Classics Commons^™

Demythologizing Homer: Investigating Religion In Minoan Crete, Elizabeth Rybarczyk

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

The Minoan civilization of Bronze-Age Crete has, until recently, been obscured in mythological uncertainty. As a prehistoric civilization, the available evidence for historic analysis is sparse and ambiguous. This paper evaluates the material evidence for ritual activity to chart the religious developments of Minoan Crete. In the earliest periods of their civilization, the Minoans practiced animism, which reflected their ideals towards survival and cooperation. As their prosperity grew due to technological advancements, a social hierarchy formed. The emerging elite employed religion to justify their claim to power by appropriating religion, which culminated in a dual-monotheistic Knossian theocracy. This lasted until …

"Like A Shadow Or Even A Dream": Memory And Haptic Motifs On Classical Attic Funerary Stelai, Vonne Daszkilewicz

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

During the third quarter of the fifth century BCE, Athens witnessed the revival of funerary stele reliefs. Sculpted motifs representing touch and interaction, often situated within familial scenes, characterized the grave monuments and contributed strongly to their tactility. Haptic stele motifs promoted the construction of memory by heightening the depiction of lasting bonds between living and deceased individuals. Grave reliefs provide a lasting representation of the deceased, while also serving as conspicuous reminders of the permanence of death. However, Attic funerary stelai provided a physical substitute for the departed towards which the living could direct their continued care and dedication. …

Musical Evidence For Low Boundary Tones In Ancient Greek, Dieter Gunkel

Classical Studies Faculty Publications

Several scholars have suggested that in ancient Greek there was a low boundary tone at the end of a relatively small prosodic constituent such as a clitic group or maximal prosodic word. The boundary tone may phonologically motivate some puzzling pitch-accentual phenomena in the language. One is the diachronic pitch-peak retraction that led to the circumflex pitch accent (HL) on penultimate syllables (the “sōtêra rule”). Another is the intonational phrase-internal downstepping or deletion of a word-final acute accent (H); that conversion of an acute to a grave accent is known as “lulling” or “koímēsis”. If such a low …

An Investigation Of The Galenic Influence On The Artistic Depiction Of Anatomical Concepts During The Renaissance, Fatima Amjad

Theses and Dissertations

The Renaissance era was a period marked by an intellectual and artistic resurgence in Europe, during which artists sought inspiration from Classical sources. This resulted in a move away from stylized medieval aesthetics and towards a renewed emphasis on accuracy and humanity in art. Renaissance artists developed art styles that emphasized perspective, proportion, and anatomy, creating more lifelike and naturalistic representations of the human figure and the natural world. The adoption of naturalism and individualism in the arts paired with the rediscovery and retranslation of ancient anatomical texts propelled artists and anatomists to deepen their understanding of the human body. …

From Derby Tracks To Surf Shacks: Reflections Of California’S Changing Cultural Landscape Through Artistic Renditions Of Recreation 1930s-1960s, David Walls

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this thesis is to analyze works of art originating in the state of California during the 20^th century to better understand how sports and recreation were used as a subject matter to reflect upon the state’s changing cultural landscape. This changing landscape encompasses a wide range of social, cultural, economic, and political topics, however, the topics of race, migration, and economic strife are the most consistently reflected in the artistic production of this time and must be emphasized. Scholarship of art created within this region and timeframe has neglected the impact of recreational subject matter and …

Leonardo’S Ancient Inspiration, Willem N. Roelandts

CAFE Symposium 2023

Investigating the hidden ancient inspiration in Leonardo de Vinci’s 'Battle of Anghiari' and it’s significance to the city of Florence. How and why Leonardo chose to incorporate Greco-Roman aesthetics into his art.

A Female Pharaoh And The Emperor’S Wife: Hatshepsut, Julia Domna, And Female Authority In Antiquity, Gabriella E. Ramalho

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis analyzes how historical notions of masculinity and femininity shaped perceptions of power between the Egyptian female pharaoh Hatshepsut and Roman empress Julia Domna. Both rulers carefully created visual narratives of masculinity and femininity to leverage respect from their citizens, in accordance with what was contextually appropriate for their respective societies.

