Episode 10: If It's Just a Symbol, To Hell with It

Episode 10: If It's Just a Symbol, To Hell with It

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast – Season One – The Strange Story of Savannah’s Ancient Roman Statuary [https://www.savannahsideways.com/].   In this season finale, host Jessica Leigh Lebos [https://www.savannahsideways.com/] returns to where the entire journey began: the quiet, storied grounds of Greenwich Cemetery. Five years after first hearing whispers of long-forgotten marble relics hidden away by the City of Savannah, she reflects on how a single question about a set of statues unraveled a sweeping tale of art, ambition, politics, preservation, and the ever-shifting identity of a city.   As Savannah continues to grow and transform, Jessica traces the new paths the story has taken—from updates on key figures and communities featured throughout the season, to unexpected developments that could shape the future of the statues themselves. Out at the Shady Lagoon, surrounded by newly restored landscapes and the hum of pollinators on the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail, she considers the larger forces that bind history, nature, and civic responsibility.   City staff, historians, and preservationists reenter the narrative, offering fresh context and hints of what may lie ahead for the marble collection. The fate of the statues is still unsettled and competing visions for their future raise new questions about stewardship, legacy, and the meaning we assign to the objects—and stories—we inherit.   As Jessica closes the chapter on Season One, she leaves listeners with a sense of wonder, urgency, and possibility. The threads she’s followed through archives, graveyards, museums, and bureaucratic halls point to a story that may be coming full circle… or perhaps opening the door to an entirely new mystery.   If there's one thing we've learned, it’s that Savannah always has another secret waiting in the wings.   SHOW LINKS: Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos [https://www.savannahsideways.com/] Check out Savannah Sideways Substack [https://jessicaleighlebos.substack.com/] Check out Jessica's books [https://www.savannahsideways.com/books] Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media [https://www.deedanielsmedia.com/] THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE: Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear [https://forsighteye.net/] Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island [https://bubbagumbo.com/] Tybee Island Marina [https://tybeeislandmarina.com/] BG’s Seafood Co-Op [https://www.facebook.com/people/BGs-Seafood-Co-Op/100057348373674/] Bonaventure Don [https://www.bonaventuredon.com/] The 5 Spot [https://5spotsandfly.com/] Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum [https://www.shipsofthesea.org/] Shot By Somi [https://www.shotbysomi.com/book-online] SIXBY [https://sixbysavannah.com/] Lone Wolf Lounge [https://www.lonewolfsav.com/menu] Over Yonder [https://www.overyondersav.com/] Celebritees [https://www.celebritees.net/]   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Introduction and Recap 00:46 Changes in Savannah 01:28 Updates on Key Figures and Communities 02:15 A Serene Morning at Greenwich Cemetery 03:58 The Historical Significance of the Statues 06:55 The Future of the Statues 13:30 City Hall Restoration and Civic Engagement 19:05 Conclusion and Reflections

