AHIS 321

GREEK ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Henry Colburn
[email protected]

Tue, Thu 9:30-10:50, VKC 260

This course is an introduction to the world of the ancient Greeks by way of their material culture.
As Plato put it, the Greeks lived “like frogs around a pond,” in inhabiting the small coastal plains
and mountainous uplands bordering the Aegean. Yet these farmers and sailors created a body of
artistic output that has intrigued and dazzled viewers for millennia, inspiring Roman collectors,
Medieval writers, Renaissance artists, and modern scholars. This course examines the history of
Greek art from the Neolithic to the Hellenistic age, with specific reference to the social contexts
in which it was produced. It is designed for students without any background in ancient history
or archaeology.

Goals

The goal of this course is for students to learn the following:

• The major sites and artifacts of the ancient Greek world, from the Bronze Age to the end
of the first century BCE;
• How these sites and artifacts contribute to our understanding of the history and culture of
the ancient Greeks;
• To analyze different types of material evidence, including ceramics, architecture,
inscriptions, and coins, and to use them to address research questions;
• To distinguish between interpretations of evidence and the evidence itself;
• The ability to present information and ideas orally and in writing to a scholarly audience.

Books

Required Textbook

J. M. Barringer, The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece (Cambridge University Press, 2014)
**Abbreviated ‘Barringer’**
This book is available at the USC bookstore.

Sources of Additional Reading

E. H. Cline (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean (Oxford University Press,
2010)
**Abbreviated OHBAA**

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W. E. Metcalf (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage (Oxford University
Press, 2013)
**Abbreviated OHGRC**
T. J. Smith and D. Plantzos (eds.), A Companion to Greek Art (Wiley Blackwell, 2012)
**Abbreviated CGA**

Other Bibliography

J. Bintliff, The Complete Archaeology of Greece: From Hunter-Gatherers to the 20th Century
AD (Wiley Blackwell, 2012)
J. Boardman, The History of Greek Vases: Potters, Painters and Pictures (Thames and Hudson,
2001)
J. M. Camp, The Archaeology of Athens (Yale University Press, 2001)
S. Langdon, Art and Identity in Dark Age Greece (Cambridge University Press, 2008)
M. M. Miles (ed.), A Companion to Greek Architecture (Wiley Blackwell, 2016)
D. Preziosi and L. A. Hitchcock, Aegean Art and Architecture (Oxford University Press, 1999)
N. Spivey, Greek Sculpture (Cambridge University Press, 2013)
A. Stewart, Art in the Hellenistic World: An Introduction (Cambridge University Press, 2014)
J. Whitley, The Archaeology of Ancient Greece (Cambridge University Press, 2001)

Assessment

Attendance and Classroom Discussion (5%)

Students are expected to attend each and every class, and to participate intelligently as much as
possible. Exceptions will be made only in the event of religious observance, a commitment to an
athletic team, or sickness; all such absences must be accompanied by suitable documentation.
Even excused absences will make it difficult to properly internalize this material and students
who miss class the least have the best expectation of succeeding in this class.

Quizzes (2.5% each, for a total of 10%)

There will be four quizzes over the course of the term. The first will be a map quiz, and the
others will consist of identification of key terms, including names, discussed in the previous
class. In this respect they will serve as practice for the final exam.

Commentaries (15% each, for a total of 45%)

Students will write three commentaries of 600-800 words on specific objects. These
commentaries should describe the chosen object, and explain its historical significance. Further
instructions will be provided in class.

Exams (20% each, for a total of 40%)

Blue books are required for the exams. The exams will consist of five definitions (about two
minutes each), three IDs (about ten minutes each) and two short essays (about fifteen minutes
each). The definitions will be of key terms, including names, which have discussed in class or
have appeared in the reading assignments. The IDs will be drawn from the lectures. Students will
be expected to identify the author or creator, the date (to the century), the medium or type of

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object, and also to comment briefly on its historical significance. The essay questions will
address major topics examined in class, and will spell out exactly what material to cover. The
exams are non-cumulative.

