What were artworks and buildings like in the Greek and Roman world, how were they viewed, and what purposes did they have in society? This module will explore the function of art in politics and religion as well as fundamentals like style and dating across a timespan from Archaic Greece to the Late Roman period. Famous sites like Athens, Rome, and Delphi will be explored, including aesthetic and functional aspects as well as developments in building technology. We will investigate how and why art styles changed over time, including changes resulting from contact with diverse ancient peoples and cultures beyond Greece and Rome. Students will gain skills in the critical evaluation of artworks and buildings, an understanding of diverse source materials, and knowledge of how the roles of artworks and buildings were both similar and different to those in today’s world.
Lecture = 16 hours
Seminar = 16 hours
Main Assessment Methods
1000 words Visual Source Commentary (25%).
2,000 words Essay (75%).
Reassessment Method:
Single instrument
100% written assessment (2,000 words)
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1. Evaluate changes in Greek and Roman Art and Architecture from the Archaic Greek to the late Roman period and discuss the relevant factors involved
2. Assess how Greek and Roman Art and Architecture were perceived by contemporaries.
3. Make critical archaeological and art-historical evaluations of material evidence, i.e. surviving art works and buildings.
4. Critically engage with interdisciplinary source material, such as ancient textual sources and inscriptions, in the interpretation of Greek and Roman art works and buildings
5. Deploy appropriate dating methods for Greek and Roman art works and buildings showing understanding of their strengths and weaknesses.
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