Episode 9: The Big Reveal

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast – Season One – The Strange Story of Savannah’s Ancient Roman Statuary [https://www.savannahsideways.com/]. In this penultimate episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos [https://www.savannahsideways.com/] finally gains rare access to the Greenwich statues after years of research, persistence, and archival sleuthing. Accompanied by Luciana Spracher, the City of Savannah archivist, and Dr. Mark Abbe, she steps into a hidden storage space on the edge of the city and encounters centuries-old marble pieces that have remained out of public view for decades. Standing among the statues, Jessica reflects on the layers of history, artistry, and human ambition embedded in each piece. Savannah Alderman Nick Palumbo shares his perspective on the city’s role in preserving these treasures, highlighting the challenges and decisions involved in caring for such a unique collection. Questions about their origins, authenticity, and significance linger—but the biggest question remains: What will happen to them next? As the statues remain in the city’s care, this episode leaves listeners with a sense of discovery, reverence, and anticipation for the final chapter of the Savannah Sideways Podcast Season One: The Strange Story of Savannah’s Ancient Roman Statuary. [https://www.youtube.com/@SavannahSideways] SHOW LINKS: Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos [https://www.savannahsideways.com/] Check out Savannah Sideways Substack [https://jessicaleighlebos.substack.com/] Check out Jessica's books [https://www.savannahsideways.com/books] Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media [https://www.deedanielsmedia.com/] THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE: Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear [https://forsighteye.net/] Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island [https://bubbagumbo.com/] Tybee Island Marina [https://tybeeislandmarina.com/] BG’s Seafood Co-Op [https://www.facebook.com/people/BGs-Seafood-Co-Op/100057348373674/] Bonaventure Don [https://www.bonaventuredon.com/] The 5 Spot [https://5spotsandfly.com/] Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum [https://www.shipsofthesea.org/] Shot By Somi [https://www.shotbysomi.com/book-online] SIXBY [https://sixbysavannah.com/] Lone Wolf Lounge [https://www.lonewolfsav.com/menu] Over Yonder [https://www.overyondersav.com/] Celebritees [https://www.celebritees.net/] FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 The Big Reveal 00:17 First Encounter with the Statues 02:08 Dr. Abbey's Examination 03:33 Historical Context and Provenance 05:07 Repatriation and Ethical Considerations 10:23 The Future of the Statues 13:51 Savannah's Economic Growth and Preservation 16:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Episode 8: The Bridge to Sapelo

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary [https://www.savannahsideways.com/savannah-sideways-1]. In this eighth episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos [https://www.savannahsideways.com/] follows the unexpected trail of Savannah’s ancient statuary all the way to Georgia’s barrier islands—revealing a sweeping story of wealth, land, loss, resilience, and one of the most culturally important communities in the United States. Beginning with the Greenwich estate’s original owners, Jessica traces how industrialist Spencer Shotter and later the Torrey family shaped both Savannah and the coastal islands through their lavish mansions, art collections, and Gilded Age pursuits. Their legacies intertwine with other elite landowners of the era, ultimately leading to Sapelo Island and the enigmatic Reynolds Mansion—one of the last surviving Gilded Age estates in Georgia. Jessica explores how tobacco heir R.J. Reynolds transformed Sapelo into his own secluded retreat, even adding surreal features like circus murals and a life-sized menagerie painted by an Italian muralist. But her journey into the mansion’s faded opulence becomes a pathway to a deeper story: the history and present struggles of Sapelo’s Gullah Geechee residents, descendants of enslaved West and Central Africans who cultivated rice, cotton, indigo, and sugar along the coastal lowlands. Their agricultural expertise was foundational to the region’s wealth, yet their cultural identity has remained remarkably intact through centuries of isolation and community strength. Listeners are introduced to Sistah Patt Gunn, Savannah’s internationally known Gullah Geechee storyteller and historian, who explains how the Geechee and Gullah identities formed across Georgia and the Carolinas. With her guidance, Jessica uncovers the legacy of Bilali Muhammad, the highly educated and devout Muslim enslaved on Sapelo who managed the island’s vast agricultural operations and left behind an extraordinary Arabic manuscript still studied today. His descendants—and those of his seven daughters—helped establish vibrant Geechee settlements across Sapelo that thrived well into the 20th century. Jessica then travels to the island to meet Maurice Bailey, son of the late author Cornelia Walker Bailey and founder of SOLO (Sapelo Island Save Our Legacy Ourself). Riding with Maurice through Hogg Hummock and the historic cemeteries, she learns how Sapelo’s Geechee community has been threatened by land pressure, rising seas, political maneuvering, zoning changes, and an ongoing struggle for representation. Their challenges echo a long history of exploitation—from mid-century land seizures to recent attempts to rezone ancestral property for large-scale vacation homes. The episode also reflects on the tragic collapse of Sapelo’s ferry dock in October 2024, which claimed the lives of seven elders who had just celebrated the island’s heritage. Jessica connects this heartbreaking event to the broader theme of loss—of stories, traditions, and irreplaceable cultural memory. Through it all, Jessica discovers that the “bridge” connecting Savannah’s statues to Sapelo is not architectural but symbolic. The wealth that imported Roman art and built Gilded Age mansions came directly from the expertise and forced labor of West African people whose descendants still fight to remain on their coastal homeland. Their story is inseparable from the story of Savannah’s art, architecture, and identity. And as Jessica prepares for the penultimate episode, she reminds listeners that the history we preserve—or fail to—will shape the legacy we leave behind.   SHOW LINKS: Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos [https://www.savannahsideways.com/] Check out Savannah Sideways Substack [https://jessicaleighlebos.substack.com/] Check out Jessica's books [https://www.savannahsideways.com/books] Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media [https://www.deedanielsmedia.com/] THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE: Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear [https://forsighteye.net/] Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island [https://bubbagumbo.com/] Tybee Island Marina [https://tybeeislandmarina.com/] BG’s Seafood Co-Op [https://www.facebook.com/people/BGs-Seafood-Co-Op/100057348373674/] Bonaventure Don [https://www.bonaventuredon.com/] The 5 Spot [https://5spotsandfly.com/] Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum [https://www.shipsofthesea.org/] Shot By Somi [https://www.shotbysomi.com/book-online] SIXBY [https://sixbysavannah.com/] Lone Wolf Lounge [https://www.lonewolfsav.com/menu] Over Yonder [https://www.overyondersav.com/] Celebritees [https://www.celebritees.net/]   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Introduction: The Bridge to Sapelo 00:04 The Gilded Age and Georgia's Barrier Islands 03:39 The Reynolds Mansion and Sapelo Island 05:11 Exploring Sapelo Island's Gullah Geechee Heritage 11:55 Challenges Facing the Gullah Geechee Community 16:08 Current Efforts and Future Hopes 21:51 Conclusion: The Resilience of Sapelo Island