Grading Policy
I will not normally change grades after the fact, save in cases of calculation errors. It is your
responsibility to maintain your grade average at the level you desire. In exceptional cases I will
consider offering an extra credit assignment, but poor performance in class does NOT constitute
an exceptional case. If you are at all concerned about your grades in this course please come see
me in office hours as soon as possible.

Office Hours

I will hold office hours in Taper Hall 324 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 to 2:00. Office
hours are subject to change!

Email Policy

Students are welcome to contact the me using the email address given on the first page. To make
this process more efficient students should put the course number (AHIS 321) in the subject line.
Students should allow up to twenty-four hours for a response, though normally they should have
one within eight. Students should not expect responses in under three hours, at night, or on
weekends.

Accommodations

All students with documented disabilities will be accommodated to the best extent possible.
Please inform me as early as possible, by email or during office hours, if you believe you will
require some form of special accommodation. I cannot guarantee requests made on short notice
or those without appropriate supporting materials, though I shall do my best to provide all
students with what they need to succeed.

Schedule of Classes, Assignments and Quizzes

The class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 10:50 AM in the Von KleinSmid
Center 260. Reading assignments are listed under the class by which they should be completed.
Other than those from Barringer, all readings will be posted on the course website. This
schedule is subject to change!

Tues 8/22: Preliminaries

Thurs 8/24: Introduction

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Reading Assignment
• Barringer 1-9

Unit One: Prehistoric Art in Greece

Tues 8/29: Neolithic Greece

Reading Assignment
• D. Preziosi and L. A. Hitchcock, “The Neolithic Period and the Prepalatial Early Bronze
Age,” in Aegean Art and Architecture (Oxford University Press, 1999), 33-61

Thurs 8/31: Early Bronze Age Crete and the Cyclades

Reading Assignment
• Barringer 11-39

Tues 9/5: The Early Bronze Age in Mainland Greece

Quiz 1
Reading Assignment
• Barringer 39-60

Thurs 9/7: Heinrich Schliemann, Troy, and the Mask of Agamemnon

Reading Assignment
• S. P. M. Harrington et al., “Behind the Mask of Agamemnon,” Archaeology 52.4 (1999),
51-59
• T. Bryce, “The Trojan War,” in OHBAA 475-82

Tues 9/12: The Uluburun Shipwreck

Reading Assignment
• C. Pulak, “The Uluburun Shipwreck,” in OHBAA 862-76

Thurs 9/14: The End of the Bronze Age

Reading Assignment
• Barringer 60-65
• O. Dickinson, “The Collapse at the End of the Bronze Age,” in OHBAA 483-90

Unit Two: The Geometric to the Archaic Period

Tues 9/19: The Geometric Period

Reading Assignment
• Barringer 67-109

Thurs 9/21: The Seventh Century

Reading Assignment
• Barringer 109-123

Tues 9/26: Archaic Temples

Quiz 2

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Reading Assignment
• Barringer 125-49

Thurs 9/28: Sculptors, Potters and Painters

Reading Assignment
• Barringer 149-73

Tues 10/3: The Birth of Coinage

Commentary 1 due
Reading Assignment
• K. Konuk, “Asia Minor to the Ionian Revolt,” in OHGRC 43-60
• F. de Callataÿ, “Coinages,” in CGA 235-54

Thurs 10/5: Archaic Athens

Reading Assignment
• Barringer 174-93

Tues 10/10: No Class (study for the midterm!)

Thurs 10/12: MIDTERM EXAM

Unit Three: The Classical Period

Tues 10/17: What is Classical?

