Watch 30 Masterpieces of the Ancient World

Name: 30 Masterpieces of the Ancient World
Genre: History
Released: 2013-04-05

2013
1 Season

30 Masterpieces of the Ancient World is an engaging and enlightening series presented by The Great Courses. This course takes the viewers on an incredible journey through the ancient world, focusing on 30 of the most impressive examples of human creativity and ingenuity that have survived to this day.

The series features expert commentary and analysis by Professor Diana Krumholz McDonald, an esteemed expert in art history and archaeology. With her vast knowledge and infectious enthusiasm, Professor McDonald guides viewers through the intricate history and artistic mastery behind each masterpiece, bringing these incredible works to life and shedding light on what they reveal about the societies in which they were created.

30 Masterpieces of the Ancient World covers a wide range of cultures and time periods, spanning roughly 4,000 years of human history. From the Great Sphinx of Giza to the Parthenon of Athens, from the Terra Cotta Army of China to the Moai of Easter Island, each episode explores a unique and awe-inspiring example of ancient art and architecture.

In addition to showcasing the pieces themselves, 30 Masterpieces of the Ancient World also delves into the historical and cultural contexts in which they were created. Professor McDonald discusses the social, political, and religious forces that shaped these ancient societies, and explains how each masterpiece reflects the beliefs, values, and priorities of the culture that produced it.

Throughout the series, viewers will gain a new appreciation for the remarkable achievements of our ancient ancestors, and will come away with a deeper understanding of the cultural and artistic connections that bind us to our shared human history. Whether you are a lifelong student of ancient history or simply have a curiosity about the world that came before us, 30 Masterpieces of the Ancient World is a must-watch series that will inspire, educate, and entertain.

30 Masterpieces of the Ancient World is a series that ran for 1 seasons (36 episodes) between April 5, 2013 and on The Great Courses

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Seasons

36. How Ancient Art Reverberates

April 5, 2013

Revisit some of the masterpieces you have seen in this course, compare them to contemporary works that draw from ancient sources, and review some of the universal themes you have explored--especially animals, fertility, death, and rulership. These themes bind humans in nearly every civilization, and the themes are reflected in its art.

35. What Can We Learn from Ancient Art?

April 5, 2013

What can ancient art teach us about our place in the cosmos? What do we find so beautiful about ancient art? And how does it compare to contemporary art? Does art need to have a function? Ponder these questions and more as you reflect on your journey through the world of ancient art.

34. Ancient Andean Textiles

April 5, 2013

Shift your attention to Andean textiles. These masterpieces combined amazing technical virtuosity with supreme aesthetic taste. You'll be amazed by the labor that went into these luxurious pieces, yet what's most striking here is that abstract art--a modern innovation in Western art--was developed in the Andes more than 1,000 years ago.

33. Ancient Andean Ceramics

April 5, 2013

Many societies in this course have used art to communicate ideas, especially state propaganda. But Andean elites took a different approach. Rather than creating massive stone sculptures, artists made usable, practical objects. This lecture shows you some of the beautiful pots created in a culture isolated from the Western tradition.

32. Moche Earspools-Miniature Masterpieces

April 5, 2013

Go inside the Moche society in ancient Peru and marvel at the beautiful metal jewelry discovered in the Sipan tombs. Beyond the beauty and the sophisticated metalwork of the Moche earspools, the tomb of Sipan gives us a window into Moche society--including sacrificial ceremonies once believed to be purely mythical.

31. Aztec Calendar Stone

April 5, 2013

Many people are familiar with the iconic Aztec calendar stone, but few understand what it means. Discover the story of one of the most famous excavated objects from the ancient world. Why is it a masterpiece? What does it tell us about the Aztecs? What cataclysms does it portray?

30. Colossal Stone Statue of Coatlicue

April 5, 2013

Aztec art has some of the most skilled, complex stone carvings in the world, yet it is difficult to understand. Professor McDonald explains the significance of the colossal sculpture of Coatlicue, the goddess known as Serpent Skirt. Find out what art historians think this terrifying sculpture means and how it fits into the myths of Aztec civilization.

29. TeotihuacÃƒÂán-Temple of the Feathered Serpent

April 5, 2013

Venture north to the city of Teotihuac'án, the "place of the gods." Here, the Temple of the Feathered Serpent is a mysterious pyramid that may contain a royal grave. You'll analyze the pyramid's repeating carved serpents and investigate one of the most enigmatic cultures in the Americas.

28. Carved Stone Lintels of YaxchilÃán

April 5, 2013

Blood sacrifices. Sacred visions. Poisonous animals. Artwork from the Maya kingdom of Yaxchil'án may shock us, but the visceral and expressive detail carved into these stones is unlike anything in Western art. This riveting lecture takes you into a truly different world of self-sacrifice and hallucinogenic trances, but a world that has important lessons for our own.

