Classics 120: Fakes, Forgeries, & Ethical Problems in Classical Antiquities

What is the truth? How do we know it when we see it? How is truth related to originality, authenticity, and morality? This course takes on these compelling questions by exploring famous fakes and forgeries of classical antiquity, including the controversial “Treasure of Priam” from Troy, the golden mask of “Agamemnon” in the National Museum of Athens, the Getty Kouros in the Getty Museum in California, and a known fake of an ancient Greek marble grave relief in the Chazen Museum of Art on campus (our class will examine this in person). We also will explore ideas about the truth in the context of current debates about ownership of the past (e.g., the Parthenon Marbles in the British Museum) and distortions and destruction of the past.