AIA-Nashville Society Book Club at the Parthenon
Loot: The Battle Over Stolen Treasures of the Ancient World
Join us for a free Parthenon Book Club meeting on Monday, February 2, at 6 PM. This event is free and open to the public with RSVP.
THIS QUARTER’S BOOK SELECTION:
We will be discussing Loot: The Battle Over Stolen Treasures of the Ancient World by Sharon Waxman. Reserve your seat with a free RSVP.
Looking to purchase the book? Head over to Parnassus Books and mention the Archaeological Institute of America-Nashville Society book club at the Parthenon for a 10% discount.
RSVP required. Mention “Book Club” at the Ticket Counter, receive free admission, then proceed to the Treasury on Level 2 for the friendly, informal discussion.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Loot: The Battle Over Stolen Treasures of the Ancient World by Sharon Waxman
"Fast-paced and compelling . . . Waxman has an array of wondrous tales to tell... Considerable, admirable, and totally absorbing."—The Boston Globe
For the past two centuries, the West has plundered the treasures of the ancient world to fill its great museums, but in recent years the countries where ancient civilizations originated have begun to push back, taking museums to court, prosecuting curators, and threatening to force the return of these priceless objects.
Sharon Waxman brings us inside this high-stakes conflict, from the great cities of the West to Egypt, Turkey, Greece, and Italy, as these countries face down the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum, the British Museum, and the J. Paul Getty Museum. She shows how the actions of a few determined and implacable characters may yet strip these museums of some of their most cherished treasures.
For readers who are fascinated by antiquity, who love to frequent museums, and who believe in the value of cultural exchange, Loot opens a new window on an enduring conflict.
From: MacMillan Publishers
2026 BOOK CLUB DATES:
Monday, May 4, 2026 - Dinner with King Tut by Sam Kean — and a bonus 5 PM Central Virtual Symposium with the author!
Monday, August 3, 2026 - Helen of Troy, 1993 by Maria Zoccola - held at the Parthenon
Monday, November 2, 2026 - The Rescue Artist by Edward Dolnick - location TBD
BOOK CLUB SPONSOR: AIA-Nashville Society
The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) promotes archaeological inquiry and public understanding of the material record of the human past to foster an appreciation of diverse cultures and our shared humanity. The AIA supports archaeologists, their research and its dissemination, and the ethical practice of archaeology. The AIA educates people of all ages about the significance of archaeological discovery and advocates for the preservation of the world’s archaeological heritage. Learn more.
ADDITIONAL BOOK CLUB SPONSORS:
Centennial Park Conservancy
Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation
PREVIOUS AIA-NASHVILLE SOCIETY BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS:
The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century by Kirk Wallace Johnson — discussed November 2025
Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters by Emily Roberson — discussed August 2025
The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith — discussed May 2025
1177 B.C. A Graphic History of the Year Civilization Collapsed illustrated by Glynnis Fawkes — discussed February 2025
Pericles and Aspasia by Yvonne Korshak — discussed November 2024
The Art of the Con: The Most Notorious Fakes, Frauds, and Forgeries in the Art World by Anthony M. Amore — discussed August 2024
Pandora’s Jar by Natalie Haynes — discussed May 2024
Digging For Richard III: The Search for a Lost King by Michael W. Pitts — discussed February 2024
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood — discussed November 2023
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips — discussed August 2023
Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker — discussed May 2023
Circe by Madeline Miller — discussed February 2023