27. Sarcophagus Cover of Pakal at Palenque

April 5, 2013

Nestled in the foothills of southern Mexico is one of the most magical and hauntingly beautiful archaeological sites in the world. Here, one of the richest tombs in the New World was discovered, and its marvelous artifacts--particularly King Pakal's sarcophagus cover--provide insights into the myths and religion of the ancient Maya.

26. Colossal Olmec Heads

April 5, 2013

Next, your journey takes you halfway around the world to Mesoamerica to explore the unusual Olmec culture. Here in the low-lying Gulf Coast of Mexico, 17 colossal heads offer a startling look at a fascinating and intricate culture--what anthropologists call a "pristine civilization" for its emergence in isolation from the rest of the world.

25. Borobudur-Ancient Buddhist Stupa

April 5, 2013

Continue your investigation of Buddhism by turning to the largest Buddhist monument in the world, Borobudur. As you study the terraces of this "cosmic mountain," you'll see superb carved reliefs that tell stories about the Buddha's life, humanity's place in the cosmos, and the path to nirvana.

24. Great Stupa at Sanchi

April 5, 2013

Delve into the world of Buddhism and the Great Stupa at Sanchi, the most ancient stone structure in India and the only one that supposedly houses the ashes of Buddha. Take a tour of a spiritual monument, protected by impressive gates, and see how the sculptural reliefs and pilgrimage instruct visitors in the teachings of the Buddha.

23. Bronzes of Ancient China

April 5, 2013

Move east to the Shang and Chou dynasties in ancient China, where bronze vessels cast with astonishing technical skill and artistry are the defining artifact. Excavated in 1976, the royal tomb of Fu Hao revealed a trove of precious bronze vessels, which would have been used in ancestor worship, for ceremonial meals, and to support the authority of kings.

22. Column of Trajan

April 5, 2013

This stunning 125-foot-high monument is truly a marvel, combining a feat of engineering with the skill of sculptors who crafted a 650-foot-long story that spirals upward from the base. The column commemorates the successful military campaigns of the Roman emperor Trajan and offers a wealth of information about Roman warfare, religious rites, and even building techniques.

21. LaocoÃ¶n--Three-Dimensional Narrative

April 5, 2013

Contemplate one of the most mesmerizing sculptures in the world. Beyond the emotional expressiveness, the writhing snakes, and the doomed children, "LaocoÃ¶n" has a complicated history that reflects its importance and its genius. As a hallmark of Hellenistic art, the beauty of this piece lies not only in its composition, but in its many interpretations.

20. Aphrodite of Knidos

April 5, 2013

The Greeks offered more than just action and warfare in their art. This lecture examines the first female nude in the tradition, a sculpture of Aphrodite, the femme fatale of Mount Olympus. Whereas Greeks would have considered it unseemly to represent a nude woman, Aphrodite was a goddess and could be portrayed as sensuous, beautiful, and alluring.

19. Greek Vase Painting-Death of Sarpedon

April 5, 2013

Visit the fields of Troy as phalanxes of Greeks advance upon the Trojans. There, according to the Iliad, Sarpedon was killed by Patroclus, a scene memorialized in Euphronios's red-figure vase painting. Learn how artists represented death and what techniques artists used to tell a coherent story on a round vase.

18. Parthenon Marbles-Metopes and Frieze

April 5, 2013

Plunge into the mythological battles of the Parthenon in Athens. The metopes, pediment sculptures, and frieze dramatize Greek myths, narrate battles, and are sublimely beautiful examples of Greek sculpture. Professor McDonald explains the context for these works and offers insight into the glory and pride of ancient Greece.

17. Discobolus-Motion in Sculpture

April 5, 2013

Go back to a time when the Olympic Games were a sacred event. The famous discus thrower represents a new development in the history of sculpture because of the way it shows motion. This lecture delves into the sports culture of ancient Greece and reveals the technique behind the drama of Myron's sculpture.

16. Kritios Boy-Idealized Athletic Youth

April 5, 2013

Travel to ancient Greece and trace the development of realism in sculpture through the Archaic period. The "Kritios Boy" represents a leap forward and seems more "alive" than Egyptian sculptures, partly because of the development of contrapposto and partly due to cultural differences in artistic taste between the Greeks and the Egyptians.

15. Tomb Painting of Nefertari

April 5, 2013

Look at a masterpiece of painting that lay hidden for more than 3,000 years and was never meant to be seen by human eyes again. Queen Nefertari was one of the most loved and celebrated women in the history of Egypt, and this lecture takes you on a tour through the chambers of her grand tomb.

