A sixty-year long story (1938-2004): the case of the archaeologist Alda Levi between damnatio memoriae and public restitution

The careers of prominent officials from the former Direzione Generale Antichità e Belle Arti, including Giorgio Castelfranco, Paola Della Pergola, Augusta Ghidiglia Quintavalle, and Ettore Modigliani, were interrupted in 1938 due to racial laws that barred Jews from state employment. After World War II, they were reinstated and contributed significantly to the restoration of Italy's cultural heritage. In contrast, archaeologist Alda Levi, whose story remained obscure for decades, faced gender and racial discrimination that hindered her career. Despite her achievements in Lombardy, her contributions were marginalized, and she was dismissed in 1938. After the war, she resumed work but died in 1950. Recent efforts have revived her legacy, notably with the naming of the Antiquarium of the Parco dell’Anfiteatro di Milano after her, highlighting the impact of Fascist policies on women and Jewish professionals.