Archaeology of the Ancient Mediterranean (310-0-1)

Topic

The Archaeology of Athens

Instructors

Sarah Alison Eisen

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 2-319: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

Athens was a renowned center of politics, art, religion, and culture throughout antiquity, and even today many of the ancient city's archaeological features remain as prominent landmarks. This course will examine the topography, archeology, and history of Athens from the Late Bronze Age to the Roman period. In particular, the course will explore how ancient Athenian notions of identity, nationalism, and aesthetics were formed, perpetuated, and challenged through the city's rich material footprint and urban development. We will ask questions including: How did the religious, political, and social topographies of the city interact with one another? How did certain spaces develop over time to suit the city's changing needs? How were canons of aesthetics formed and integrated into the city-state's fabric? In this course, we will also survey Athenian funerary and festival practices, discuss cultural institutions like the theater and the gymnasium, and examine how Athenian gender norms were reflected in material culture. Finally, we will discuss the benefits and limitations of material culture as evidence and how Euro-American receptions of Athens have shaped the field of Classics (the issue of Atheno-centrism).

Class Materials (Required)

Camp, John M. The Archaeology of Athens. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2001. ISBN 9780300101515

Class Attributes

Advanced Expression
Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Historical Studies Distro Area
Interdisciplinary Distro-rules apply
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area