Episode 7: The Mystery of the Missing Sphinxes

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary [https://www.savannahsideways.com/savannah-sideways-1]. EPISODE 7 – The Mystery of the Missing Sphinxes In this seventh episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos [https://www.savannahsideways.com/] delves into one of Savannah’s most tantalizing historical enigmas: the whereabouts of the missing Greenwich Sphinxes. After tracing the 19-piece statue collection recovered from the estate, Jessica uncovers the lesser-known fragments of Greenwich — wrought iron planters, marble columns, and architectural remnants lost to fire, neglect, or rumor. But it is the pair of Egyptian Sphinxes, glimpsed in archival photographs and silent film, that sparks her obsessive quest. Joining Jessica is Savannah historian Hugh Golson, whose lifetime of research into the city’s architecture and antiques offers new insight into the statues’ journey. From early 20th-century newspapers to the memories of local families, Hugh pieces together a story spanning decades, revealing that these enigmatic sculptures once graced private homes long after they vanished from public view. Along the way, listeners encounter Savannah’s quirky, colorful personalities, from graveyard directors to civic preservationists, each adding texture to the Sphinxes’ tale. Jessica and Hugh also explore the broader cultural fascination with Egyptian motifs in America during the Gilded Age, situating the Greenwich Sphinxes within a national trend of Egyptian-inspired art, architecture, and decorative objects. Were the statues truly ancient, or beautifully crafted products of 19th-century collectors’ ambitions? Through photographs, archival research, and expert insight, the episode examines authenticity, provenance, and the ways stories of art and history intertwine with Savannah’s local lore. This episode invites listeners to wander the thin line between myth and reality, reminding us that history is not only about what survives — it’s about what we choose to remember, preserve, and seek out. The Sphinxes’ story is far from over, and Jessica teases the next chapter in their remarkable and mysterious journey. SHOW LINKS: Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos [https://www.savannahsideways.com/] Check out Savannah Sideways Substack [https://jessicaleighlebos.substack.com/] Check out Jessica's books [https://www.savannahsideways.com/books] Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media [https://www.deedanielsmedia.com/] THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE: Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear [https://forsighteye.net/] Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island [https://bubbagumbo.com/] Tybee Island Marina [https://tybeeislandmarina.com/] BG’s Seafood Co-Op [https://www.facebook.com/people/BGs-Seafood-Co-Op/100057348373674/] Bonaventure Don [https://www.bonaventuredon.com/] The 5 Spot [https://5spotsandfly.com/] Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum [https://www.shipsofthesea.org/] Shot By Somi [https://www.shotbysomi.com/book-online] SIXBY [https://sixbysavannah.com/] Lone Wolf Lounge [https://www.lonewolfsav.com/menu] Over Yonder [https://www.overyondersav.com/] Celebritees [https://www.celebritees.net/] FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Introduction: The Mystery of the Missing Sphinxes 00:05 Uncovering the Greenwich Collection 00:44 The Disappearance of the Sphinxes 01:58 Historical Insights from Hugh Golson 03:27 The Forsyth Park Sphinxes 06:34 The Greenwich Sphinxes Resurface 09:11 The Sphinxes' Journey to Augusta 12:54 Modern-Day Mysteries and Speculations 15:59 Conclusion: The Ongoing Mystery

