What does Pompeii tell us about Roman art, culture and society? How does the material culture of this city communicate ideas and concerns that are characteristically Roman? By studying the private homes, villas, and public buildings, we will examine ancient Roman life as it was played out vis a vis their art. By focusing on the visual culture of the town, we will examine how the city, the villa or the home artistically expressed personal and public identities. Likewise, we will explore the vast civic and religious areas of these cities in an attempt to better understand the urban artistic programs in the Bay of Naples during the first century CE. We will touch upon the complexities of the rediscovery of Pompeii and the ‘reception of the past’ and the profound influence these buried cities have had on art throughout the centuries.

This course fulfills the following Major requirements: Geographical area (A), and Chronological period (I).