Released: October 12, 2009
Lincoln, Neb. - One of the most important informational pieces of ancient Athenian funerary art is the classical white lekythoi, or oil container, placed in and around tombs and often depicting scenes associated with burials and funerals. Not only are these vessels some of the most beautiful pieces ever produced by the ancient Greeks, they are also the primary source of funerary images from fifth-century Athens.
In his lecture "Athenian White Lekythoi: Masterpieces of Greek Funerary Art," Dr. John H. Oakley, from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, will examine the development of the standard themes found on these white lekythoi, as well as discuss what these scenes tell us about classical Athenian perceptions of and reactions to death.
The lecture will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 12 in Room 15 of Richards Hall, located at Stadium Drive and T sts. on the UNL city campus. The lecture is free and open to the public.
Oakley received his Doctorate from Rutgers University, and he specializes in Greek art and archaeology and Roman sarcophagi. He is currently the Chancellor Professor in the Department of Classical Studies at The College of William and Mary in Virginia. He has conducted fieldwork in England, Rome, Corinth, and Crete, among other destinations. As a visiting professor around the globe, Oakley has taught at Princeton University, L'Université Libre de Bruxelles, and the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. He has done extensive work for the AIA, being President and co-founder of the AIA Williamsburg, VA Chapter, and also as a traveling lecturer.
Oakley will be giving the Joukowsky Lecture, named for Martha Sharp Joukowsky, past President of the AIA and Professor of Old World Archaeology at Brown University.
The Archaeological Institute of America is North America's oldest and largest archaeological organization. AIA has more than 250,000 members and over 100 societies across the U.S. and the world.