KLMgrB52 Precious Stones in Antiquity

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2009
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Ivan Mrázek (lecturer), PhDr. Marie Pardyová, CSc. (deputy)
PhDr. Marie Pardyová, CSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jan Bouzek, DrSc.
Department of Archaeology and Museology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: PhDr. Marie Pardyová, CSc.
Timetable
Wed 18:20–19:55 C32
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course of Gemstones in the Ancient Civilizations is to make students deep acquainted with the role of gemstones in antiquity. Gemstones connected not only various civilizations but also distant epochs. At the end of this course, students will not only have information about the importance of individual gemstones in the history, but they will be able to use this knowledge for practical purposes and know their impact to the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction: geology, geoarchaeology, gemology, mineral, rock, fossil, gemstone; classification, cutting, imitations, valuation and defects of gemstones; identification of gemstones in archaeological finds; genetic types of gemstones; deposits of gemstones in Czech Republik, European and World deposits of gemstones 2. Gemstones in Mesopotamia (prehistoric period, Sumer, Babylonia, Assyria) 3. Gemstones in the Harappan civilization 4. The nephrit culture of ancient China 5. Gemstones in ancient Egypt 6. Gemstones in Minoan-Mycenaean and Cycladic civilizations 7. Gemstones in ancient Greece and Rome, as well as in Etruria (gemstones in Moravia in the Roman period, ancient intaglios and cameos in the Czech Republic) 8. Use and stlistic evolution of the carving of the gemms in ancient Greece and Rome 9. Spolia of the ancient gemms
Literature
  • Technologie et analyse des gemmes anciennes : actes de l'Atelier européen tenu a Ravello, ... 13-16 novembre 1987 (Souběž.) : Technology and analysis of ancient gemstones : proceedings of the European workshop held at Ravello, ... November 13-16, 1987. info
  • ADÁMKOVÁ, Iva and Hana ŠEDINOVÁ. Lux nova et pretiosa. The luminous qualities of precious stones and light in the Cathedral of Saint-Denis. Focus Pragensis (Yearbook for the Philospophy and Phenomenology of Religion). Praha, 2001, vol. 2001, No 1, p. 106-149. ISSN 80-7298-045-9. info
  • ELWELL, Dennis. Iskusstvennyje dragocennyje kamni. Translated by R. A. Išbulatova. Izd. 2-oje, ispravlennoje. Moskva: Mir, 1986, 159 s. info
  • SMITH, Herbert G. F. Dragocennyje kamni. Translated by A. S. Arsanov - Boris Aronovič Borisov. Moskva: Mir, 1980, 586 s. info
  • GARBINI, Giovanni. Starověké kultury Předního východu. Translated by Lubor Matouš - Miroslav Verner. Praha: Artia, 1971, 190 stran. URL info
Teaching methods
lectures with demonstration of minerals and illustrations of gemstones
Assessment methods
Completion Requirements for the examination: - Basic orientation in the individual spheres of research in the branch, civilisations, its chronology, technology and analysis of the gems are requested for the final colloquium
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught once in two years.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 0.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2006, Spring 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2010.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2009, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2009/KLMgrB52