Reading Assignment
• Barringer 195-220

Thurs 10/19: The Athenian Acropolis

Reading Assignment
• Barringer 220-48

Tues 10/24: Life in Athens and Sparta

Quiz 3
Reading Assignment
• Barringer 249-63

Thurs 10/26: Coinage in the Classical Period

Reading Assignment
• W. Fischer-Bossert, “The coinages of Sicily,” in OHGRC 142-56
• S. Psoma, “Greece and the Balkans to 360 B.C.,” in OHGRC 157-72

Tues 10/31: Greek Houses and Cities

Reading Assignment
• Barringer 265-81

Thurs 11/2: Temples and the Gods

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Commentary 2 due
Reading Assignment
• Barringer 282-301

Tues 11/7: The End of the Classical Period

Reading Assignment
• Barringer 301-19

Unit Four: The Hellenistic World

Thurs 11/9: Alexander the Great

Reading Assignment
• W. Heckel, “The conquests of Alexander the Great,” in K. Kinzl (ed.), A Companion to
the Classical Greek World (Blackwell, 2006), 560-88

Tues 11/14: Hellenistic Sculpture

Reading Assignment
• Barringer 321-35

Thurs 11/16: Hellenistic Kingdoms I – Egypt and Pergamon

Reading Assignment
• Barringer 340-64

Tues 11/21: Hellenistic Kingdoms II – The Near East and Central Asia
Quiz 4
Reading Assignment
• Barringer 364-9
• J. Boardman, “The new Greek kingdoms in the east,” in The Greeks in Asia (Thames and
Hudson, 2015), 81-101

Tues 11/28: Greeks and Romans

Reading Assignment
• Barringer 370-407

Thurs 11/30: Who Owns Ancient Greek Art?

Reading Assignment
• S. Lekakis, “The cultural property debate,” in CGA 683-97

Thurs 12/7, 11:00-1:00

FINAL EXAM
Commentary 3 due

Statement on Academic Conduct and Support Systems

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Academic Conduct:

Plagiarism – presenting someone else’s ideas as your own, either verbatim or recast in your own words
– is a serious academic offense with serious consequences. Please familiarize yourself with the
discussion of plagiarism in SCampus in Part B, Section 11, “Behavior Violating University Standards”
policy.usc.edu/scampus-part-b. Other forms of academic dishonesty are equally unacceptable. See
additional information in SCampus and university policies on scientific misconduct,
http://policy.usc.edu/scientific-misconduct

Support Systems

Student Counseling Services (SCS) – (213) 740-7711 – 24/7 on call

Free and confidential mental health treatment for students, including short-term psychotherapy, group
counseling, stress fitness workshops, and crisis intervention. engemannshc.usc.edu/counseling

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1 (800) 273-8255

Provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Services (RSVP) – (213) 740-4900 – 24/7 on call
Free and confidential therapy services, workshops, and training for situations related to gender-based
harm. engemannshc.usc.edu/rsvp

Sexual Assault Resource Center

For more information about how to get help or help a survivor, rights, reporting options, and additional
resources, visit the website: sarc.usc.edu

Office of Equity and Diversity (OED)/Title IX Compliance – (213) 740-5086

Works with faculty, staff, visitors, applicants, and students around issues of protected class.
equity.usc.edu

Bias Assessment Response and Support

Incidents of bias, hate crimes and microaggressions need to be reported allowing for appropriate
investigation and response. studentaffairs.usc.edu/bias-assessment-response-support

The Office of Disability Services and Programs

Provides certification for students with disabilities and helps arrange relevant accommodations.
dsp.usc.edu

Student Support and Advocacy – (213) 821-4710

Assists students and families in resolving complex issues adversely affecting their success as a student
EX: personal, financial, and academic. studentaffairs.usc.edu/ssa

Diversity at USC

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Information on events, programs and training, the Diversity Task Force (including representatives for
each school), chronology, participation, and various resources for students. diversity.usc.edu

USC Emergency Information

Provides safety and other updates, including ways in which instruction will be continued if an
officially declared emergency makes travel to campus infeasible. emergency.usc.edu

USC Department of Public Safety – UPC: (213) 740-4321 – HSC: (323) 442-1000 – 24-hour
emergency or to report a crime.
Provides overall safety to USC community. dps.usc.edu

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