Elspeth Dusinberre is interested in cultural interactions in Anatolia, including in the time of the Achaemenid Persian Empire (ca. 550-330 BCE) and in pre-Achaemenid Phrygia. Her first book, Aspects of Empire in Achaemenid Sardis (Cambridge 2003), focuses on the Lydian capital. Her second book is a diachronic excavation monograph, Gordion Seals and Sealings: Individuals and Society (Philadelphia 2005). Dusinberre's third book, Empire, Authority, and Autonomy in Achaemenid Anatolia (Cambridge 2013), winner of the 2015 Wiseman Award, considers all of Anatolia under Persian rule and proposes a new model for understanding imperialism. Her book on the cremation tumuli at Gordion (Philadelphia 2023) uses mortuary remains to investigate major cultural shifts at the Phrygian capital between 625 and 525 BCE. Her articles have appeared in, e.g., American Journal of Archaeology, Ars Orientalis, the Annals of the American Schools of Oriental Research, and Anatolian Studies. She is currently studying the seal impressions on the Aramaic tablets of the Persepolis Fortification Archive (ca. 500 BCE) and the Early Phrygian destruction level at Gordion (ca. 800 BCE), in addition to other projects at Gordion.
keywords
archaeology, art history, ancient imperialism, greek and near eastern archaeology, seals, achaemenid persian empire, anatolia
ARTH 1509 - Trash and Treasure, Temples and Tombs: Art and Archaeology of the Ancient World
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022
Introduces the art and archaeology of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome, examining various ancient approaches to power, religion, death and the human body. Analyzes art, architecture and everyday trash to learn about ancient humanity. Same as CLAS 1509.
ARTH 4269 - Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
Examines civilizations of the Iran-Iraq region from the rise of urbanism in Mesopotamia through the era of the first 'world empire,' Achaemenid Persia. Emphasizes the material record of religious and state institutions of the ancient Near East, especially monuments that illustrate concepts of kingship. Explores notions of style, symbolism, visual rhetoric, text-image synthesis, patronage, creativity and roles of artists. Recommended prerequisite: CLAS 1509 or ARTH 1509. Same as ARTH 5269 and CLAS 4269 and CLAS 5269.
ARTH 5269 - Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2022
Examines civilizations of the Iran-Iraq region from the rise of urbanism in Mesopotamia through the era of the first 'world empire,' Achaemenid Persia. Emphasizes the material record of religious and state institutions of the ancient Near East, especially monuments that illustrate concepts of kingship. Explores notions of style, symbolism, visual rhetoric, text-image synthesis, patronage, creativity and roles of artists. Same as ARTH 4269 and CLAS 4269 and CLAS 5269.
CLAS 1509 - Trash and Treasure, Temples and Tombs: Art and Archaeology of the Ancient World
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022
Introduces the art and archaeology of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome, examining various ancient approaches to power, religion, death and the human body. Analyzes art, architecture and everyday trash to learn about ancient humanity. Same as ARTH 1509.
CLAS 4269 - Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
Examines civilizations of the Iran-Iraq region from the rise of urbanism in Mesopotamia through the era of the first 'world empire,' Achaemenid Persia. Emphasizes the material record of religious and state institutions of the ancient Near East, especially monuments that illustrate concepts of kingship. Explores notions of style, symbolism, visual rhetoric, text-image synthesis, patronage, creativity and roles of artists. Recommended prerequisite: CLAS 1509 or ARTH 1509. Same as CLAS 5269 and ARTH 4269 and ARTH 5269.
CLAS 5269 - Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
Examines civilizations of the Iran-Iraq region and Anatolia from the rise of urbanism in Mesopotamia through the era of the first 'world empire,' Achaemenid Persia. Emphasizes the material record of religious and state institutions of the ancient Near East, especially monuments that illustrate concepts of power and communication. Explores notions of style, symbolism, visual rhetoric, text-image synthesis, patronage, creativity, trade, religion, gender, identity and roles of artists. May be repeated twice for credit if the topic is different. Same as CLAS 5269 and ARTH 4269 and ARTH 5269.
FYSM 1000 - First Year Seminar
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019
Provide first year students with an immersive experience in an interdisciplinary topic that addresses current issues including social, technical and global topics. Taught by faculty from across campus, the course provides students with an opportunity to interact in small classes, have project based learning experiences and gain valuable communication skills. Seminar style classes focused on discussion and projects.
