Technological Wonders of Classical Antiquity

Eleni Hasaki
Summer 2022
Wednesdays |  
10 Am - 12 PM (AZ Time)
August 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2022
Course Format: Hybrid
Location: Main Campus
Tuition: $130

Attend In Person OR Online!
See Below for full details about our new Hybrid courses

This course explores the people, processes and places that fostered the technological and artistic creativity of potters, sculptors, and temple builders in ancient Greece. Our topics range from the arduous apprenticeship of a potter glorified by ancient philosophers as the ultimate example of patience and cumulative learning, to the precision and forethought of a sculptor carving a 15 ft monolithic marb;e statue. Any mistakes in quarrying, shaping, or detailing such a colossal marble statue, would force the sculptors to abandon their original design. Finally, the temple building sites were the hubs for experimentation and innovation. The ancient Greek temples were public projects involving a wide spectrum of specialists, from rope makers, to wax modellers, and ivory-carvers. The Parthenon, the largest temple in Greek mainland, exemplifies this interaction of the vibrant craft communities in the ancient Greek world.

Please Note: This course is an updated version of the same course offered by Professor Hasaki in Summer 2014.

NEW – Hybrid Course Format

  • All classes will be delivered both in person and online via live video streaming. Students will enroll in their preferred format during registration.
  • In person classes will be held in the Rubel Room at the University of Arizona’s Poetry Center (1508 E Helen St, Tucson, AZ 85721). Enrollment for in person classes is limited by classroom capacity and offered on a first come, first served basis. All students attending on campus will observe the relevant University of Arizona policies designed to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 (more information here). Students who enroll to attend in person will also have complete online access to the course including all class recordings.
  • Online students may attend all classes via live video streaming and will be able to participate in all course Q&A sessions with the professor in real time. Students may also access class recordings for a limited time to assist those who may not be able to attend the live class times. Online access will be password protected and only available to enrolled students.

Registration Will Open Online:
Monday, APRIL 11, 2022 at 8 AM (AZ Time)

Required Reading
  • No textbook is required. All readings will be distributed to students electronically.

Meet Your Instructor

Professor

ELENI HASAKI is a Professor in the School of Anthropology and the Department of Religious Studies and Classics and is the Co-Director of the Laboratory for Traditional Technology at the University of Arizona. Her scholarship focuses on craft technologies of classical antiquity, the spatial organization of workshops, and craft apprenticeship. Her recent book, published in 2021, is entitled Potters at Work at Ancient Corinth: Industry, Religion, and the Penteskouphia Pinakes. She promotes big data Digital Humanities projects with the “WebAtlas of Ceramic Kilns in Ancient Greece” and with the “Social Networks of Athenian Potters.”

Location

POETRY CENTER
Dorothy Rubel Room
1508 E Helen
Tucson, AZ 85721
United States

Located on the SE corner of Helen Street and Vine Avenue, one block north of Speedway and three blocks west of Campbell Ave.

Street map image of Poetry Center

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