Classics 63
Archaeology and Architecture of the Greco-Roman World
Ancient Cities
Fall 2000 ~ Beth Severy

Schedule of Assignments

Major Projects:

  1. Paper on a Greek city, building, or type of building. Due Friday, October 13.
  2. 15-20 minute team presentation on a particular aspect of the urban fabric of Pompeii. Due between Tuesday, November 7 and Thursday, November 16.
  3. Paper analyzing a residence or the owner of a particular residence in Pompeii. Due Friday, December 15.

Assignments:

10 short responses to day's reading. Must be submitted before discussion. Record your initial responses to the reading, including questions, objections, comments, areas of investigation to which your mind is lead, etc. At least 5 due before Fall break. On certain days (marked with an * under Discussion Questions), response papers are required.

Abbreviations:

Wk Date Topic Reading Discussion Questions
1 Th 9/7 Welcome
2 Tu 9/12 Archaic Greece: Architecture

1. Martin, (4.1) introduction to "Remaking Greek Civilization," (5.1-28) "The Archaic Age" on-line at Perseus Project
2. *D. Watkin, "The Classical Foundation" in A History of Western Architecture, 1986, pp. 10-21.
3. Owens 1-21.
4. Handout on Greek temples.

 1. What are the parts of a Greek temple? How do the Ionic and Doric orders differ? How can you spot a Greek temple in a site plan?
2. How do the physical structures being built in this period relate to contemporary historical developments?
Th 9/14 The Polis





1. *A. Snodgrass, "The Formation of the Greek City State" Proceedings of the Classical Association 79 (1982):27-28.
2. *C. Starr, "Crystallization of the Polis" in Individual and Community, 1986, pp. 34-51.
3. *C. Roebuck, "Some Aspects of Urbanization in Corinth" in Economy and Society in the Early Greek World, 1979, pp. 96-127.		 1. What are the main points of these interpretations of the beginnings of the archaic polis? How do they agree, and how do they differ?
2. What roles do archaeology and architecture play in the arguments?
3 Tu 9/19 Cults & Territory



1. Polignac, pp. 1-88. *For chapter 1, describe in 1-3 sentences the point Polignac is trying to make, then briefly summarize the nature of his evidence. For chapter 2, do the same for each major subsection (5 in all). What are your reactions? What other explanations can you see for the phenomena under investigation?
Th 9/21 Colonization 1. Handouts of plans of Syracuse, Selinus and Posidonia.
2. Polignac, pp. 89-149.		 Consider chapters 3 & 4 together: is there a relationship between the founding of colonies and the development of the idea of the polis?
4 Tu 9/26 City Planning

map & terms quiz

1. Owens 30-68. When do you think city planning began to develop? Under what circumstances or influences?
Th 9/28 Democratic Athens 1. *D. Watkin, "The classic phase: 480-400 BC" in A History of Western Architecture, 1986, pp. 21-28. N.B.: THIS IS THE NEXT 7 PAGES OF READING ASSIGNED EARLIER--YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE A COPY OF THIS WORK.
2. *P. Connolly & H. Dodge, "The Theatre" in The Ancient City, 1998, pp. 88-101.
3. *H.A. Shapiro, "Democracy and Imperialism: The Panathenaia in the Age of Perikles" in Worshipping Athena, 1996, pp. 215-25.		 How does the architectural form and history of the theater & the acropolis help us understand the relationship between the city and the democracy of classical Athens? How do space, ritual and community identity interact in this period?
5 Tu 10/3 Hellenistic Cities 1. *D. Watkin, "The Hellenistic Background" in in A History of Western Architecture, 1986, pp. 29-39.N.B.: THIS IS THE NEXT 10 PAGES OF READING ASSIGNED EARLIER--YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE A COPY OF THIS WORK.
2. Owens, pp. 68-93.		 1. What buildings are characteristic of Greek cities in the Hellenistic period? Why? What role(s) do they play in the life of the city?
2. Where are the new Greek cities of the Hellenistic period? Why? What is their function?
Th 10/5

No Regular Class Meeting

Survey Archaeology

 Lecture by Michael Cosmopoulos, "The Rural History of Ancient Greek City-States: The Oropos Survey Project"

Meet in parking lot immediately next to Old Main at 5:20 on Thursday, October 5. We will return to Macalester by 8:30pm.

For those unable to attend--please read the article on survey archaeology posted outside my office door and write a response paper on it.
6 Tu 10/10

Pergamon

Paper on Greek city or building due by 5pm Friday, October 13.

