapylon Street (the area of excavation to which the Friends have contributed), will give an illustrated talk on the recent discoveries there.
For further information, please click here.
For further information, please click here.
A visit to the collection of Peter and Renate Nahum, 17th May 2018
Peter and Renate Nahum, owners of the Leicester Galleries in Ryder Street for many years, have again generously offered to take a small party of Friends round their important art collection, now installed in their fine Georgian house at 5 Bloomsbury Square.
Peter Nahum is a specialist on 19th and 20th century art; he has been a regular expert on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow. The collection of paintings, drawings and sculpture reflects its owners' expertise but actually ranges from the prehistoric to 2018.
Gather at their house at 2.30pm, and finish off with tea at 4pm.
For more details, click here.
Peter Nahum is a specialist on 19th and 20th century art; he has been a regular expert on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow. The collection of paintings, drawings and sculpture reflects its owners' expertise but actually ranges from the prehistoric to 2018.
Gather at their house at 2.30pm, and finish off with tea at 4pm.
For more details, click here.
24th Kenan Erim Annual Lecture on Wednesday 7th March 2018
The 24th Kenan Erim Annual Lecture, given by Professor R.R.R. Smith, Director of Excavations at Aphrodisias, will be on Wednesday 7th March 2018 at the Art Worker's Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT. The lecture will commence at 6.30pm, and is preceded by the AGM.
For further information, please click here.
For further information, please click here.
Aphrodisias: Talk by Professor Andrew Wilson, Monday 28th November 2016
Professor Andrew Wilson, who gave us such an interesting talk on the South Agora a few years ago, has very kindly agreed to give us an update on developments on the ground there and in his researches. He is Professor of the Archaeology of the Roman Empire at Oxford University and in charge of excavations at the so-called South Agora of Aphrodisias.
The talk will be at Daunt Books, 83 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 4QW, at 6.30 for 7 pm on Monday 28 November. A glass of wine will be served beforehand and recent books by Professor Wilson and Professor R.R.R. Smith will be on sale. The proceedings should finish by 8.15 pm.
For further information, please click here.
The talk will be at Daunt Books, 83 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 4QW, at 6.30 for 7 pm on Monday 28 November. A glass of wine will be served beforehand and recent books by Professor Wilson and Professor R.R.R. Smith will be on sale. The proceedings should finish by 8.15 pm.
For further information, please click here.
22nd Kenan Erim Annual Lecture on Wednesday 24th February 2016
The 22nd Kenan Erim Annual Lecture, given by Professor R.R.R. Smith, Director of Excavations at Aphrodisias, will be on Wednesday 24th February 2016 at the Art Worker's Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT. The lecture will commence at 6.30pm, and is preceded by the AGM.
For further information, please click here.
For further information, please click here.
Thomas Kaefer in conversation with Bert Smith and Trevor Proudfoot on his work as Architect in Chief at Aphrodisias, Tuesday 21 April 2015
Having finished the ‘rebuild’ of the Celsius Library at Ephesus more than a quarter of a century ago, Thomas Kaefer and Gerhard Paul were invited by Kenan Erim, then Director of Excavations at Aphrodisias, to rebuild the gateway into the Precinct of the Temple of Aphrodite, now known as the Tetrapylon. They completed the re-erection of this magnificent monument in 1990. Twenty five years later, both architects are still at work in the Sebasteion and Hadrianic Baths. It is a unique honour for the Friends not only to have Thomas Kaefer talk to us in London on the anastylosis of these fine buildings but also to have the chance to launch Ahmet Ertuğ’s Ancient Theaters of Anatolia, the text of which is by Bert Smith – a magnificent tome: interesting, beautiful and destined, like all previous Ertuğ books, to become a collectors’ item.
For more details, click here.
For more details, click here.
A visit to the collection of Peter and Renate Nahum, 14th April 2015
Peter and Renate Nahum, owners of the Leicester Galleries in Ryder Street for many years, have again generously offered to take a small party of Friends round their important art collection, now installed in their fine Georgian house at 5 Bloomsbury Square.
Peter Nahum is a specialist on 19th and 20th century art; he has been a regular expert on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow. The collection of paintings, drawings and sculpture reflects its owners' expertise but actually ranges from the prehistoric to 2015.
