GRST 210 - Art, Myth, and Society in the Ancient Aegean

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

(Same as ART 210) Art, Myth, and Society in the Ancient Aegean. How did the ancient Greeks, in reality a loose group of small city-states constantly at war, produce an ideal artistic culture? The Parthenon, marble statues that seemed to breathe, and cities that Alexander the Great built in his march to Afghanistan have come to define Western notions of beauty and civilization. At what cost did they achieve all this? The Greeks’ gifts-mythology and Athenian democracy-inspired the art and architecture of civic institutions in the polis, as well as the other, dark side: ecstatic states of divine possession depicted in sacred rites. The course covers the period from 800-150 BC. Ms. D’Ambra.

Prerequisite(s): ART 105-ART 106 or coursework in Greek & Roman Studies, or permission of the instructor.

Two 75-minute periods.

Courses in English translation, numbered X00-X19 are taught entirely in English. No knowledge of Greek or Latin is required.