For the Locals: Free Lecture On Ancient Athens at the Parthenon

For those of you who love history, here is a great opportunity to learn more about ancient Athens! If you are a homeschooling parent of an older student, this is something you may not want to miss.

Parthenon Symposium – Roman Athens: the Transformation into an Imperial City

Few cities of the ancient world can rival Athens’ rich array of cultural splendors. Monuments such as the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and Theater of Dionysos serve as visual reminders of Athens’ glory during the Classical Age. But scholars have neglected the era in Athenian history when Rome held dominion over all of Greece and the “Golden Age” of Athens was long passed.

On Tuesday, March 22, Dr. Michael Hoff, Professor of Art History at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, will trace the topographical and architectural changes Athens underwent during the formative period of Roman control, which occurred during the late Hellenistic period and to the mid-first century AD. The Romans heavily patronized the city with endowments of magnificent buildings and monuments that outwardly reflect and honor Athens’ past glory, yet also readily testify to the reality of Roman domination.

Dr. Hoff received his AB in Art History and Archaeology from the University of Missouri, his MA in Classics from Florida State University and his PhD in Art History from Boston University. His areas of specialization include Greek architecture and the topography of Athens, and he has conducted field work in Greece at Nemea, Corinth, the Athenian Agora and Kavousi.

The lecture will take place at the Parthenon at 7:00 p.m., with a reception following. Admission is free, but reservations are required (862-8431). The Parthenon Symposia are sponsored by the Archaeological Institute of America and the Conservancy for the Parthenon and Centennial Park.