Progress and innovation in technology were of exceptional importance for the development of ancient societies. Ancient technologies and crafts are of interest to archaeologists, historians and other scientists as well. The International Hellenic University Summer School in Ancient Technologies and Crafts offers the opportunity to study different aspects of the technological advances of ancient cultures, mainly that of ancient Greece, revealing the unique technological level that in fact the ancient civilizations had reached.

During the course, the state of the art in historical research along with the recent scientific techniques applied to the analysis of archaeological findings will be presented by senior academics and field archaeologists who are experts in various research areas, such as the exploitation of natural resources, the crafts exercised in everyday life or recorded by state bureaucracy, the building and naval technologies, the outcomes of the interconnection between technology and science or technology and ideology, etc.

Program Structure

The series of lectures are arranged in three interconnected themes. Every year the school will focus on at least two research areas from each theme, with a variety of lectures offered for each field. For 2013, the series of lectures offered are:

Introductory Lecture: An Introduction to the Ancient Greek Technology, by Prof. Dr Th. Tassios, Civil engineer, Professor Emeritus, National Technical University, Athens, Greece, President of the Association of Ancient Greek Technology Studies, Member of the Academy of Sciences of Turin.

1. From Material Resources to Final Products

Textile Manufacture: From Fibre to Fabric, by Prof. Dr Marie-Louise Nosch, Director of the Centre for Textile Research (CTR), Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen, Holder of the Onassis scholarship for 2013.

Pre-Romam Glassworking, by Dr Despina Ignatiadou, Curator of Metalwork, Associate Director, Archaeological Museum, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Roman and Byzantine Glassworking, by Dr Anastassios Antonaras, Archaeologist, Museum of Byzantine Culture, Thessaloniki, Greece, General Secretary in the council of the Association Internationale pour l’Histoire du Verre-AIHV.

2. Ancient Technology and Science

Metal Alloys and Recipes, by Dr Yannis Bassiakos, Geologist, Research Director, Institute of Materials Science, National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Editor-in-Chief, J. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (by Springer).

Standards in Technology and Economy, by Dr Anna Michailidou, Research Director Emerita, Research Centre for Greek and Roman Antiquity, Institute of Historical Research, The National Hellenic Research Foundation, Member of the research team at Akrotiri excavations, Santorini.

Writing as Communication Technology, by Dr Vassilis Petrakis, Affiliated Researcher at the Research Centre for Greek and Roman Antiquity, Institute of Historical Research, The National Hellenic Research Foundation.

The Antikythera Mechanism: Astronomy and Technology in Ancient Greece, by Prof. Dr J.H. Seiradakis, Professor of Astronomy, Director of the Laboratory of Astronomy at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, Member of “Pulse” team that was awarded the EU 2005 Descartes Prize for Research.

3. Technology, Art and Ideology

Building Technology and Archaeological Landscapes, by Prof. Dr C. Palyvou, Professor of Architecture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Before restoring an architectural monument you need to know all about its body and soul: the case of the Propylaia, by Dr A. Tanoulas, Architect, Collaborator of the Committee for the Conservation of the Acropolis Monuments.

Technology, Art and Ideology in Ancient Greek Painting, by Prof. Dr Chryssoula Paliadeli, Professor of Classical Archaeology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Director of the excavations at Vergina, Macedonia, Greece.

Archaeological Landscapes through the Eyes of Artist-Travelers, by Dr F.M. Tsigakou, Art Historian, Curator of Paintings, Prints, and Drawings at the Benaki Museum, Athens, Greece.

Program Director:

Dr Anna Michailidou, Research Director Emerita, Research Centre for Greek and Roman Antiquity, Institute of Historical Research, The National Hellenic Research Foundation.

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.

Working Hours:

For the period of two weeks, the lectures will take place six hours daily (a total of 60 hours), from Monday to Friday, at the International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece. All lectures will be in English. During weekends, the School will organize optional excursions to major museums and sites of Thessaloniki and Macedonia. The individual workload is estimated to another 30 hours.

For a number of students who wish to extend their stay for another week, the summer school may arrange for them to take part in an archaeological excavation in the area of Macedonia or to gain some experience in an archaeological laboratory. If you are interested in this possibility please state it in your application form.

Course Credits:

A certificate of attendance will be provided at the end of the program to all participants who have fulfilled the course requirements. Students/graduates taking the course for credit at their home institutions will also have to deliver an essay paper in order to obtain 4.5 ECTS credits. Since degree requirements vary among universities, students/graduates are advised to ensure, preferably in advance, that their college or university will recognize such certification and award the suggested credits.

Fees and Accommodation:

The tuition fees are 665€. Participants will have to cover their travel, accommodation and everyday expenses. Participants can choose accommodation from a variety of options, with prices starting from 100 € for the whole 2 weeks. The additional tuition fees for the third week of the Summer School are 135€.

Participants and Application Procedure:

The Summer School on Ancient Technologies and crafts 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.

In order to apply, you need to:

Fill the online application form

Send a short curriculum vitae to [email protected] as well as, optionally, your degrees, any relevant working experience and a letter of recommendation.

All applicants will be notified of admission decisions by e-mail in the next 10 working days upon receiving their application.

The course is open to a maximum of 35 participants whilst IHU reserves the right to postpone the Summer Course for the next year, in case a minimum enrollment is not achieved by 31th May 2013.

Discounts and fellowships:

A small number of fellowships might be offered. Participants who will register before 30 April 2013 will receive a discount of 10%. Participants who are IHU graduates or who intend to study at IHU in the following year will receive a major discount in their Summer Course tuition fees or their MA tuition fees respectively. More details on these subjects will be available in due course, together with the final program of the Summer School.

For more information please contact Mrs Konstadina Karaiskou at [email protected] or call 0030-2310 807529.