For more details, click here.
Peter Nahum is a specialist on 19th and 20th century art; he has been a regular expert on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow. The collection of paintings, drawings and sculpture reflects its owners' expertise but actually ranges from the prehistoric to 2015.
For more details, click here.
21st Kenan Erim Annual Lecture on Wednesday 25th February 2015
The 21st Kenan Erim Annual Lecture, given by Professor R.R.R. Smith, Director of Excavations at Aphrodisias, will be on Wednesday 25th February 2015 at the Art Worker's Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT. The lecture will commence at 6.30pm, and is preceded by the AGM.
For further information, please click here.
For further information, please click here.
A guided tour of the Lycian and Carian exhibits at the British Museum, 23rd January 2014
Dr Ian Jenkins, Senior Curator at The British Museum responsible for the ancient Greek collections, has, by
popular demand, very kindly invited us to meet him by the Lion of Cnidus in the Great Court at 5pm on
Thursday 23 January, in order to introduce us to the Museum’s unrivalled collection of Lycian and Carian
architecture and sculpture.
For more details, click here.
popular demand, very kindly invited us to meet him by the Lion of Cnidus in the Great Court at 5pm on
Thursday 23 January, in order to introduce us to the Museum’s unrivalled collection of Lycian and Carian
architecture and sculpture.
For more details, click here.
A visit to the collection of Peter and Renate Nahum, 25th February 2014
Peter and Renate Nahum, owners of the Leicester Galleries in Ryder Street for many years, have generously
offered to take a small party of Friends round their important art collection, now installed in their fine
Georgian house at 5 Bloomsbury Square.
Peter Nahum is a specialist on 19th and 20th century art; he has been a regular expert on the BBC’s Antiques
Roadshow. The collection of paintings, drawings and sculpture reflects its owners’ expertise but actually
ranges from the prehistoric to 2013.
For more details, click here.
offered to take a small party of Friends round their important art collection, now installed in their fine
Georgian house at 5 Bloomsbury Square.
Peter Nahum is a specialist on 19th and 20th century art; he has been a regular expert on the BBC’s Antiques
Roadshow. The collection of paintings, drawings and sculpture reflects its owners’ expertise but actually
ranges from the prehistoric to 2013.
For more details, click here.
Visit to Painshill Park, April 2013
Painshill Park was created by the Hon. Charles Hamilton between 1738 and 1773. It is today the finest remaining example of an eighteenth century English landscape park.
On 10th April 2013, 22 Friends enjoyed a private guided tour of this beautiful park.
Michael Gove, Chief Executive of the Painshill Park Trust, was our host for the day, and he and his small team did a wonderful job of both entertaining and informing.
We also enjoyed the services of Trevor Proudfoot, of Cliveden Conservation, (and of Aphrodisias fame), who showed us around the Crystal Grotto, where his team are doing such a marvellous job of restoration.
The day also included lunch, washed down with the excellent Painshill sparkling wine.
On 10th April 2013, 22 Friends enjoyed a private guided tour of this beautiful park.
Michael Gove, Chief Executive of the Painshill Park Trust, was our host for the day, and he and his small team did a wonderful job of both entertaining and informing.
We also enjoyed the services of Trevor Proudfoot, of Cliveden Conservation, (and of Aphrodisias fame), who showed us around the Crystal Grotto, where his team are doing such a marvellous job of restoration.
The day also included lunch, washed down with the excellent Painshill sparkling wine.
Aphrodisias Film Evening, March 2013
On Tuesday 12 March 2013, the Friends held a film evening in conjunction with the Anglo-Turkish Society.
The two films shown were Professor Christopher Miles’ iconic 1984 Aphrodisias film, together with Professor George Janossy’s video of the 2012 visit to the site by a party of Friends of Aphrodisias.
The event was held at the the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre in Central London.
A total of some 50 people attended, most of whom then went on to enjoy an excellent dinner at the TAS Turkish restaurant.
The two films shown were Professor Christopher Miles’ iconic 1984 Aphrodisias film, together with Professor George Janossy’s video of the 2012 visit to the site by a party of Friends of Aphrodisias.
The event was held at the the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre in Central London.
A total of some 50 people attended, most of whom then went on to enjoy an excellent dinner at the TAS Turkish restaurant.