Episode 6: Breaking Down the Myths

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary [https://www.savannahsideways.com/savannah-sideways-1]. EPISODE 6 – Breaking Down the Myths In this sixth episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos [https://www.savannahsideways.com/] digs deeper into the fascinating world of ancient art and modern mythmaking. Joined once again by Dr. Mark Abbe, University of Georgia professor and global expert in antiquities and art restoration, Jessica unpacks how America’s Gilded Age fascination with marble and grandeur shaped our collective imagination — and, in some ways, distorted history. From the lavish collections of tycoons like J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, and Isabella Stewart Gardner, to the stately Southern estates that mirrored their northern counterparts, we explore how art collecting became both a symbol of sophistication and a tool for shaping America’s cultural identity. These early art patrons saw themselves not just as collectors, but as civilizers, building museums, libraries, and institutions meant to uplift the public — even as their wealth and privilege drew scrutiny. Dr. Abbe also sheds light on one of art history’s biggest misconceptions: the myth of the “pure white” marble statue. Through groundbreaking scientific research, he reveals that the sculpted figures of ancient Greece and Rome were once vividly painted in lifelike colors — red lips, golden hair, and skin tones in every shade. This revelation challenges centuries of Western ideals about beauty, culture, and race, and exposes how a simple misunderstanding became an aesthetic standard with deep social implications. As Jessica connects Savannah’s own Roman relics to this broader narrative, she invites listeners to reconsider what authenticity really means — in art, in history, and in how we tell our stories. Were the Greenwich statues truly ancient, or clever reconstructions? And what truths lie hidden beneath their white marble sheen? This episode reminds us that history isn’t static marble — it’s painted in color, layered with meaning, and alive with questions. SHOW LINKS: Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos [https://www.savannahsideways.com/] Check out Savannah Sideways Substack [https://jessicaleighlebos.substack.com/] Check out Jessica's books [https://www.savannahsideways.com/books] Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media [https://www.deedanielsmedia.com/] THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE: Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear [https://forsighteye.net/] Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island [https://bubbagumbo.com/] Tybee Island Marina [https://tybeeislandmarina.com/] BG’s Seafood Co-Op [https://www.facebook.com/people/BGs-Seafood-Co-Op/100057348373674/] Bonaventure Don [https://www.bonaventuredon.com/] The 5 Spot [https://5spotsandfly.com/] Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum [https://www.shipsofthesea.org/] Shot By Somi [https://www.shotbysomi.com/book-online] SIXBY [https://sixbysavannah.com/] Lone Wolf Lounge [https://www.lonewolfsav.com/menu] Over Yonder [https://www.overyondersav.com/] Celebritees [https://www.celebritees.net/]   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Introduction to Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary 00:57 The Rise of American Art Collecting 04:34 Gilded Age Philanthropy and Art 08:35 Carnegie Libraries in Savannah 11:37 The Mystery of the Greenwich Statues 19:09 The Truth About Ancient Roman Statuary 24:35 Conclusion and Teasers for Next Episode