We begin in Athens - whose art, monuments, and culture underpin many of the foundations of western civilisation - before exploring Olympia and Delphi (the latter, home to the most renowned oracle of Antiquity). Heading north we arrive at Pella, gateway to ancient Macedon and home to Philip and his son Alexander (the Great) whose exploits altered the ancient world forever. Finally, we ply the Aegean Sea to the magical island of Delos, whose opulent houses with their colonnaded courtyards and striking mosaics bear witness to the vast trading networks that arose following Alexander’s conquests.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

SUGGESTED READING

• L Barringer, Judith. The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece. Cambridge University Press, 2015
• Boardman, John. Greek Art. 5th ed. Thames & Hudson, 2016.
• Emerson, Mary. Greek Sanctuaries and Temple Architecture. An Introduction, Bloomsbury Academic Press, 2018
• Griffiths Pedley, John. Greek Art and Archaeology. 5th ed. Prentice Hall, 2011.
• Swadling, Judith. The Ancient Olympic Games, British Museum Press, 2015.

COURSE OUTLINE

• The City of Athena: The rise of Athens to become the dominant city in ancient Greece; The development of Athenian art and culture
• The Great Sanctuaries: The development and decline of Olympia and Delphi, the two greatest sanctuary sites of Greece in antiquity
• The Rise of Macedonia: The rise of Macedonia to become the leading power in Greece as shown by its palaces, luxurious dwellings, and astonishing wealth
• The Island of Apollo: The rise of Delos from a probable pirate base to become one of the most important religious sites in ancient Greece and the leading emporium of the Hellenistic Age

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Obtain an overall knowledge of ancient Greece, still the foundation of much of western culture
2. Understand the beginnings and development of the ancient Olympic Games as well as that of the Delphic oracle whose proclamations were eagerly followed by kings and commoners alike
3. Gain an understanding of the remarkable rise of Macedonia and how it became the dominant power in Greece