Nicola Aravecchia

Early monasticism was a phenomenon that had a dramatic impact on the Christianization of the physical and spiritual landscape of the Mediterranean world in Late Antiquity. This seminar will explore the origins and earliest manifestations of Christian monasticism, with a particular attention to the evidence from Egypt, which is among the earliest and richest available. Students will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with a wide range of relevant primary and secondary sources. The aim is to build an understanding and appreciation for one of the earliest and most unique manifestations of Christian life, whose legacy continues to this day.

This course is an introduction to the art and archaeology of Egypt from its conquest by Alexander the Great (332 BCE) to the early fourth century CE. It will examine the rich and multi-faceted history and artistic legacy of Egypt under the Ptolemies and their last queen Cleopatra, followed by the Roman conquest under Emperor Augustus up to the flourishing of Egyptian Christianity. Students will become familiar with a wide range of ancient sources, including documentary and literary texts, coins, architecture, paintings and sculpture.

A study of the artistic achievements in ancient Egypt from the Proto-Dynastic to the Late Periods (ca. 3100-332 BCE). The monuments and artworks of Egypt will be considered both for their aesthetic value and as expressions of the culture that developed and flourished in the Nile Valley.

This seminar focuses on the results of the archaeological fieldwork carried out at Trimithis / Amheida, a Graeco-Roman city in Egypt's Western Desert. It will investigate the available documentary and archaeological evidence, including a wealthy house with paintings inspired by Classical themes, a public bath built in the Roman tradition, a rhetorical schoolroom, pyramid-shaped Roman tombs, remains of a temple, and one of the earliest churches discovered in Egypt so far. We will explore how this evidence compares with that from neighboring sites in Egypt's Western Desert as well as in the Nile Valley. The goal is to develop an appreciation and understanding of Romano-Egyptian architecture, Classical and late antique art in Egypt, and Egypt's religious, social, and cultural history. Students will also have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with notions of archaeological methods and practice, as adopted in the context of an Egyptian excavation project. Prerequisites: One course at the 100- or 200-level in Art History, Classics, or Archaeology recommended

Ancient Greeks and Romans found Egypt an exceptionally enthralling world, in terms not only of its physical features but also of its people, monuments, and traditions. This course will explore how different views of Egypt emerged in the Graeco-Roman world; it will also investigate the possible reasons for the remarkable popularity and allure of Egypt and things Egyptian, as reflected in the writings of Greek and Roman authors, as well as in the art and architecture of the Mediterranean world in Classical antiquity. In this seminar, we will read primary literary sources (in translation) that focus on the reception of ancient Egypt and, more specifically, its history, religion, and customs. Several of these sources also offer a privileged viewpoint to investigate how the perception of notable Egyptian figures-chiefly Cleopatra-was shaped by Rome to suit a specific agenda. In addition to the written sources, we will look at the artistic and archaeological evidence that best showcases the impact of Egypt's legacy on Graeco-Roman traditions. The readings assigned for each class will also provide a broad sample of secondary sources, consisting of some of the most significant scholarship on the image of Egypt in Classical antiquity.