CLASS 4736 - [The Aesthetics of the Sacred in Ancient Greece]

(crosslisted)
(also ARTH 4736, RELST 4736)(HB) (CA-AS)

Spring. 4 credits. Letter grades only.

Recommended prerequisite: Some experience in the study of Greek or Roman culture (especially archaeology) would be helpful but is not required. Students may be expected to read secondary literature in French, German or Italian. Knowledge of ancient Greek is preferred, but all texts will be taught in translation. Next offered 2014-2015. Enrollment limited to: 10 students.

V. Platt.

This course will explore archaeological and literary evidence for the production, display, ritual treatment and cultural reception of sacred images in ancient Greece. We will focus on some of the most exciting and problematic themes relating to the representation of divine beings in material form, such as the potential and limitations of anthropomorphism; the use of alternative modes of material manifestation such as aniconism, semi-iconic forms (such as herms) and theriomorphism (the representation of gods as animals); the relationship between “cult” and “votive” images; the replication and adaptation of cult statues to new contexts of display; and shifting attitudes to image-worship within polytheistic and monotheistic traditions. Students in Classics, Art History, Religious Studies and Anthropology should find this course of particular interest. This is a project of the new Cornell-Yale Consortium for the Study of Ancient Art, this course will be taught in parallel with a similar course at Yale University led by Professor Milette Gaifman. Cornell students will visit Yale for a joint workshop and object session in the university museum.