PALMYRA AND THE PALMYRENES
Explores the history and culture of ancient Palmyra. Topics considered during the first half of the course will include the city-state's art, architecture, economy, religion, and foreign relations - including with the Roman and Sassanian Empires. Also explores issues of identity and reception centered on the following questions: How did Palmyrenes in the service of the Roman army retain their ethnic identity while also integrating into Roman society? How is ancient Palmyrene society remembered and used by modern cultures to promote diverse political goals? and What effects do museum collection and display and academic publication have on our perception of ancient Palmyra?
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Junior standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Humanities & Arts Breadth - Humanities Level - Advanced L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2025 Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate knowledge of ancient Near Eastern societies and cultures. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Examine, Analyze, and Interpret ancient texts in translation and material culture. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Compare and Critique ancient Near Eastern societies and cultures to other societies and cultures. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Evaluate the reception of Roman-era Palmyra and Syria in the modern period. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Develop a deeper understanding of the historical context and social structures of Roman-period Syria, especially as instantiated in the city-state of Palmyra and its population (both inhabiting Palmyra and abroad). Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Demonstrate familiarity with basic methodological approaches to archaeological, art historical, and textual study in reconstructing the history and society of ancient Palmyra. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Evaluate critically one's own historical and social circumstances with an eye towards understanding the means that Palmyrenes used to construct identity and maintain social boundaries in the context of the ancient Mediterranean world (including places as far-flung as Roman Britain and North Africa). Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 8. Develop an extended scholarly argument in written form, while also performing basic work in Palmyrene Aramaic. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate knowledge of ancient Near Eastern societies and cultures. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Examine, Analyze, and Interpret ancient texts in translation and material culture. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Compare and Critique ancient Near Eastern societies and cultures to other societies and cultures. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Evaluate the reception of Roman-era Palmyra and Syria in the modern period. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Develop a deeper understanding of the historical context and social structures of Roman-period Syria, especially as instantiated in the city-state of Palmyra and its population (both inhabiting Palmyra and abroad). Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Demonstrate familiarity with basic methodological approaches to archaeological, art historical, and textual study in reconstructing the history and society of ancient Palmyra. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Evaluate critically one's own historical and social circumstances with an eye towards understanding the means that Palmyrenes used to construct identity and maintain social boundaries in the context of the ancient Mediterranean world (including places as far-flung as Roman Britain and North Africa). Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 8. Develop an extended scholarly argument in written form, while also performing basic work in Palmyrene Aramaic. Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027