Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast – Season One – The Strange Story of Savannah’s Ancient Roman Statuary. In this penultimate episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos 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. SHOW LINKS: Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos Check out Savannah Sideways Substack Check out Jessica's books Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE: Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island Tybee Island Marina BG’s Seafood Co-Op Bonaventure Don The 5 Spot Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Shot By Somi SIXBY Lone Wolf Lounge Over Yonder Celebritees

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

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary.

EPISODE 7 – The Mystery of the Missing Sphinxes

In this seventh episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos 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

Check out Savannah Sideways Substack

Check out Jessica's books

Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media

THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE:

Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear

Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island

Tybee Island Marina

BG’s Seafood Co-Op

Bonaventure Don

The 5 Spot

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Shot By Somi

SIXBY

Lone Wolf Lounge

Over Yonder

Celebritees

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

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary.

EPISODE 6 – Breaking Down the Myths

In this sixth episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos 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

Check out Savannah Sideways Substack

Check out Jessica's books

Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media

THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE:

Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear

Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island

Tybee Island Marina

BG’s Seafood Co-Op

Bonaventure Don

The 5 Spot

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Shot By Somi

SIXBY

Lone Wolf Lounge

Over Yonder

Celebritees

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

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary.

EPISODE 5 – Meet the Statues

In this fifth episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos traces the fate of the Greenwich statues after the devastating fire that destroyed the Shotter mansion. What followed was a haunting chapter in Savannah’s history — an era when the city, still reeling from the Great Depression, struggled between preservation and progress.

As the ruins of the once-opulent Greenwich estate decayed into gothic splendor, Savannah’s economy transformed — from cotton and sugar to paper and industry. Jessica uncovers how marble relics of the past languished in city storage for decades, passed between departments and museums, nearly forgotten amid changing times and civic priorities.

Listeners are introduced to Harry Delorme, Senior Curator at the Telfair Museums, who has spent nearly four decades studying and preserving the Greenwich statuary. He offers insights into how these ancient works fit into Savannah’s evolving artistic narrative — from classical ideals to contemporary inclusion. We also meet Luciana Spracher, Director of the City of Savannah’s Municipal Archives, whose meticulous records illuminate the statues’ bureaucratic journey through time — including their appraisal, forgotten crates, and rediscovery.

This episode explores what gives art its worth: is it marble, money, or memory? And how does a city decide what’s worth keeping? As Jessica connects the past to the present, we see that the story of the Greenwich statues is as much about Savannah’s future as it is its past.

SHOW LINKS:

Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos

Check out Savannah Sideways Substack

Check out Jessica's books

Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media

THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE:

Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear

Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island

Tybee Island Marina

BG’s Seafood Co-Op

Bonaventure Don

The 5 Spot

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Shot By Somi

SIXBY

Lone Wolf Lounge

Over Yonder

Celebritees

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 The Abandoned Greenwich Mansion

00:40 Savannah's Economic Struggles and Industrial Growth

02:38 The Fate of the Greenwich Statues

04:39 The Telfair Museum's Role

05:54 Harry Delore's Contributions

11:39 Modern Art and Environmental Commentary

14:32 The 2012 Appraisal and City Council Decisions

17:30 Dr. Mark Abbey's Research and Future Plans

19:03 Conclusion and Teaser for Next Episode

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary.

EPISODE 4 – Ossabaw Coincidences & Connections: In this fourth episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos follows the Torrey family’s journey from the ashes of their Greenwich mansion to the wild beauty of Ossabaw Island, uncovering how loss, legacy, and a touch of magic intertwined to shape one of Georgia’s most fascinating conservation stories.

Meet Eleanor “Sandy” Torrey West, the indomitable woman who turned her family’s Gilded Age retreat into a crucible for art, science, and spiritual exploration. From the ruins of Greenwich Place to the pink stucco mansion on Ossabaw, Sandy’s life bridges eras—where ancient myths meet modern activism and coincidence feels more like cosmic choreography.

Through conversations with Elizabeth DuBose of the Ossabaw Island Foundation and a deeply personal story of discovery, Jessica traces how statues, stories, and serendipity connect Savannah’s past to its present. Along the way, we meet a cast of visionaries—artists, philosophers, conservationists—and a woman whose 108 years embodied the spirit of the island she fought to save.

