Prof. John Pollini
Von Kleinsmid 368A
Office Hrs.: Mon. 1:30-2:00,
Wed. 1:30-2:30, & by appt.
Off. tel.: (213) 740-4552
AHIS 322: ROMAN ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY
SYLLABUS & ASSIGNMENTS
I. NATURE OF COURSE:
A. This course is a survey of the most important works of art and monuments of ancient
Rome from the beginnings of the city (from about the 8th century B.C.) through the
period of Constantine (to A.D. 337).
B. There will be an emphasis on the three main areas of sculpture, architecture, and painting
within a historical and cultural context. Materials and techniques will also be considered.
C. Some of the works of the Etruscans, Greeks, and Italic peoples will be considered, but
only for their influence on the art and architecture of Rome.
II. COURSE MANUAL Roman Art & Archaeology:
A. The Course Manual is downloadable on Blackboard under this course number. The
Manual provides detailed factual information in outline form about works and
monuments of Roman art and architecture as they occur in the lectures. One purpose of
the Manual is to reduce the need to take notes on factual information such as names of
objects, places, dates, etc. and to allow you to concentrate more on what is being said and
on the images being shown. Be sure to familiarize yourself before each lecture with the
relevant material in the Manual and to have it available in class.
B. All images seen in lectures will also be available through Blackboard. I usually upload
the powerpoint presentation the night before the lecture.
C. Note-Taking: You should be concerned in your note-taking with those features which
make a particular work or monument distinctive or characteristic of its genre (or type) and
period. Always ask yourself what is especially important about the monument or object
you are shown. How does it fit into the larger framework of Roman art, archaeology, and
history? Does it show any influence from earlier art forms of the same or other cultures?
Most importantly, how does it reflect the society that produced it?
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III. REQUIRED TEXT FOR PURCHASE:
Kleiner, Fred S. A History of Roman Art (2010: Enhanced Edition, pb)
NOTE: For exams, you are responsible for material in lectures and your reading
assignments. Assignments should be read before the lectures in which the material is
discussed.
IV. USEFUL BOOKS & REFERENCE WORKS
NOTE: If you want to do addition reading on the subject of Roman art & archaeology, as
well as the Etruscan art & archaeology as background, the following books and
reference works are useful:
A. General works:
Bloch, R. Etruscan Art (1965).
Boethius, A. & J. B. Ward-Perkins, Etruscan and Roman Architecture (Pelican History of
Art series) (1970).
De Franciscis, A. Die pompejanischen Wandmalerein in der Villa von Oplontis (1975).
Henig, M. A Handbook of Roman Art (1983).
Maiuri, A. Roman Painting (1953).
Pollitt, J.J. The Art of Rome (1966) (ancient literary and inscriptional evidence).
Pollini, J. From Republic to Empire: Rhetoric, Religion, and Power in the Visual Culture of
Ancient Rome (2012).
Richter, G.M.A. A Handbook of Greek Art (for comparative Greek material)
Stenico, A. Roman and Etruscan Painting (1963).
Wheeler, M. Roman Art and Architecture.
B. Reference Works:
1. Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae (1981-97) [Encyclopedic Lexicon of
mythological figures from Classical Antiquity: 8 double volumes, text and plates, now
with supplements in te last vols.] (Call number: N7760.L49 1981): Now the most
important visual source for Greek, Etruscan, and Roman mythological figures. Articles
are written in English, German, French, or Italian]. Additional bibliographical references
in English can be found under each entry. NOTE: This ref. work is now kept in the
“Classics Collection Room,” located just behind the reference desk in main reading
room in Doheny.
2. The Oxford Classical Dictionary (4th edition 2012)
This is a valuable dictionary of proper names, places, things, terms, etc. with additional
bibliography. This work should be available at the following libraries: DOHNEY,
ARCH/FINE ARTS, LEAVEY, PHILOSOPHY.
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C. Website for the Study of Archaeology with links to other sites:
http://libguides.usc.edu/ancient_art
V. GRADING: 2 options
Option 1: Mid-Term = 50 %; Final Exam = 50 %
OR
Option 2: Mid-Term = 40 %; Final Exam = 40 %; 8-10 page paper = 20%
Note: If you choose this option, see me about the paper requirements
VI. EXAMS: Both Mid-Term and Final exams consist of three parts; both exams will be of
the same length; the final exam will cover only material after the Mid-Term
NOTE: More information and a practice exam will be discussed at the review class before
the Mid-Term exam
VII. OTHER INFORMATION:
A. You will find discrepancies in the readings in the spelling of Greek proper names and
places, depending upon whether an author is using the transliterated Greek or the
Latinate form of the original word.
