Dr Paul Roberts to Give Talk on Sicily's Ancient Splendours
Arts Society Chiswick's first lecture in its 2026 programme
The Christ Pantocrator mosaic in the apse of the Cefalù Cathedral in Sicily
December 22, 2025
The Arts Society Chiswick will begin its 2026 programme with a richly illustrated lecture exploring the art, architecture and layered history of Sicily, one of the ancient Mediterranean’s most culturally diverse and prosperous regions.
The talk, “Sicilian Splendours: from Greece to the Normans”, will be delivered by archaeologist and author Dr Paul Roberts OBE at 8pm on Thursday 8 January 2026 at POSK.
Dr Roberts, Research Keeper in the Department of Antiquities at the Ashmolean Museum, is a long‑standing Arts Society lecturer specialising in the daily life, art and material culture of the Greek and Roman worlds. He was awarded an OBE in the 2025 New Year Honours for services to archaeology and heritage.
The lecture will trace Sicily’s complex past, beginning with the Carthaginians — the island’s earliest major invaders — whose distinctive culture survives most clearly on Motya. It will then move through the great Greek cities of Agrigento, Syracuse and Segesta, celebrated for their temples and theatres, before exploring Roman Sicily’s prosperity and the extraordinary mosaics of Piazza Armerina. The talk complements the Society’s forthcoming overseas tour.
Alison Watson, Chair of The Arts Society Chiswick, said the evening promises “a compelling introduction to the island’s art, architecture and enduring legacy”.
The lecture begins at 8pm, with doors and a private bar opening at 7pm. The event is open to the public and is part of The Arts Society Chiswick’s ongoing programme of cultural talks. This month the society is offering free admission (there is usually a charge of £15) to all non-member visitors. The entry charge is redeemable against the cost of membership.
Membership of the Arts Society Chiswick includes ten expert lectures on the second Thursday of every month (except August and December) and the opportunity to participate in tours, visits, social events and Special Interest Days. Half year Membership available from 1 July. For more information see the society's web site.
The Arts Society Chiswick brings people together through a shared curiosity for the arts, to create opportunities for everyone to be part of a diverse community in which they can enjoy, learn about, participate in, and preserve the Arts and Cultural Heritage.
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