Unit information: The Archaeology of Myth: From the Trojan War to the end of Atlantis in 2011/12

Unit name	The Archaeology of Myth: From the Trojan War to the end of Atlantis
Unit code	CLAS22384
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Professor. Momigliano
Open unit status	Open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Classics & Ancient History
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

Since the early 19th century, the investigations of some famous archaeological sites in the ancient world have been stimulated by their literary associations, especially with well-known Greek myths. Among the best examples are Schliemann’s excavations at Troy and Mycenae in search of Homeric heroes, Sir Arthur Evans’s work at the ‘Palace of Minos’ (Knossos), Carl Blegen’s discoveries at the ‘Palace of Nestor’ (Pylos), and Spyridon Marinatos’s excavations on Thera/Santorini and its links with Plato’s myth of Atlantis. Using these Aegean sites as the main (but non the only) case-studies, this unit will explore the relationship between archaeological investigations and myths, the methodological issues involved in the use of literary and archaeological sources, what archaeology can contribute to the understanding of myths (and vice versa), and which new myths have emerged since these archaeological discoveries (e.g. the Minoans as worshippers of a Great Mother Goddess and pacifist proto-Christians). To introduce students to:

• a number of world-famous archaeological sites in the Aegean (their main monuments and finds);
• the history of their investigation (and the reception of the archaeological discoveries);
• important texts related to their early history, and pertaining to well-known Greek and Near Eastern myths;
• the complex methodological issues involved in the study of literary texts on Greek mythology and relevant archaeological evidence.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit student will have a sound knowledge/critical understanding of:

• a number of world-famous archaeological sites in the Aegean (their main monuments and finds);
• the history of their archaeological explorations (and the reception of the archaeological discoveries);
• important texts pertaining to well-known Greek and Near Eastern myths, and related to the early history of the sites examined;
• the complex methodological issues involved in the use of both written and archaeological evidence.

In addition, second year students will be expected to have developed more sophisticated analytical skills, as demonstrated in their formal assessments (including the extended length of their course-work essay) and in their participation in seminar discussions.

Teaching Information

Lectures (2 x 1 hour per week)

Assessment Information

1 essay of 2,500 words (50%) and 1 examination of 90 minutes (50%)

Reading and References

• Buxton, R.G.A. (2004) The Complete World of Greek Mythology (London: Thames & Hudson)
• Darcque, P., Fotiadis, M., and Polychronopoulou, O. (eds.) (2006). Mythos : La Préhistoire Égéenne du XIXe au XXIe Siècle après J.-C. Table Ronde International, Athènes, 21–23 Novembre 2002, Bulletin de Correspondence Hellénique, Suppl. 46. Paris: Ecole Française
• Fitton, J.L. (1995) The Discovery of the Greek Bronze Age (London: British Museum Press)
• Hamilakis, Y. and N. Momigliano (2006) Archaeology and European Modernity: Producing and Consuming the Minoans, Padua: Bottega d’Erasmo.
• Luce, J.V. (1982; 1st ed. 1969) The End of Atlantis: New Light on an Old Legend (London: Thames & Hudson)
• McDonald, W.A. and C.G. Thomas (1990) Progress into the Past: The Rediscovery of Mycenaean Civilisation (2nd edition; Indiana University Press, Bloomington and Indiana)