0486 - Colors Of The Ancient World

Course Description

Rachael Goldman, PhD

The long-accepted theory that color in monuments and sculpture was distained by the ancients has been debunked by scholars. We will consider how color was used in daily life, from the people who created the colors to those who wore them and how color was used in private and public life. Romans, in particular, attached nuanced implications to colors, using color as a form of cultural assessment, defining social values and order. Using color, they made judgments about social class, gender roles, and ethnic groups, maintaining the status quo. We will evaluate the different types of evidence and the approaches that have been used to recreate colored sculptures, highlighting the language and consciousness each social and cultural group displayed. Ancient Mediterranean peoples embraced the concept of appropriateness for display and appearance, and we will consider how they were able to negotiate those boundaries.