1. *R. Tomlinson, "Pergamon," in From Mycenae to Constantinople, 1992, pp. 110-21.
2. *J.J. Pollitt, "The sculpture of Pergamon" in Art in the Hellenistic Age, 1986, pp. 79-110.		 Compare and contrast Hellenistic Pergamon and Classical Athens. Why the Pergamene interest in Athens? What about the city's art and architecture reveals differences from the Athenian democracy-not just in style, but in political structures and ideology?
October 12-14: International Roundtable -- No Classes
7 Tu 10/17 Roman Architecture 1. *T. Blagg, "Architecture" in A Handbook of Roman Art, 1983, pp. 26-65.
2. *A. Claridge, "Building Techniques," in Oxford Archaeological Guide: Rome, 1998, pp. 37-47, 51-57.
3. Handout of Map & Terms.		 What are the key forms of Roman architecture? What role do technological differences or advances play in understanding Roman architecture? How do Italian temples differ from Greek temples?
Th 10/19 Introduction to Pompeii watch video in class
8 Tu 10/24 History of the City: Campanians, Greeks & Etruscans

map & terms quiz

1. Owens, pp. 94-106.
2. *P. Zanker, "Urban Space as a Reflection of Society" in Pompeii, 1998, pp. 27-60 ONLY.		 Compare pre 89 BCE Pompeii to Pergamon and other Hellenistic cities. How was Pompeii "Hellenized"? How not?
Th 10/26

FALL BREAK

9 Tu 10/31 Romanization 1. Owens, pp. 106-20.
2. *P. Zanker, "Urban Space as a Reflection of Society" in Pompeii, 1998, pp. 61-77 ONLY.
3. *K. Lomas, "Roman Imperialism and the City" in Cultural Identity in the Roman Empire, 1998, pp. 64-78.
4. Tacitus, Agricola 21.		 1. What are the differences between "Hellenization" and "Romanization"? How can you attest these archaeologically?
2. How does Pompeii fit or not fit into patterns of 'Romanization'?
Th 11/2 Augustus 1. P. Zanker, "Urban Space as a Reflection of Society" in Pompeii, 1998, pp.78-124. (PHOTOCOPY AVAILABLE IN CLASSICS OFFICE, 311 OLD MAIN)
2. *P. Zanker, "The Roman Empire of Augustus," in The Power of Images in the Age of Augustus, 1988, pp. 297-333.		 How did the reign of Augustus change Pompeii? The lives of the people of Pompeii? The empire?
10 Tu 11/7 HOUSING, part I:
Decoration & Social Structure of the Domus		 1. A. Claridge, "Building Techniques," in Oxford Archaeological Guide: Rome, 1998, pp.48-50 (HANDOUT).
2. W-H, pp. 3-61. 		*1. What does Wallace-Hadrill identify as the key social distinctions which were shaped by and helped shape the Roman elite house? How were these 'built in"?
2. What are the key social distinctions which shaped the dwelling in which you grew up? Evaluate that house or apartment using the same features as Wallace-Hadrill.
  Th 11/9 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

Everyone Reads: Owens, pp. 149-63.

Mikko Erpestad: Compital cults & other community shrines
John Ellis: Preserving Wall Painting
11 Tu 11/14 .

Mary Dougherty, Matt Lutz, Tim Wallace: Eating
Dan Capecchi: Port and Trade
. Th 11/16 .

Tom Klein and Danny Schwartzman: Aqueducts & Fountains
Erin Boeke Burke: Baths & Bathing
Elizabeth Hertz: Fortifications
12 Tu 11/21 .

Kiija Manty and Allison Thoele: Amphitheater
Hilary Hinton and Amanda Vail: Prostitution
Emily Duffelmeyer and Emily Rackow: Tombs
Th 11/23

THANKSGIVING

13 Tu 11/28

HOUSING, part II:

Ritual and Hierarchy

 1. *J. Clark, "Space and Ritual in Domus, Villa and Insula" in The Houses of Roman Italy, 1991, pp. 1-29.
2. *P. Foss, "Watchful Lares" in Domestic Space in the Roman World, 1997, pp. 196-218.		 What do the issues raised by Clark and Foss add to Wallace-Hadrill's reading of the elite house? What other activities besides the performance of rituals may have reinforced the hierarchies of the household?
Th 11/30 Gender 1. *A. Wallace-Hadrill, "Engendering the Roman House" in I, Claudia, 1996, pp. 104-15.
2. *S. Walker, "Women and Housing in Classical Greece" in Image of Women in Antiquity, 1983, pp. 81-91.
3. *L. Nevett, "Separation or Seclusion?" in Architecture & Order, 1994, pp. 98-112.		 How can the social distinction of gender be read in Greek and Roman houses? What problems arise in attempts to do so? Why?
14 Tu 12/5 Guest Speaker: Michael Nelson speaking on lighting techniques evident in a Pompeian house.
. Th 12/7 Class & Style 1. W-H, pp. 143-74. Describe in a few sentences Wallace-Hadrill's methodology and what he hopes to prove through this methodology. What do you think such a study would show about modern American houses?
15 Tu 12/12 Theories of the City

1. *M. Finley, "The Ancient City," in Economy and Society in Ancient Greece, 1977, pp. 3-40.
*A. Wallace-Hadrill, "Elites and Trade in the Roman town" in City and Country in the Ancient World, 1990, pp. 241-69.

*1. What do you make of the idea of the consumer city? Who first asked about the role of the city in the ancient world, and how has that shaped this line of inquiry?
2. How does your close knowledge of Pompeii affect your interpretation of the economic role of the city in the Greco-Roman world?
3. What further research needs to be done, or questions need to be asked, about ancient cities?
Th 12/14 Wrap-Up *Paper on Pompeian Housing due Friday at noon.

FINAL EXAM: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1:30-3:30pm

Ancient Cities Homepage ~ Classics Department ~ Macalester College

12/18/00
Beth Severy, Macalester College