ART 253-01, Art and Life in Pompeii, Spring 2013

Abstract

In this course, all aspects of life in a Roman town will be discussed. We will address both public buildings (fora, theaters, baths, amphitheaters, etc.) and private architecture (villas, houses, tombs). The manner in which these buildings were decorated will also figure largely in the course, as we will study the Four Styles of Pompeian painting, gardens, mosaics, and public and private sculpture. The examination of these monuments will be laid over an economic, social, and political context. In addition to studying the archaeological remains of these cities, students will also read ancient texts in translation to understand better these ancient cities and their inhabitants. The history of excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum will also be examined, especially with regard to how the modern history of these cities shapes our perceptions of them. This course will focus on Pompeii and Herculaneum, also addressing material from sites like Stabiae, Boscoreale, Boscotrecase, and Oplontis. To complete a picture of Roman urbanism in Italy, we will also touch upon Ostia—Rome’s port city at the mouth of the Tiber River—as well as the Urbs itself (Rome).