B. At times there will also be discrepancies in the dating of various monuments, according to
different authorities; for the purpose of this course, follow those dates provided in the
Course Lectures & Manual.
C. Attending lectures is mandatory: the lectures do not simply repeat or summarize material
in the readings.
VIII. Policy Statements from the University:
A. Statement for Students with Disabilities:
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register
with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved
accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to
TA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m.–5:00
p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.
B. Statement on Academic Integrity:
USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honesty
include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that
individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations
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both to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using
another’s work as one’s own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these
principles. Scampus, the Student Guidebook, contains the Student Conduct Code in Section
11.00, while the recommended sanctions are located in Appendix A:
http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/SCAMPUS/gov/. Students will be referred to the Office of
Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for further review, should there be any
suspicion of academic dishonesty. The Review process can be found at:
http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/SJACS/.
READING ASSIGNMENTS FOR SEMESTER
Jan. 13: Introduction
Jan. 15, 22, 27: Lecture I-III: The Origin of Roman and its Colonies; Sculpture in Rome in
the First Centuries; Architecture of the Later Republic
F,. S.,Kleiner, A History of Roman Art, xx-xlvii, 1-29, 202-208
N. & A. Ramage, Roman Art, pp. 72-83 (on Blackboard)
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Day (no class)
Jan. 29: Lecture IV: Sculpture of the Later Republic
Kleiner, 46-59
Ramage, pp. 85-94 (on Blackboard)
Feb. 3: Lecture V: Historical Painting
Kleiner, xxvi-xxvii, xxxv, xl-xli, 27-28, 44-45
R. Bianchi Bandinelli, Rome, the Center of Power, 10, 110-119 (on Blackboard)
P. Holliday, The Origins of Roman Historical Commemoration in the Visual Arts, 63-74
(on Blackboard)
Feb. 5 & 10: Lectures VI & VII: Augustan Sculpture
Kleiner, 60-72, 82-87
Ramage, pp. 122-134 (on Blackboard)
Feb. 12 & 24: Lectures VIII & IX: Augustan Architecture
Kleiner, 56-58, 63-66, 72-73, 79-81, 88-101
Feb. 17: Presidents’ Day (no class)
Feb. 19: Visit to USC’s Archaeology Lab -- Dr. Lynn Swartz Dodd, the Curator, will talk to
you about our USC Archaeological Collection
Meet at 12:00 at Ahmanson Center for Biology (ACB) West Tower, Room 335
(across from Harris & Watt Halls) Do not be late!
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Feb. 26, March 3 & 5: Lectures X-XII: Domestic Architecture & Painting
Kleiner, 30-44, 73-77, 119, 138-151, 208-210
Ramage, 94-109 (on Blackboard)
Bianchi Bandinelli, 119-143 (on Blackboard)
March 10: REVIEW FOR MID-TERM; FILM
March 12: MID-TERM EXAM
March 17 & 19: NO CLASSES -- SPRING BREAK
March 24 & 26: Lectures XIII & XIV: Julio-Claudian Sculpture & Architecture
Kleiner, 102-119
Sear, Roman Architecture, 86-102 (on Blackboard)
March 31 & April 2: Lecture XV & XVI: Flavian Sculpture & Architecture
Kleiner, 120-137
Ramage, 170-189 (on Blackboard)
April 7: Lecture XVII: Portraiture -- Nerva through Commodus
Kleiner, 153-155, 171-175, 187-194
April 9: Lecture XVIII: Trajanic and Hadrianic Reliefs
Kleiner, 152, 159-162, 164-169, 175-178
Ramage, 213-225 (on Blackboard)
April 14: Lecture XIX: Antonine Historical Reliefs and Sarcophagi
Kleiner, 186, 195-201, 216-227
April 16: Lecture XX: Trajanic Architecture
Kleiner, 156-160, 162-165
Ramage, 208-213 (on Blackboard)
Sear, 122-125 (on Blackboard)
April 17: Lecture XXI: Hadrianic and Antonine Architecture
Kleiner, 170,178-185, 194-195
Ramage, pp. 231-241 (on Blackboard)
April 23: Lecture XXII: Portraiture -- Septimius Severus through Constantine
Kleiner, 231-237, 263-270, 278-282, 291-294
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April 28: Lecture XXIII: Reliefs -- Septimius Severus through Constantine
Kleiner, 230, 237-241, 250-252, 270-277, 282-284, 294-296
April 30: Lecture XXIV: Architecture: Septimius Severus through Constantine
Kleiner, 242-245, 276-277, 284-289, 296-301
Ramage, 334-337 (on Blackboard)
FINAL EXAM: FRIDAY, MAY 9, 11:00-1:00