Course : Ancient Greek Art: An Overview

Course Syllabus

75202 ANCIENT GREEK ART: AN OVERVIEW

2023

INSTRUCTOR:

Prof. J. M. Barringer

J.M.Barringer@ed.ac.uk

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The class surveys the art and archaeology of ancient Greece from the Bronze Age (c. 3000-1100 B.C.) to the early Roman imperial period (1st century AD). The chronological sequence of lectures considers the physical remains of ancient Greek life and society, including religion, domestic life, civic spaces, burial practices, social practices, the military, and interactions with other cultures.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:

Barringer, J. M. 2014. The Art and Archaeology of Greece. Cambridge.

An e-version of this text is available in the University of Athens library, but it is strongly recommended that you purchase a physical copy of the book. You will find it far easier to read, review, and study, to consult maps, flip back and forth in the text to find images or a particular passage of text, and to check the glossary or timelines.

CLASS TIME

Class lectures take place on Wednesdays from 15:00-18:00. In addition, we will have museum/site visits in Athens on some Fridays from 10:00-13:00. The lectures, museum/site visits, and reading assignments are designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary for your site/museum reports and slide exams, and to allow you to ask questions, test out your ideas and thoughts. Therefore, it is in your interest not to miss any meetings. For the site or museum visits, be prepared for inclement weather and wear sturdy walking shoes.

In addition, we will make a class trip to Delphi and Olympia from 29-30 April. Details to follow.

ASSESSMENT

1) 2 in-class slide tests, one in week 6, one in week 15 (35% each)

2) two site/museum reports, 15 minutes each (15% each)

TEACHING SCHEDULE

Note that there is required reading for each lecture. This preparation is an integral part of the course, and you will derive much more benefit from the lectures if you do the reading before attending the lecture. Reviewing your lecture notes together with your textbook within a day of the lecture will help you to retain the information.

Week 1, 1 March:       Bronze Age

Reading: Barringer, pp. 1-60.

Week 2, 8 March:       NO CLASS

Week 3, 15 March:     Early Iron Age, Geometric, and the Seventh Century

Reading: Barringer, pp. 60-123.

17 March:    NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Week 4, 22 March:     Archaic Monumental Sculpture and Aristocratic Prestige

Reading: Barringer, pp.126-174.

24 March:    NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Week 5, 29 March:     Archaic Athens

Reading: Barringer, pp. 174-193.

31 March:    ANCIENT ATHENIAN AGORA/AKROPOLIS MUSEUM

Week 6, 5 April:         Early Classical

Reading: Barringer, pp. 196-225.

IN-CLASS SLIDE EXAM

Week 7, 12 April:       NO CLASS

Week 8, 19 April:       NO CLASS

Week 9, 26 April:       The Classical Athenian Akropolis 1

Reading: Barringer, pp. 225-240.

 28 April:      ATHENIAN AKROPOLIS

29-30 April:   DELPHI AND OLYMPIA

Week 10, 3 May:        The Classical Athenian Akropolis 2:

Reading: Barringer, pp. 240-254.

5 May:        AKROPOLIS MUSEUM

Week 11, 10 May:      NO CLASS

Week 12, 17 May:      The Late Fifth Century and Early Fourth Century

Reading: Barringer, pp. 254-274

19 May:      KERAMEIKOS MUSEUM

Week 13, 24 May:      Late Classical and Alexander the Great

Reading: Barringer, pp. 274-319.

26 May:      AKROPOLIS SOUTH SLOPE

Week 14, 31 May:      Hellenistic 1

Reading: Barringer, pp. 319-348.

2 June:        NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Week 15, 7 June:        Hellenistic 2

Reading: Barringer, pp. 349-407.

IN CLASS SLIDE EXAM