---
title: "Washington: Rome Reborn"
date: 2014-06-10T03:00:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://terp.umd.edu/washington-rome-reborn"
section: Articles
---
# Washington: Rome Reborn

*June 10, 2014* — by [Karen Shih ’09](/authors/karen-shih-09)


*The “Apotheosis of Washington,” a — The “Apotheosis of Washington,” an 1865 fresco by artist Constantino Brumidi in the U.S. Capitol dome, is heavily Roman-influenced. It depicts George Washington as a god rising to the heavens, surrounded by goddesses and 13 maidens representing the colonies.*

Roman influences permeate our nation’s capital, from Latin inscriptions in federal buildings and the classical design of the Capitol to the mural of George Washington surrounded by Roman gods in its dome.

The new $500,000 Ernest L. Pellegri grant from the [National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)](http://www.niaf.org/) to the [Department of Classics](https://classics.umd.edu/) will fund research to further understand the links between ancient Rome and the founding of the United States, as well as scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students.


*In Brief DC Rome2 — Photos courtesy of Gregory Staley.*


This dichotomy is also seen in the semi-nude sculpture of Washington (above right) modeled after Zeus and created by Horatio Greenough, who studied in Italy. It was supposed to be installed in the Capitol in the mid-1800s, but because of widespread controversy and criticism, it wound up in the National Museum of American History.

The grant, named for an NIAF donor, will also support as many as 20 students per year seeking to study abroad or conduct research in Italy.

“In hero myths, heroes regularly have to leave home, to go on a quest, to discover themselves and to gain new talents,” Staley says. “Studying abroad is simply a modern version of that mythical pattern.”




**Issue:** [Spring 2014](https://terp.umd.edu/editions/spring-2014)


**Types:** [In Brief](https://terp.umd.edu/category/in-brief)