AA4146 The Colours of Ancient Art

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

TBC

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr B A Martens

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Brian Martens

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

The ancient world was a colourful, vibrant place. Colour contributed vigorously to visual culture in antiquity, acting as a primary interpretive device for approaching, analysing, and contextualizing an artwork and its constituent components. As a result, colour is one of the most important issues in the study of ancient art, yet it is often the most overlooked. This module introduces students to the sources, uses, meanings, and reception of colour in art of the ancient Mediterranean basin, from the third millennium BCE until Late Antiquity. The module highlights the range of methodologies and scientific techniques used to document, study, and reconstruct ancient coloured surfaces. Classroom enquiry culminates with a cross-cultural examination of the uses and meanings of colour in Mayan art.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

AS STATED IN THE SCHOOL OF CLASSICS UNDERGRADUATE HANDBOOK

Assessment pattern

Coursework - 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework - 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 seminars

Scheduled learning hours

20

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

280

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Gain familiarity with dynamic, interdisciplinary scholarly approaches to the study of ancient colour, including archaeological, art historical, and archaeometric models.
  • Analyse and interpret the meanings of colour across cultures in antiquity.
  • Consider how to present ancient colour to wide public audiences [teaching Weeks 4 and 10].
  • Conduct research using primary sources and scholarly literature.
  • Develop transferrable critical thinking and writing skills.