30341 - Archaeology and History of Ravenna and Byzantine Art (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, through the analysis of specific topics relating to the Late antique and Byzantine archaeology in relation to society and culture of the period, the students know the methodology and the content. They know how to  set up  a research with an appropriate method. They know how to use different sources - archaeological, epigraphic and literary - and a proper scientific bibliography.

Course contents

PART A: The module aims to analyze the urban planning and the architecture of Constantinople and Ravenna. The relations between the two capitals through the art-historical and archaeological evidences will be examined, with a particular attention to sculpture   
PART B: Some important cities of Asia Minor (Ephesus, Miletus, Aphrodisias, Sardis, Hierapolis, etc.), between the fourth and seventh centuries through the  archaeological, architectural, historical, artistic and literary documentation. Also some general themes will be examined in relation to the transformation of the social and religious models in the different regions of the  Late Antiquity empire.      
As part of the course a few conversations will be taken on  re-use and  wall mosaics in collaboration with Drs Giulia Marsili, Debora Pellacchia and Letizia Sotira.

Readings/Bibliography

Part A :  Constantinople: 'Costantinopoli' in Enciclopedia dell'Arte Antica, 1959; R. Krautheimer, Architettura paleocristiana e bizantina, Torino 1986, pp. 74-80; 126-128; 233-265;  G. Dagron, Costantinopoli, la Roma d'Oriente, in Aurea Roma, Roma  2000, pp. 230-233; E. Concina, Le arti di Bisanzio, Milano 2002, pp. 1-44 e 52-63; A. Guiglia Guidobaldi, C. Barsanti,  Santa Sofia di Costantinopoli: l'arredo marmoreo della grande chiesa giustinianea, Città del Vaticano 2004, pp. 4-21; I. Baldini Lippolis,  L'architettura  residenziale nelle città tardoantiche , Roma 2005, pp. 22-33; 67-100. Ravenna: R. Farioli Campanati,  Ravenna, Costantinopoli: aspetti topografico-monumentali e iconografici, in Storia di Ravenna: Dall'età bizantina all'età ottoniana, v. II,2 , Venezia 1992, pp. 127-157; C. Rizzardi, L'impianto liturgico nelle chiese ravennati (V-VI secolo) , in Hortus Artium Medievalium  7, 1999, pp. 67-85; R. Farioli Campanati, Ravenna-Costantinopoli: la scultura (secc. V-VI), in Konstantinopel. Scultura bizantina dai Musei di Berlino, Ravenna 2000, pp. 19-29; I. Baldini, S. Lorenzo in Cesarea e il problema di lettura iconografica del sarcofago Pignatta, in Atti del VII Congresso Nazionale di Archeologia Cristiana, Cassino 2003, pp. 225-238; C. Rizzardi, Il mosaico a Ravenna, ideologia e arte, Bologna 2011, pp. 15-30, 39-115, 123-165. 

Part B:  Late Antique cities in Asia Minor. See the italian version for the bibliography . 

Teaching methods

Students will be involved in the teaching activity.

Assessment methods

Oral exam on the topics of the lessons and on the bibliography.

Teaching tools

Photocopies, ppt. Visit to the main monuments of Ravenna. A study-trip in Caria (Turkey) is foreseen with a grant of the Dipartimento di Storia Culture Civiltà.

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/docenti/isabella.baldini

Office hours

See the website of Isabella Baldini