Sponsored by: Archaeological Institute of America
Mirrors are so ubiquitous in our own culture, we tend to take them for granted. But mirrors are highly significant in many cultures: as symbols of status, beauty, and vanity; as instruments of duplicity, prophesy, and magic; as windows into the soul. Although ancient Greek mirrors have attracted the attention of scholars and collectors for over a century, their significance in Greek society remain poorly understood. This lecture explores ancient Greek mirrors from their earliest appearance in the seventh century BCE through the Hellenistic period. I argue that mirrors were complex objects that were essential for the construction of feminine identity in ancient Greece.
Short bibliography and/or website on lecture topic:
Mireille M. Lee, “The Gendered Economics of Greek Bronze Mirrors: Reflections on reciprocity and feminine agency,” Arethusa 50.2 (2017): 143-168.
Boegehold Lecture
Please note: This lecture has being rescheduled from its original September 13 date due to Hurricane Florence.
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