The Art and Archaeology of Classical Greece



Overview

Classical Greece (480-323 BCE) was a fascinating and influential period of world history. The Delphi Charioteer, the Parthenon, the Athenian Empire and Alexander the Great are just a few of its cultural and historical phenomena which changed the course of western thought and identity.

Join us to explore spectacular arts, intriguing politics and intellectual achievements through a multitude of learning materials and a museum visit. 

We will analyse the art and archaeology of Classical Greece through major categories such as pottery, architecture, sculpture and written sources. In the process, we will unravel the ways in which we can elicit a wealth of information about how people lived and thought in past societies.

Programme details

Course starts Tuesday 21 April 2026

This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Tuesdays, 2-4pm.

Week 1:  Introduction to art, archaeology and Classical Greece

Week 2:  Architecture

Week 3:  Sculpture

Week 4:  Pottery

Week 5:  Literacy, trade and economy

Week 6:  Religion

Week 7:  Polis, politics, societies

Week 8:  Conflicts and empires

Week 9:  Museum visit 

Week 10:  Classical Greece: past and present

Certification

Academic credit

Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS Points)

Please note, students who do not register for assessment and accreditation during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun. If you wish to gain credit from completing this course you must register to do so before the course starts.

Only those who have registered for assessment and accreditation will be awarded CATS points for completing work to the required standard. Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail.

Learn more about the Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme.

If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee for assessment and accreditation.

Digital certificate of completion 

Students who are registered for assessment and accreditation and pass their final assignment will also be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Information on how to access the digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course attended. You will be able to download the certificate and share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course fee (with no assessment) £300.00
Assessment and Accreditation fee £60.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. See details of our concessionary fees for short courses.

Tutor

Dr Anna Simandiraki-Grimshaw

Dr Anna Simandiraki-Grimshaw is trained in Archaeology, Western History of Art, Classics and Education, specialising in the Aegean Bronze Age. She conducts research as a Research Fellow at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London (UCL) and independently. She also lectures in Archaeology at the Continuing Education Departments of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, among other institutions, and is affiliated with Humboldt University in Berlin.

Course aims

  • To introduce students to the art and archaeology of Classical Greece (480-323 BCE) through a diachronic exploration of major material culture categories, such as architecture, sculpture and pottery, as well as themes, such as societies, politics and religion.
  • To teach and analyse the most important specimens of Classical Greek art and archaeology, in combination with select written sources.
  • To explore the aesthetic, social, political and other origins and influences of Classical Greek art and archaeology.
  • To enable students to critically approach a past system of aesthetics, creativity and ideological expression by exploring concrete examples of Classical Greek material culture.

Teaching methods

A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used, taking into consideration students' different learning styles and any additional needs.

  • Tutor presentations and explanations, substantial visual material and handouts, some documentary footage and extensive discussion.
  • Group presentations will offer opportunities when main topics will be analysed by different teams.
  • We will also use props.
  • Students will study between sessions and will progress through a workbook according to their evolving understanding and skills.
  • There will be the opportunity of on-site learning during a museum visit in session 9.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have been given the opportunity to:

  • recall and analyse the most important specimens of Classical Greek art and archaeology, in combination with select written sources;
  • discuss and evaluate the aesthetic, social, political and other origins and influences of Classical Greek art and archaeology; and
  • critically approach a past system of aesthetics, creativity and ideological expression by exploring concrete examples of Classical Greek material culture.

Assessment methods

Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation, in advance of the course start date, can submit coursework/assignments for assessment.

Assessment

For this course, all students will be given a workbook (Option A). This will contain 5 questions and guiding material, the answers for which will become apparent as we progress through the course. Students will be expected to draw on both what is covered in class and on their private study, reflection and museum visit(s). You will be expected to demonstrate your progression and development by completing the workbook and handing it in by the given deadline. The entire length of the answers should be approximately 1500 words, ie about 300 words for each answer. 

If students are unable to complete the workbook (eg those who feel that their learning styles are not compatible), the tutor will be flexible in accommodating other ways of equivalent written assessment (Option B). 

Application

How to enrol

Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.

How to register for accreditation and assessment

To be able to submit coursework and to earn credit (CATS points) for this course, if you wish to do so, you will need to register and pay an additional £60 fee. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. 

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun.

If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Level and demands

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, ie first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support