Ancient Art Podcast (audio)

This is the audio-only version of the Ancient Art Podcast. Subscribe to the HD-video Ancient Art Podcast at ancientartpodcast.org. Explore the art and culture of the Ancient Mediterranean World in the Ancient Art Podcast with your host Lucas Livingston. Uncover the truths and unravel the mysteries of the civilizations that shaped our modern world. Each episode features detailed examinations of exemplary works from the Art Institute of Chicago and other notable collections in addition to broad themes and concepts of Ancient Mediterranean art and culture.

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Episodes

10: The Parthenon Frieze, Part 1

This is the first of multiple episodes focusing on one of the most iconic, pivotal, and contentious works or art from Ancient Greece: the Parthenon Frieze. We begin with an introduction to the frieze's origin, construction, and sordid history. The meat of our journey brings us to the exploration of the new imperial Athens, who seeks to model herself, her new Periclean Acropolis, and the Parthenon frieze after the closest and most familiar former empire of the Mediterranean, her once-formidable e...

Nov 15, 2007•10 min

9: Walk Like an Egyptian

The ancient riddle of the human form in Egyptian painting is finally answered! But it ain't simple. There's a deeply complex answer to this question involving Egyptian concepts of cosmic world order, philosophy, religion, magic, and even hieroglyphs. Enjoy the latest episode of the new and improved Ancient Art Podcast is full, high resolution video glory! Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org . Connect at http://twi...

Oct 29, 2007•12 min

8: Cicadas

With all the hoopla from the arrival of the 17-year magicicada to much of the Midwest and with the annual cicadas in full overture, let's take a moment to look a little more closely at the mystery, science, and theatrics of cicadas. In this episode, we'll reveal the mystery of these under-appreciated insects, explore the modern cicada hysteria, and delve into the secret arts and myths of ancient China. We'll even throw in a little astronomy for good measure. Sit back and get ready for the ride. ...

Jul 23, 2007•14 min

7: Gandharan Bodhisattva

In episode 7, we march in the footsteps of one of the most revered and notorious conquerors of the Ancient Mediterranean World, Alexander the Great. We head East into Asia to uncover the remnants of Alexander's empire and discover the bridge where East meets West in ancient Gandhara. Also included is the author's humble opinion on online art museum collection databases. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org . Connec...

Jun 16, 2007•9 min

6: A Classical Lekythos

One could easily pass by this muted, diminutive, unassuming lekythos at the Art Institute of Chicago, but in this episode we'll closely examine it's significant message and place it in the grander scheme of the newly refined aesthetic in late Archaic and Classical Athens. In exploring the narrative strategies of Attic vase painting, we'll also take a hard look at a particularly exemplary black-figure amphora by the renown vase painter Exekias: "The Suicide of Ajax" in the Château-Musée de Boulog...

Mar 30, 2007•16 min

5: A Corinthian Pyxis

In this episode we take a look at some Archaic Greek vase painting in a pyxis from the Orientalizing Period at the Art Institute of Chicago. We explore the Ancient Near Eastern influence on developing Greek civilization along with Greece's own interest in their own mythic, heroic past. We also discuss the strategic importance of Corinth in the cultural and commercial climate of the Orientalizing Period, while comparing the newly emerging, but short-lived Corinthian ware of this day and age to th...

Feb 20, 2007•12 min

4: Statue of Osiris

Everything you didn't know you wanted to know about Osiris and didn't think to ask! Episode 4 checks out a real Egyptian Mystery, a relatively recent acquisition at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Statue of Osiris, complete with trap doors, hollow cavities, fake mummies, and false doorways. But it's not just fun and games. We also look the ancient stylistic tradition of funerary architecture and explore its evolving context over millennia of Egyptian history, including a close peek at the Coff...

Jan 28, 2007•13 min

3: A Donkey-headed Rhyton

Using a particularly delightful example from the Art Institute of Chicago, we look at the history of the Ancient Greek rhyton (drinking cup) from its involvement in heroic warrior feasts and sacrifices to the drinking parties of 5th Century B.C. Athens. We'll also examine some other great vessels at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and check out a popular drinking game in Ancient Greece. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodc...

Dec 15, 2006•15 min

2: The Mummy Case of Paankhenamun

Episode 2 examines the iconography and symbolism throughout the decoration of the Mummy Case of Paankhenamun at the Art Institute of Chicago. See how the ornamentation works together to express a unifying theme paramount in Ancient Egyptian funerary belief. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org . Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast ....

Nov 10, 2006•25 min

1: The Scarab in Ancient Egypt

Our inaugural episode examines the role of the scarab beetle in Ancient Egyptian religion and funerary art as both the Egyptian god Khepri and an iconographic motif of resurrection. We also touch on the possible roots of his religious association and take a look at the use of the scarabs in amulets, the "heart scarab." Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org . Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://f...

Oct 10, 2006•8 min

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