14. Tutankhamun's Mask

April 5, 2013

You've no doubt seen images of King Tut's mask, but what does it represent? Why is it such a magnificent work of art? Unpack the secrets of Egypt's famous boy king and find out why the treasures of his tomb survived.

13. Statue of Khafre-Rebirth of a King

April 5, 2013

Why did the Egyptians go to such great lengths to prepare bodies after death? They loved life, and the grand tombs and sculptures were a way to capture the soul for eternal life. Reflect on the statue of King Khafre, which communicates strength and power--and signifies so much more than what is first evident.

12. Palette of Narmer-The Conquering King

April 5, 2013

To maintain social cohesion, ancient kings had to justify their power through ideological control, and no culture was better than Egypt at creating art to establish the underpinnings of kingship. This first lecture on Egypt considers the Palette of Narmer, a superb carving that embodies the unification of the state and established an ideology of kingship for the next 3,000 years.

11. The Ancient City of Persepolis

April 5, 2013

Turn to the Persian Empire, one of the grandest civilizations in the ancient world. Survey the history of Persia from King Cyrus to Alexander the Great, then study the city of Persepolis. Its construction, its palaces, and its many relief sculptures all showed the breadth and power of the king.

10. Ishtar Gate and Processional Way

April 5, 2013

Continue your study of ancient Babylon by reflecting on Nebuchadnezzar's city gates and processional way. These impressive feats of architecture and engineering inspire awe through their sheer size. The animals on the gate--lions, bulls, and the snake-dragon--were meant to protect the city by intimidating those who would bring harm to the community.

9. Queen of the Night-Babylonian Goddess

April 5, 2013

Cursed in the Bible as "the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth," Babylon is much more fascinating and strange than you might think. Examine the "Queen of the Night," a nude woman who is part animal and part human. This curious mixture of the erotic and the terrifying creates a mesmerizing masterpiece filled with mystery.

8. Neo-Assyrian Palace Reliefs

April 5, 2013

Jump to the 1st millennium B.C. and the mighty Assyrian Empire. The palace reliefs reveal a warlike society in which the king reinforces order, as revealed in the famous Lion Hunt scenes. As he battles the lions, the king proves he is greater in power than the threatening beast and all that it represents. The reliefs demonstrate the apogee of artistic skill in the Assyrian court.

7. Victory Stela of Naram-Sin of Akkad

April 5, 2013

What makes a king a god? Ponder the visual propaganda behind Naram-Sin's victory stela. After learning the story of this Akkadian king, you'll study this monument's artistic innovation--its realism, its unified composition, and its new approach to narrative. Additional Akkadian art provides perspective on this era's radical artistic changes.

6. Great Ziggurat at Ur-Ancient Architecture

April 5, 2013

With the magnificent ziggurats, ancient people reached for the sky, which was the domain of the deities. Learn about Nanna, the Sumerian moon god, and experience the architectural grandeur at the heart of Sumerian daily life. While wars, climate, and looting have wrought their damage on the ziggurat at Ur, enough remains to tell a fascinating story.

5. Ram Caught in a Thicket

April 5, 2013

Explore the fertility theme in the first 3-D sculpture of the course. "Ram Caught in a Thicket" was excavated from the Great Death Pit at Ur. In addition to telling us about royal burials, the sculpture tells us about the society's wealth, its relationship with animals, and the religious role of the rulers and lords.

4. The Standard of Ur-Role of the King

April 5, 2013

Turn to the masterpieces of the ancient Sumerians in the city of Ur, the "Cradle of Civilization." No one knows whether the mysterious Royal Standard of Ur is actually a standard--or even royal--but it tells us a great deal about the technology, social structure, and the dazzling riches of this society.

3. The Uruk Vase-Vision of an Ordered World

April 5, 2013

In Mesopotamia, writing was developed 5,000 years ago, alongside the first narrative art, which set the stage for everything that followed in the Western art historical tradition. The registers on the Uruk Vase tell the story of civilization and reveal a hierarchical world as seen by one of the most complex societies of the era.

2. Ancient Cave Art-Chauvet, France

April 5, 2013

Step back more than 30,000 years as you view some of the earliest known art in the world-- a fabulous gallery of animals painted on the cave walls at Chauvet. These paintings tell us something profound about the Paleolithic mind and force us to reconsider our own ideas about "primitive" art.

1. Where Do We Come From?

April 5, 2013

What are the common themes of ancient art? Why is ancient art relevant today? What makes a masterpiece? Before you begin your journey through the world of ancient art, consider why ancient art matters, what it tells us about different cultures, and its impact on and similarity to our world today.

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Where to Watch 30 Masterpieces of the Ancient World

30 Masterpieces of the Ancient World is available for streaming on the The Great Courses website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch 30 Masterpieces of the Ancient World on demand at Apple TV Channels, Amazon Prime, Amazon and Hoopla.