There survive from the Roman province of Egypt a large number of mummy cases that were equipped with brilliantly vivid portrait faces painted in encaustic (colored wax — the oil painting of the ancient world). About 1000 survive, and of these about 100 still possess their mummy cases. This class will seek to analyze and interpret the evidence of these portraits—to understand why these images were made, and what such portraits attempt to communicate about the men, women, and children represented.

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