Memory and the Monument: The Tombstone in Classical Greece and the Roman Near East

Death is universal. Commemoration is not.

Why, then, did some Greeks and Romans commemorate their dead? How did they engage different aspects of their identity on a stele or tombstone? What types of monuments and artifacts emerge? And how should we read a classical Greek or Roman tombstone today?

These are some of the questions explored in our seminar, which surveys commemoration in the Greco-Roman funerary realm. To do this, we examine a selection of tombstones or stelai from Greece and the Roman Near East. Our progression will be geographical, and to some extent, chronological. We will have a look at the splendid tombstones from the Kerameikos (the cemetery of classical Athens), engage the last words of Roman soldiers, and read some ancient ghost stories along the way.

Course Requirements:

Students can expect a significant discussion component, two mini course projects which emphasize archaeological methods, and a discussion post. Midway through the course, we will venture to the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology for hands-on experience with artifacts from the region and period under study.

Intended Audience:

LSA Honors students in their first year at the University of Michigan

Class Format:

Class meets in the Honors Lounge located in the Honors Program office, 1330 Mason Hall.