Art and Architecture of Ancient Cyprus: Archaeological Perspectives (VS1) (U04386)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : HCA-3-Cyprus

Cyprus is at the crossroads between the Ancient Near East and Europe. It has been subject to influences from Egypt, Assyria, Phoenicia and especially Greece. In spite of these impacts, the islands cultures remained highly distinctive, like so many other ancient island societies in contact with nearby civilisations. This course investigates the dynamics of Mediterranean island identity as expressed through the case study of art and architecture recovered by archaeologists in Cyprus. It deals with periods from the first sedentary farmers to the creation of the mosaics at the World Heritage site of Nea Paphos. One of the themes in dedicated studies is the propensity of islanders to select and adapt external influences, often for the construction of elite identities. Art forms to be considered in their architectural settings include figurines, sculptures, jewellery, vase painting and mosaics.

Entry Requirements

? This course is only available to part year visiting students.

? This course is a variant of the following course : U03313

? Costs : None.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Archaeology, (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Schedule E)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
22/09/2008	11:10	13:00	Room 1.F01, Old High School	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	11:10	13:00	Central

? Additional Class Information : N.B. Timetable is arranged annually; the above time refers to session 2008/9

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the course successfully will be able by the end of the course to demonstrate in written examination and course work as well as in class discussion:
- a knowledge and understanding of the manner in which interdisciplinary studies can lead to much richer reconstructions.
- a knowledge and understanding of the critical awareness of the archaeological context of art and architecture.
- a knowledge and understanding of the early contacts between Europe and the Middle East.
- a knowledge and understanding of how early island societies appropriated, adapted and rejected external stimuli
- a knowledge and understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the archaeological record.
- a knowledge and understanding of the development of island societies as exemplified by the Cypriot record.
- a knowledge and understanding of the development of western attitudes to other cultures (cf. in this context Edward Said, Orientalism).

Transferable Skills:
Students will also demonstrate that they can:
- gather material independently on a given topic and organise it into a coherent data set;
- compare differing sets of data from varying situations and draw conclusions from them;
- evaluate different approaches to and explanations of material, and make critical choices between them;
- express clearly ideas and arguments, both orally and in writing;
- organise complex and lengthy sets of arguments and draw these together into a coherent conclusion;
- organise their own learning, manage their workload and work to a timetable.