It will be shown that there are blatant disconnects between how others perceived them and how they wished to be portrayed. Hatshepsut, a rare female pharaoh, depicted herself in the regalia of a male king with a false ceremonial beard, scepters and crowns. Domna was described as the …

Animal Imagery In Eastern Han Tomb Reliefs From Shanbei 陝北, Leslie V. Wallace

Visual Arts

Wild and fantastical animals climb, fly, scamper, and prance across pictorial stone carvings decorating Eastern Han tomb doors in northern Shaanxi. Alongside dragons and other mythical animals, bears felicitously dance, tigers grin opening their mouths to roar, and other wild animals frolic in swirling cloudscapes. While the same animals can be found in Eastern Han tomb reliefs and mortuary art in other regions, their frequency, emphasis on plasticity and movement, and combination with the yunqi 雲氣 motif are unique to the region. Originating in a hybrid style of art that was created during the Mid-Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE), …

Gush Halav A-9490/2023, Anya Kleiner

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In April 2023, a trial excavation was conducted at Gush Halav (Permit No. A-9490/2023; Map ref. 241702/770293, 241574/770025), prior to the laying of a sewage line. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the Peleg-Hagalil corporation, was directed by A. Kleiner, with the assistance of Y. Yaakobi (administration) and Y. Tzur (district inspector, scientific consultation). The excavation was conducted inside an olive grove, at the bottom of the northwestern slope of the Gush Halav hill. A surface of the natural rock slightly sloped westward was exposed, on top of which was a thick layer of …

Jerusalem, Beit Hanina A-9484/2022, Ofer Sion

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In January 2023, a salvage excavation was conducted in the Beit Hanina neighborhood in Jerusalem (Permit No. A-9484/2022; Map ref. 22150/63735). The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by M. Tawil was directed by O. Sion, with the assistance of E. Marko (photogrammetry), Y. Shalev (scientific counseling), N. Nehama (administration) and A. Rose (drafting).

Tel ‘Agol A-9544/2023, Barak Tzin

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In March 2023, a trial excavation was conducted on Tel ‘Agol (Permit No. A-9544/2023; Map ref. 235091/726359), after the site had been damaged. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the Ministry of Defense, was directed by B. Tzin (field photography), with the assistance of R. Be'eri (scientific guidance), Y. Zilpa (administration), A. Shapiro (location map), M. Asakla, A. Ibrahim and B. Hanna (Lower Galilee and Valleys district), Tz. Lang and laborers from Kafr Manda.

Netiv Hagdud 16-03-2023, Oz Varoner

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In March 2023, a trial excavation was conducted in the southern margins of the Netiv Hagdud settlement (Permit No. 16-03-2023; map ref. 242546-914/654183-876). The excavation was carried out following plowing of the land prior to planting. The excavation, on behalf of the Archaeological Staff Officer of Judea and Samaria and funded by the Israeli Civil Administration, was directed by O. Varoner with the assistance of A. Miller (administration), T. Orenstein (photography) and O. Bejarano (preparation of illustrations). No finds were discovered that could be linked to one of the nearby prehistoric sites.

Nahal Zena‘ A-9718/2023, Dror Halpern

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In December 2023, a salvage excavation was conducted at Nahal Zena‘, west of Nafha Prison (Permit No. A-9718/2023; map ref. 177436–955/515333–6039; Fig. 1), prior to the construction of a water reservoir. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the Dead Sea Drainage Authority, was directed by D. Halpern, with the assistance of A. Montague (surveying and field photography), Y. Alamor (administration), D. Eisenberg-Degen (scientific guidance), G. Seriy, I. Radashkovsky, N. Lect Ben-Ami, Y. Samuel Cohen (Southern Negev District), I. Azoulay (plans), and workers from Ar‘ara. The excavation exposed four installations, a possible grave, and …

Jerusalem, 30 Bibas Street, A-9631/2023, Uriel J. Prince

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In July of 2023, a salvage excavation was conducted at 30 Bibas Street, in the Nachlaot neighborhood of Jerusalem (Permit A-9631/2023; map ref. 219810-22/632437-48; Fig. 1). The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by Breidman, Agmon architect, was directed by V.W. Avrutis and published by U.J. Prince, assisted by N. Sapir and Tz. Kanias (Jerusalem district), Y. Shalev (scientific guidance), S. Halevi (field photography and photogrammetry), N. Nechama (logistics), A. Zakaim (plans) and E. Rabinovich (sight inspection).

Economies Of Scale: Late-Antique Bakeries Outside Large Urban Centers, Jared Benton

Art Faculty Publications

[First paragraph] The study of Roman bakeries sometimes has a tendency to treat them as somewhat different from other crafts and trades in terms of the scale of their production. Helmuth Schneider, for example, posits that Roman workshops "were not elaborately fitted out and it was quite cheap to set up a workshop; a craftsman usually needed only a few tools for his craft and often practiced it in a shop connected with his living quarters. There were some crafts, however, which were dependent on bigger production sites with more expensive equipment: bakeries had their ovens and mills... Bakers and …

Ramat Beth Shemesh A-9505/2023, Rifka Ben Chelouche

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In January 2023, a trial excavation was undertaken prior to the planned expansion of the Neve Shamir neighborhood in Bet Shemesh. The excavation, conducted on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and financed by the Dissi Group, was directed by R. Ben Chelouche, with the assistance of N. Nehama (administration), E. Marco (photogrammetry), O. Rose (location map and plan), Y. Shalev (scientific consultant), and A. Eirikh-Rose, Z. Kanias, and S. Gendler (Judah District).

