Ancient Technology and the Voyage of Luxuries

Progress and innovation in technology were of exceptional importance for the development of ancient societies and have been of great interest to many disciplines. This year, the International Hellenic University Summer School is focusing on Ancient Technology and the Voyage of Luxuries offering the opportunity to study how technological achievements of ancient cultures facilitate luxurious activities; luxury as a social practice is exclusive per se. Based on the processes of the integration of those who belong to a certain elite group, but also on the exclusion of those who don’t, it is actually a social identifier throughout Antiquity. Subjects such as how the diffusion of improved infrastructural, organizational and mechanical technologies facilitated the production and distribution of luxury items (e.g. faience, glassware, jewelry, ceramics, toreutics, etc) or how the invention and transfer of new technologies served the needs of the ancient societies for prosperity, hence luxury, will be discussed.

Course leader

Scientific Committee Dr Anna Michailidou, The National Hellenic Research Foundation Dr Georgia Aristodemou, International Hellenic University

Target group

The Summer School on Ancient Technology and the Voyage of Luxuries welcomes applicants from a wide range of educational background. Participants can be undergraduate students and graduates of related disciplines (Archaeology, Architecture, Museology, Conservation Studies, History, Tourism, Political Science, etc.). Applications from other professionals with an interest in archaeology and ancient technology will also be taken into consideration. Applicants should be well acquainted with the English language.

Course aim

The Summer School on Ancient Technology is planned to be held annually with the aim of a) providing an international forum on technological achievements of the ancient Greek world and b) making greater use of the rich resources of Greece in terms of specialists in ancient technology research. The aim of this 2-week intensive school is to make the participants more acquainted with aspects of ancient technologies by providing up-to-date knowledge presented and discussed by the experts of the relevant fields. It is of great benefit for the students to study ancient technologies and crafts in a location such as Northern Greece where in recent years major works in preservation have been accomplished by applying modern techniques and ideas and the museum exhibitions display impressive results of ancient technologies.