About this course: Which are the deepest roots of that mix of cultures that we use to call ‘Mediterranean Civilization’? Which are comminglings and exchanges which produced its most complete fruit, i.e. the city, a place for landscape-modelling communities? And which elements did contribute to build up that baulk of customs, ideas, and innovations which compelled to confrontation and hybridizations different peoples for millennia? What did it made, from pottery to metallurgy, from gastronomy to architecture, from art to religion, of a sea a cradle of civilization? Archaeology may help in disentangling such questions, seeking unexpected answers , by tinkering what ancient Mediterranean peoples left buried in the ground. A privileged point of view of our course is the ancient Phoenician city of Motya, located exactly at the centre of the “sea in the middle”. Throughout the live experience of excavation, with images taken on the field, this course will let you touch the many tesserae of the great mosaic of the Mediterranean Civilization. The field diary of the archaeologist, and the handpick will be the two tools, which will lead us across the sea to discover what such early cities actually were, and how their contribute is still a major part of our shared memory.
Who is this class for: The course is offered to a general well educated public, basically interested in the history and archaeology of ancient Mediterranean, with a novel approach, inspired by most recent and updated results of field research.
Taught by: Lorenzo Nigro, Prof.
Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia
| Level | Beginner |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
- Reading: Suggested readings
- Video: 1 Introduction
- Video: 1.1 On the routes of Phoenicians
- Video: 1.2 Crossing the Middle Sea
- Video: 1.3 Concept of the city
- Reading: Suggested readings
- Video: 2.1 Jericho and the Levantine city
- Video: 2.2 The Palace the heart of the city
- Video: 2.3 A society in a network
- Reading: Suggested readings
- Video: 3.1 Landing on Motya
- Video: 3.2 Prehistoric Motya from Levantines to Myceneans
- Video: 3.3 Phoenicians’ arrival
- Reading: Suggested readings
- Video: 4.1 Water for life
- Video: 4.2 The sacred waters and the inferior world
- Video: 4.3 The Temple of the Kothon
- Reading: Suggested readings
- Video: 5.1 The sacred pool
- Video: 5.2 Astarte: the thousand faces of the goddess
- Video: 5.3 The sacred precint
- Video: 5.4 Ancient anchors
- Reading: Suggested readings
- Video: 6.1 The necropolis: life reflected in death
- Video: 6.2 The Tophet
- Video: 6.3 The Tophet and the city
- Reading: Suggested readings
- Video: 7.1: Dwelling quarter
- Video: 7.2: Finds and colour of the daily life
- Video: 7.3 Dwelling quarter
- Video: 8.1: The City-walls
- Video: 8.2: War and defences
- Video: 8.3: Integration and destruction: the Motya charioteer
- Reading: Suggested readings
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It is a very interesting course to know the Phoenician city of Motya.
wonderful explanation along with good slides and maps and incredible readings
but the main organization was my favorite part because I learned so much about ancient cities as well as Motya
It was an amazing course, I'm sad it is already finished. I'm really already missing it.
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Fascinating and right up my alley!! Thank you, Coursera!!