Stories in stone (Ordinario)
Prerequisiti
Prerequisites (Prerequisiti)
While no specific prior coursework is formally required, students are expected to have:
- A basic knowledge of classical art and archaeology, particularly of the Greek and Roman worlds.
- Familiarity with general historical frameworks from the Archaic to the Roman Imperial periods.
- The ability to read and interpret academic texts in the humanities.
- For international students, a sufficient command of the course language (Italian or English, depending on the edition) to participate in lectures and discussions.
Prior exposure to classical architecture, art history, or related disciplines is recommended but not essential. The course is designed to accommodate students from a range of academic backgrounds, including archaeology, classics, history, and art history.
Programma
Module 1. Stories in stone: An introduction to the study of Greek architectural decoration Module 2. Stories in stone: An introduction to the study of Roman architectural decoration
Integrating archaeological, historical, philological and artistic approaches, this course offers an interdisciplinary perspective on ancient architectural decoration, understood as the collection of ornamental elements that enrich architecture. It provides both theoretical grounding and practical skills for analysing the Greco-Roman decorative architectural heritage, with particular emphasis on its complexity, evolution, and cultural reception. Decorative elements serve aesthetic, symbolic, identity-related and communicative purposes, and are essential to understanding ancient societies and their historical and cultural contexts.
The course is structured into three modules of 20 hours each, which may also be attended independently (a minimum of 40 hours is required for the recognition of academic credit). Practical workshops are included, with individual and group exercises focused on the cataloguing and analysis of architectural elements.
Why Architectural Decoration?
Architectural decoration reflects religious, political and cultural values. Greece established the “classical canons”, later reinterpreted and codified by Rome. However, the origins of the classical orders are far more complex than once believed, and the modern notion of architectural orders as a fixed system of rules differs considerably from the ancient understanding. Numerous other cultures contributed to the formation of decorative repertoires, often exerting a direct influence on Greco-Roman models. Studying architectural decoration facilitates an understanding of stylistic developments and cultural interactions.
Significance and Applications
The analysis of decorative elements allows for:
- Dating buildings and construction phases
- Reconstructing architectural contexts and the material biographies of objects
- Identifying restorations, reuse, and structural modifications
- Understanding construction processes, techniques, the mobility of craftsmen, and the dynamics of production and economy
Even non-figurative decorative fragments bearing traces of workshop activity can yield valuable technical and historical insights. The choice of iconographic motifs may also reflect the patron’s tastes, social role, and symbolic intentions.
Interdisciplinary Relevance
The study of architectural decoration is of value not only to archaeologists and art historians, but also to classicists:
- Classicists can gain a deeper understanding of ancient texts through familiarity with architectural orders and technical terminology
- Scholars of modern and contemporary art can more critically analyse the reception and reinterpretation of classical models
The course is conceived as an interdisciplinary environment in which the diverse expertise and research perspectives of participants will enrich classroom discussion.
Module 1 – Stories in Stone: An Introduction to the Study of Greek Architectural Decoration
Aimed at undergraduate and graduate students, this module provides a theoretical and methodological foundation for the study of architectural decoration in the Greek world, from the Archaic period to the Roman conquest.
Main topics:
- From Vitruvian genus to 16th-century Mannerism
- Minoan, Egyptian, Oriental and wooden-structure influences in the origins of the classical orders
- Development and canonisation in Greek and Roman contexts
- The legacy of ancient orders: modern and contemporary reception
- Study of the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders
- Analysis of vertical (columns) and horizontal (entablature) structural elements
- Mouldings and their symbolic and communicative functions
- Local variants and experimentation beyond the Greek “canon”
- Organisation of building sites: materials, tools, techniques
- Mobility of craftsmen and materials, costs and logistics
- Practical training in documenting and analysing architectural decorative features
Module 2 – Stories in Stone: An Introduction to the Study of Roman Architectural Decoration
Designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students, this module offers an in-depth study of Roman architectural decoration in urban centres, the Italic regions, and the provinces.
Main topics:
- Continuities and innovations in relation to Greek models
- Use of architectural orders in various building types
- Detailed analysis of entablatures, columns and revetments
- Mouldings: types, aesthetic and symbolic significance
- Regional variants and departures from the canon
- Organisation of building sites: materials, tools, techniques
- Mobility of craftsmen and materials
- On-site practical training
Obiettivi formativi
Learning Objectives (Obiettivi formativi)
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Acquire a comprehensive understanding of architectural decoration in the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, including its aesthetic, symbolic, and communicative functions.
- Identify, describe, and classify the main elements of classical architectural decoration (e.g. orders, mouldings, columns, entablatures).
- Analyse the stylistic and technical features of decorative elements in relation to their historical and cultural contexts.
- Recognise the contribution of different cultural traditions to the development of classical decorative repertoires.
- Understand the organisation of ancient building sites, including materials, tools, construction techniques, and the mobility of craftsmen.
- Interpret architectural decoration as a historical source, contributing to the dating, reconstruction, and interpretation of ancient buildings and urban spaces.
- Develop practical skills in cataloguing and documentation of decorative elements, through both individual and collaborative exercises.
- Engage with interdisciplinary approaches combining archaeology, philology, art history, and classical studies.
- Critically reflect on the reception and reinterpretation of classical architectural forms in modern and contemporary contexts.
- Communicate research findings effectively, both orally and in written form.
Riferimenti bibliografici
During the course, the lecturer will provide students with supplementary teaching and research materials, and will recommend further reading on the various topics covered.
Moduli
| Modulo | Ore | CFU | Docenti |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modulo 1: Le pietre raccontano: introduzione allo studio della decorazione architettonica greca (per ordinari) | 20 | 3 | Consuelo Manetta |
| Modulo 2: Le pietre raccontano: introduzione allo studio della decorazione architettonica romana (per ordinari e PhD) | 20 | 3 | Consuelo Manetta |