Ancient Greek art and archaeology: an Introduction

Aims

This course aims to:
 

• familiarise you with the most important examples of Ancient Greek Art 
  and Archaeology
  
   
• enable you to contextualise these within their aesthetic, socioeconomic, political and historical circumstances
  
   
• equip you with the skills to synthesise different types of material culture and other information (e.g. written sources) towards understanding how people lived, behaved and created

Course content

In this course, we will explore together material culture from Ancient Greece, from great masterpieces to humble vignettes, all contributing to the rich tapestry that this influential civilisation created. From the gold-filled graves at Mycenae to Socrates' shoemaker's probable shop in the Athenian Agora, you will have the opportunity to discover deeper meanings and creative roots of artefacts, monuments and places, as well as hone your investigative and critical skills in the process. Following an Introduction, we will hold thematic sessions intended to focus not only on learning about the techniques of the major genres of Ancient Greek art and archaeology (architecture, sculpture, pottery and other arts), but also on unpacking the circumstances and significance of their existence. In each session we will follow a chronological order, to trace not only the development of styles and technologies, but also their underlying, and fluctuating, aesthetics, politics and societies. The final session will bring everything together, but also give us the opportunity to briefly look at and analyse the impact of Ancient Greek Art and Archaeology in subsequent centuries, including the present. During the course, we will use a rich variety of learning resources at a comfortable pace, allowing for questions and discussions. No prior knowledge is required and inquisitive minds are most welcome! 

What to expect on this course

We will use a combination of lectures, including revision at the beginning of each session, short group work and discussions. The lecture materials will include multimedia (e.g. videos, aerial shots, reconstructions, audio), as well as props and handouts. Discussions and group work, similarly to the rest of the course components, will be managed according to student needs and pace.

Course sessions

1. Introduction to Ancient Greece, its Art and Archaeology. Our first session will cover a general introduction about our sources, methods and techniques of extrapolating information regarding Ancient Greek Art and Archaeology. We will also contextualise our subject in time and place.
2. Architecture. In this session, we will examine architectural principles and techniques, will follow the structural and aesthetic evolution of buildings and monuments, as well as problematise their sociopolitical causes and undercurrents.
3. Sculpture. We will continue our material culture explorations by examining the aesthetics, techniques and contexts of a variety of sculptural pieces, from monumental statues to seal engravings.
4. Pottery and Other Arts. We will conclude our material culture journey with a close look at the multiple shapes, depictions, functionalities, identities, and even genders and secrets of Ancient Greek ceramics. 
5. Society, Identity, Politics, Afterlife. In an overview of what we learnt during the course, we will synthesise the different aspects of material culture and other elements of the archaeological record, towards building a picture of how people lived, behaved and created. We will also look at the legacies and reception of Ancient Greek Art and Archaeology.

Learning outcomes

As a result of the course, you will gain a greater understanding of the subject and you should be able to:

• recount the most important examples of Ancient Greek Art and Archaeology
• contextualise these within their aesthetic, socioeconomic, political and historical circumstances
• apply your skills to synthesise different types of material culture and other information (e.g. written sources) towards understanding how people lived, behaved and created.

Required reading

There is no required reading for this course. See Course materials for supplementary reading once registered.