This episode is about more than marble and memory. It’s about meaning: how we follow signs, find purpose in patterns, and keep listening for the gods—Hermes included—who travel beside us.

SHOW LINKS:

Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos

Check out Savannah Sideways Substack

Check out Jessica's books

Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media

THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE:

Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear

Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island

Tybee Island Marina

BG’s Seafood Co-Op

Bonaventure Don

The 5 Spot

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Shot By Somi

SIXBY

Lone Wolf Lounge

Over Yonder

Celebritees

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction: Ossabaw Coincidences and Connections

00:13 The Torrey Family's New Beginning on Ossabaw Island

00:37 The Rich History of Georgia's Barrier Islands

01:26 Ossabaw Island Through the Ages

03:18 The Torrey Family Legacy and the Pink Mansion

05:49 Sandy West: The Woman Who Saved Ossabaw

08:55 The Ossabaw Island Project and Genesis Project

10:02 The Fight to Preserve Ossabaw Island

12:38 Sandy West's Final Years and Legacy

16:15 The Author's Personal Journey and Connection to the Story

22:25 The Auction and the Photograph

28:10 Conclusion: The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary.

EPISODE 3 – In Turpentine We Trust: In this third episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos traces Savannah’s rise from post–Civil War hardship to Gilded Age opulence through an unlikely source—turpentine. As the longleaf pine forests fueled a booming naval stores industry, fortunes were made, ecosystems were destroyed, and entire communities were bound to brutal labor and debt.

Meet Spencer Shotter, the magnate whose pine-scented empire made him one of Savannah’s richest men—and ultimately led to his downfall under America’s first antitrust prosecutions. Along the way, historian Dr. Drew Swanson sheds light on the environmental legacy of the longleaf pine, and we follow the thread from the Gilded Age to the Progressive Era, where unchecked capitalism finally met reform.

The story culminates in fire and renewal— and the extraordinary life of Sandy West, whose legacy transformed Georgia’s conservation movement.

This episode uncovers how pine sap, power, and progress shaped Savannah’s fortunes—and how one man’s empire helped set the stage for the city’s most enduring mysteries.

YOUTUBE VIDEO MENTIONED: Greenwich At Bonaventure Cemetery-Savannah GA's Own Biltmore House-Forgotten No Longer

SHOW LINKS:

Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos

Check out Savannah Sideways Substack

Check out Jessica's books

Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media

THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE:

Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear

Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island

Tybee Island Marina

BG’s Seafood Co-Op

Bonaventure Don

The 5 Spot

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Shot By Somi

SIXBY

Lone Wolf Lounge

Over Yonder

Celebritees

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction to Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary

02:12 The Rise of Savannah's Naval Stores Industry

04:16 Environmental and Social Impact of Turpentine Production

10:30 The Decline of the Naval Stores Industry

17:44 Spencer Shotter's Legal Troubles and Legacy

24:06 The Tragic Fire at Greenwich Place

25:51 Sandy Tory West and the Preservation of Ossabaw Island

26:35 Conclusion and Sponsor Messages

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary.

EPISODE 2 - If the Land Could Talk: In this second episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos recounts the enigmatic history of Greenwich Cemetery, once the site of an opulent estate filled with 2000-year-old Roman statues.

From General Oglethorpe's founding of Savannah to the tragic fate of the Yamacraw people, we explore the multifaceted narratives woven into this land. Learn about the mysterious burial of Revolutionary War Hero Casimir Pulaski, the grandeur of the Greenwich Place mansion, and the Shotters' extravagant art collection, including a shipment of ancient statues that took nearly five years to arrive.

This episode delves deep into Savannah's historical layers, touching on both well-documented facts and unresolved mysteries.

SHOW LINKS:

Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos

Check out Savannah Sideways Substack

Check out Jessica's books

Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media

THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE:

Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear

Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island

Tybee Island Marina

BG’s Seafood Co-Op

Bonaventure Don

The 5 Spot

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Shot By Somi

SIXBY

Lone Wolf Lounge

Over Yonder

Celebritees

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction to Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary

01:40 The Origins of Greenwich Cemetery

05:46 The Revolutionary War and Kasmir Pulaski

19:26 The Civil War and Its Aftermath

24:50 The Gilded Age and Spencer Shotter's Mansion

30:29 The Arrival of the Roman Statuary

30:48 Conclusion and Sponsor Messages