Zoe Ortiz

• Roman Empire, Ancient Mediterranean

I am a classical archaeologist and historian specializing in the Ancient Mediterranean world, with a primary focus on the Roman Empire. My current research centers on the artistic dynamics of ancient cities in decline, particularly those situated on the Italian peninsula. I am the Co-Director of the Gabii Forum Project, an excavation and survey expedition in conjunction the Musée du Louvre and the Soprintendenza speciale di Roma. The project investigates the development of the imperial-era forum of the city of Gabii, an ancient city located in Italy.

In addition to archaeology and history, I have a passion for museum studies. I have served as co-curator at the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology at the University of Michigan, a research analyst for the Musée du Louvre, and curatorial assistant at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome. Furthermore, I was a Fulbright-Vinciguerra grantee in 2021, which facilitated my research at the Vatican Apostolic Archives, which houses documents concerning the antiquarian activities at Gabii in the 18th century.