Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology

2014 Edition
| Editors: Claire Smith

Classical (Greek) Archaeology

Reference work entry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0465-2_1454
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Introduction and Definition

Classical archaeology is often considered an archaeology apart. It is an archaeological tradition that has quite different priorities and interests than those of European prehistory of American “anthropological” archaeology. There are reasons for this sense of difference, that relate to classical archaeology’s peculiar history (Alcock & Osborne 2007: 1-29).

Historical Background

The Beginnings of Classical (Greek) Archaeology

Classical Greek archaeology begins not in Greece but in Rome. From the Renaissance onward, rich Roman families such as the Borghese, Farnese, and Medici began to investigate the numerous Roman-era ruins of the city of Rome and its environs. They did this with a view to collecting art, particularly sculpture. Earlier Roman writers, in particular the elder Pliny, had listed many of the sculptures to be found around Rome, often referred to as “ars” (art or craft in Latin). Sculptures so classified however, though found in Rome, were often...

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© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Mediterranean ArchaeologyCardiff UniversityCardiffUK