Bet She’An A-9586/2023, Gur Peled

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In July 2023, a trial excavation was conducted in south of Bet She'an (Permit No. A-9586/2023; Map ref. 246330-545/710040-256). The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, was directed by G. Peled, with the assistance of G. Leyfirer (trial trenches), R. Be'eri and W. Atrash (scientific counseling), Y. Yaakobi and Y. Zilpa (administration), A. Shapiro (GIS), B. Tzin (GPS), B. Hanna (district archaeologist), A. Ibrahim (regional archaeologists), and with the participation of laborers from Jenin.

Nahal Zanoah, Ramat Bet Shemesh A-9630/2023, Eliana Wexler

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In July 2023, a trial excavation was conducted on plot No. 400 in The Mishkafayim Neighborhood in Ramat Bet Shemesh (Permit No. A-9630/2023; Map ref. 200475-490/624890-935). The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the 'Shibolet Ltd.' company, was directed by E. Wexler, with the assistance of N. Nehama (administration), Z. Matskevich (trial trenches), S. Halevi (photography), E. Marko (surveying), O. Zakaim (drafting), S. Gendler (district archaeologists), Y. Shalev (archaeological consultation), T. Winter (glass) and with the participation of laborers.

Netivot, Ramot Yoram A-9675/2023, Nir-Shimshon Paran

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In December 2023, a trial excavation was conducted in an area designated for the construction of a new neighborhood, Ramot Yoram, in the western part of Netivot (Permit No. A-9675/2023; Map ref. 158944-9480/593058-529). The excavation was carried out following the discovery of finds in two spots during an archaeological inspection. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the Netivot municipality, was directed by N.S. Paran, with the assistance of Y. Alamor (administration), A. Montagu (surveying), I. Azulay (mapping and plans), V. Lifshits, Sh. Tal and A. Reisyuk, S. Shaked, S. Guntar and S. Brailovsky and …

Jerusalem, Hebron Raod A-9695/2023, Itamar Berko

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In November 2023, a salvage excavation was conducted on Hebron Road in Jerusalem, near the Shmuel Wall Junction (Permit No. A-9695/2023; Map ref. 220105-63/627163-237), after an architectural element suspected as a wall was exposed when trial trenches were dug on the eastern side of the road. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, was directed by I. Berko, with the assistance of S. Halevi (surveying), T. Kanias (IAA Jerusalem District) and N. Nehama (administration).

Qiryat YeʽArim A-9646/2023, Dror Tzitron

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In August 2023, a trial excavation was conducted in Qiryat Yeʽarim (Permit No. A-9646/2023; Map ref. 209883/634684), in an area designated for the construction of a school and kindergartens. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by Qiryat Yeʽarim Local Council, was directed by D. Tzitron (photography and field preparation), with the assistance of Y. Shalev (scientific consultation), N. Nehama (administration), A. Melman and V. Sterman (preliminary inspections), S. Halevi (surveying, photography, and photogrammetry), O. Zakaim (location map and drafting), S. Gendler and T. Edeltin.

Nahal Talia, ‘Ar‘Ara In The Negev A-9589/2023, Ilan Peretz

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In May 2023, a trial excavation was conducted in Nahal Talia (Permit No. A-9589/2023; Map ref. 202351-601/561296-546), prior to the construction of a new residential neighborhood in ‘Ar‘ara in the Negev. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by The Authority for the Development and Settlement of the Bedouin in the Negev, was directed by I. Peretz, with the assistance of Y. Alamor (administration), A. Montagu (surveying, photography, and drafting), A. Tamir (district archaeologist and acting excavation director), S. Talis and D. Eisenberg-Degen (counseling), Y. Abadi-Reiss (flint), I. Azulay (plans) and laborers from the Palestinian Authority.

