The aim of the course is to introduce students to the history of navigation in antiquity. The characteristics of human activity in the sea and its diachronic development are analyzed. Special attention is given to the significance of nautical activity in the development and formation of the cultural and social identity of the people of the Mediterranean.

 

With the development of Maritime Archaeology, our knowledge on seafaring and its role in the evolution of humankind expanded considerably. The aim of the course is to introduce students to the basic principles and concepts of archaeological research of human activities in the sea, and to present the most important maritime finds in the Mediterranean (coastal settlements, shipwrecks, harbours).

 

The course examines the main types of ships and ports from the archaic until the roman period, based on the iconographic testimonials and the material remains. Students are expected to study the development of navigation and nautical technology during the periods under review, using their historical and archaeological knowledge. Particularly, the basic types of ships of each period are presented and characteristic relevant finds are examined, in order to clarify the technical details, the different sizes and their basic functions. In this context, the issue of the ports is also examined.

The main objective of the course is the archaeological evidence related to nautical activity in Cyprus from the Late Bronze Age until the Byzantine period. Particularly, ancient seaborne trade as well as the basic stages of the development of the types of ships and port facilities are examined, so that the significance of the maritime finds located on the island (shipwrecks, anchors, ship replicas, amphorae) are better evaluated. The aim is to form a holistic view regarding the position that Cyprus had in the international nautical environment of the Eastern Mediterranean throughout antiquity.

Since the Late Roman period, transferring the capital marked the beginning of a number of important changes in various aspects of life in the Roman Empire. The main commercial routes were relocated to the East, increasing both the significance and the number of ports in the area. The gradual change in the financial and social facts of the Empire caused similar changes in navigation and shipbuilding, as well as in the commercial transactions. The aim of the course is to examine the changes in the light of existing evidence of maritime archaeology of this period (iconography, texts, shipwrecks, ports facilities).

The first indications of Seafaring in the Eastern Mediterranean date to the Mesolithic/ Epipalaeolithic period. During the millennia that followed, the development of the metal trade resulted in the gradual incorporation of sea travels in the culture of the inhabitants of the Mediterranean coasts. Such well-known ancient sea travelers were: the Argonauts, Odysseus, Pytheas of Marseilles, Saint Paul and others. These and other less-known travel narratives are examined through an archaeological approach, so that students become acquainted with the maritime history of the Mediterranean and the particular relation of Man with the Sea over the centuries.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to underwater archaeology and familiarize them with underwater archaeological research. The course includes both lectures and practical sessions. During the lectures, students will learn about the history and methods of underwater archaeological research by reviewing the most important case studies. The main objective is that students understand the distinctive features of underwater research, and approach maritime finds as sources of historical information.

The Mediterranean is one of the world's earliest foci of maritime activity, as it is documented very early in the history of its civilizations. The aim of the course is to present an overview of the sources, the finds and the sites, through which the early stages and the development of seafaring in the Eastern Mediterranean can be followed, from its very early stage until the Late Bronze Age.

Amphora is the main vessel for transporting liquids on ships. They are excavated on land as well as in the sea (settlements, graves, sanctuaries, shipwrecks, ports) and are evidence of commercial transactions through the sea. The aim of the seminar is to familiarize students with the different sectors of the archaeological science which are combined for their comprehensive study: ancient economy, maritime archaeology, construction techniques, ceramic technology, typology, epigraphy, dietary habits. Special attention is given to the interpretation of the above issues based on the historical reality that imposed changes in their form and use over the centuries.