Classical Art and Archaeology: An Introduction

The archaeological remains of Greece and Rome provide us with the visual and tangible evidence through which the ancient world comes to life. The aim of this module is to introduce the students to the art, architecture, and archaeology of Classical Antiquity as primary sources for interpreting the life, society, beliefs and ideologies of ancient Greece and Rome from the Bronze Age to the High Roman Empire (3rd c. AD). The lectures will follow a chronological progression, moving from the Minoan and Mycenaean civilisations of Bronze Age Greece through the Iron Age and Archaic periods to Classical Greece, and onwards into the Hellenistic world, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire. Students will study the main stylistic developments in architecture, pottery, sculpture, and painting, analysing material and visual culture in the context of broader social and political changes. Major case studies will focus on the sanctuaries of Classical Greece, the building programme of Augustan Rome, and the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The module is complemented by hands-on visits to the UCD Classical Museum.