Artistic Representation And Self Esteem, Brianna Davis

Honors College Theses

Dependent upon the constructs of the perception of self and the viewpoint of others, humans base the value of their self esteem on outer perspectives rather than internal ones. For this thesis in particular, the outer perspective to be examined is representation in the field of the arts. This thesis project explores the process of self esteem, artistic representation in the arts, how one affects the other, a history of the correlation between the two, and ways to inform and educate the masses with the tools necessary to advance representation in the arts thus raising the self esteem of its …

Ovid's Caeneus As A Queer Hero: Understanding Gender And Gender Variance In The Ancient Mediterranean., Rj Palmer

Theses and Dissertations--Modern and Classical Languages, Literature and Cultures

Caeneus, as written in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, is a notable blend of ancient and Hellenistic versions of the myth. Ovid’s Caeneus can be understood as a transgender man, since he was assigned female at birth, but asks for his gender to be changed by the god Neptune, and goes on to live the rest of his life with the body, appearance, and social roles of a man. Ovid incorporates Caeneus’ trans identity with his use of grammatical gender endings for Caeneus, using masculine gender for Caeneus except when discussing his pre-transition childhood, or when the centaurs address him mockingly while fighting. …

The Materiality Of Textiles And Textile Tools In The Late Bronze Age Eastern Mediterranean, Caroline Sauvage

Classics and Archaeology Faculty Works

This paper examines the materiality of Late Bronze Age Eastern Mediterranean (including the Aegean) textiles, fibres and textiles tools and aims to explore the relationship between people and their cloth and clothing while considering the diverse material properties of each garment and tool. It focuses on elite clothes and textiles. The article highlights the agency of matter and how the assemblage constituted by the individual elements of Late Bronze Age garments (natural fibres, imported or local dyes, colourful embellishments of beads, precious metals, and threads) acted on its environment as well as on its wearer. It also focuses on the …

A Virtual Reality Educational Game For The Ethics Of Cultural Heritage Repatriation, James Hutson, Ben Fulcher

Faculty Scholarship

The technology of virtual reality and the gamification of education has had proven educational benefits and has the ability to immerse students in a participatory learning experience. To capitalize on the strengths of the new digital medium, including immersion, engagement, and presence, a new educational game aims to teach the ethics of cultural heritage repatriation through the lens of art history. The use of games to address current issues and conceptualize a framework for understanding the complexities of geopolitics is not new but aligning these considerations with the pressing need to protect cultural heritage as seen in modern-day Ukraine is. …

Assembling Enslaved Lives: Labor, Consumption, And Landscapes In The Northern Shenandoah Valley, Matthew Clark Greer

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation is a study of the lives of some of the people enslaved on rural plantations and farmsteads in the northern Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. Scholars did not widely acknowledge the presence of slavery in the Valley before the 1990s, and this is the first work to provide an in-depth view of the lives of enslaved Shenandoahans before 1860. Specifically, this project answers two questions: what was life like for enslaved people in the Shenandoah Valley, and how did they shape the region's political economies. Data for this project comes from archaeological excavations at the main enslaved quartering …

Freyre’S Plantation Playground: The Changing Landscape Of The Sugar Plantation Monjope, Catherine Elizabeth Lavoy

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation investigates the changing landscape of the sugar plantation Monjope in Pernambuco, Brazil from the mid-seventeenth to the end of the twentieth century. I examine this plantation’s changing landscape as part of a number of larger social, economic and environmental forces; in particular the development of racially based labor. Established in the sixteenth century, Monjope was one of the many Brazilian sugar plantations that relied on African slavery for labor until the end of the nineteenth century. I argue the plantation’s built environment in conjunction with the larger plantation landscape was part of a global trend of controlling labor …

Entangled Lives In A Southern Metropolis: An Archaeology Of Legacies At 87 Church Street, Charleston, South Carolina (1734-1771), Sarah Platt

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation examines life at 87 Church Street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina prior to the construction of the standing Heyward-Washington House compound in 1772. The primary data for this study consisted of “legacy” collections, or previously excavated collections that for whatever reason the primary investigator is no longer present. Thus, the primary field site for this project was a museum storeroom and the archive. By revisiting these collections, significant narrative gaps emerged in terms of Black and Indigenous presence on site. As much as the research focus dwelled in the eighteenth century, the “fieldwork” drifted into examining the much …

Hekate Of Lagina: A Goddess Performing Her Civic Duty, Amanda Herring

Art History Faculty Works

The Hellenistic Sanctuary of Hekate at Lagina represents the only site at which Hekate received state-sponsored cult at a monumental temple and a privileged place in the local pantheon. Elsewhere in Karia and the wider Greek world, Hekate was associated with magic and the underworld and received personal dedications at doorways and crossroads. This portrayal was echoed in art, where her character manifested in her triple-bodied form. Yet, at Lagina, part of the city of Stratonikeia, she was always represented with a single body. She was the focus of civic cult, in particular during the Hekatesia-Romaia festival, which celebrated the …