Introduction to Ancient Greek Art and Archeology
Travel back in time to ancient Greece this summer! In this course, we will explore ancient Greek history, mythology, art, architecture, drama, and the archeology and literature that informs us on these topics. At the end of this course, students will have a broad understanding of the Late Bronze Age through the Classical period of ancient Greece (1700 BC–323 BC) and the artifacts that remain from these periods.
Students will hear from guest speakers, visit relevant collections on campus and create their own ancient Greece-inspired art. The course will culminate in a student-chosen creative project examining an aspect of ancient Greek culture. This course is ideal for those who are interested in studying archeology, ancient languages, or ancient history.
Fields Trips
There will be trips to facilities on campus:
- The UMass Makerspace
- The Classics Department vase collection
Students may also visit the Amherst College museum collections.
This course is offered at the UMass Amherst campus as a residential program. Local students may apply to attend as a commuter.
- Daily lectures
- Selected reading of ancient Greek texts
- Group discussion and reflection
- Hands-on art and archaeology projects
- Tours of campus art galleries with painting, sculpture, and vase collections
- Daily project work
Final Project: The course will culminate in a student-chosen creative project examining an aspect of ancient Greek culture. Students will present their projects on the final day of class.
Pre-Requisites
No previous experience with ancient Greece is required.
Materials
The only required materials for this course are a laptop and an interest in the ancient world!
- Understand the fundamental methods of modern archaeology
- Read and interpret ancient texts in translation
- Identify and analyze the major buildings and artifacts of ancient Greece from the Late Bronze Age through the Classical period (1700 BC – 323 BC)
- Explore the fundamental aspects of ancient Greek culture and the changes that occurred over time using archaeological evidence
Class time is Monday-Friday from 9am - 4pm.
|
Time |
Activity |
|
9:00-10:00am |
Architecture scavenger hunt |
| 10:00-11:00am |
Lesson: temple orders & components Temple technical drawings activity |
| 11:00am-12:00pm |
Activity: a visit to the Delphic oracle |
|
12:00-1:00 pm |
Lunch Break |
|
1:00-2:00pm |
Introduction to mask project at UMass Maker Space |
| 2:00-4:00pm |
Project work time |
In the evenings and on weekends resident counselors will run a series of social activities. Students are encouraged to join in, relax and have fun with new friends! With social events on campus and in the surrounding Amherst area, and access to the UMass Recreation & Wellness Center, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Learn more about student life at UMass Amherst Summer Pre-College
Meet the Faculty
Bethany Sielski, Graduate Instructor, Department of Classics
Bethany Sielski is a second year graduate student in the Latin & Classical Humanities program at UMass Amherst. She earned a BA in Classics & Linguistics from the University of Rochester in 2023. After graduating from UMass, she will work as a secondary level Latin teacher.
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