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  4. Architecture of Power: Great Palaces of the Ancient World

TELEVISION

Architecture of Power: Great Palaces of the Ancient World

Series: Architecture of Power: Great Palaces of the Ancient World
4.4
(20)
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Episodes
24
Rating
TVPG
Year
2021
Language
English
Publisher
The Great Courses

About

Get an insider's look at some of history's most awe-inspiring structures in these 24 lectures presented by Professor of Classics Steven L. Tuck. As you make your way through storied sights like Persepolis, Hadrian's Villa, Weiyang Palace, and the Palace of Montezuma II, you'll explore the meaning of power and the ways it operated in societies across the globe.

Related Subjects

  • History
  • Educational

Episodes

1. Palaces Past and Present

34m

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Begin your tour of the ancient world by a look at our modern one as you explore the palaces of Saddam Hussein. Discover how he called upon the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians for inspiration and also how the architecture changed over time in response to threats from Iran and the United States.

2. Malkata Palace: Pharaoh, Foreigners, and Gods

32m

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Now, travel back to the 14th century B.C., a time of peace, prosperity, and plentitude for Egyptians. Learn how the Malkata Palace represents a microcosm of Egypt. Architectural details reveal little-known facts about religious rituals and telling insights into how pharaohs attempted to assert their domination over others.

3. Amarna: Palace of the First Sun King

31m

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Pharoah Amenhotep IV takes on a new name - Akhenaten - and shifts Egypt's capital to the fascinating city of Amarna. See how his worship of the sun disk defined an era built on temple crops, sacrifices, and complete subservience to the pharaoh. Also learn how relocating his seat of power helped Akhenaten wrestle authority away from religious leaders.

4. Phaistos: Palaces between Asia and Europe

32m

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Archaeology often involves a great deal of detective work, as is the case with the mysterious Bronze Age Crete. The myth of Daedalus and his labyrinth symbolizes Crete's location at the intersection of multiple cultures. Discover the Phaistos Palace, where extravagant religious rituals and entertainment spectacles were held.

5. Palace of Nestor at Pylos and Bronze Age Greece

32m

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Explore the Palace of Nestor, an extraordinary complex centered around the throne room. We travel in time from the immense treasures discovered in 2015 back to the ancient styles the Mycenaeans developed to bring these elaborate structures to life. Consider what the arrangement of rooms reveals about how royals lived and maintained control.

6. The Assyrian Palace at Nimrud: Empire in Stone

33m

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The Assyrian palace at Nimrud, with its imposing 20-foot gates, was designed by Ashurnasirpal II. An epic braggart, he loved to write of his conquests of nature and his knowledge of tree species. Clearly an intellectual, he describes in detail the glory of feasts he threw - and the math behind them.

7. Nineveh: The Architecture of Assyrian Power

34m

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Discover the last great Assyrian palace and the largest city the world had ever seen before the Babylonian conquest. See how its designers accomplished incredible civil engineering feats, diverting entire rivers into canals that offered protection and transportation. Also meet the magnificent lamassu guardians that flanked the palace entrances, each of which stood over 12 feet tall.

8. Persepolis: Palace of the Persians

33m

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The lore of Persepolis includes the exploits of many great kings. Explore the great citadel at Persepolis with its famed flight of 111 steps leading to the Gate of All Nations, which held a set of wood and bronze doors standing 20 feet high. Learn of the spectacular stone masonry and powerful art filled with lions and mythological creatures.

9. Greek Palaces in Conquered Lands I

31m

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While scholars debate the details, it's undeniable that Alexander the Great's conquest of the Persian Empire profoundly changed the world. View his astonishing palaces, boasting gymnasiums and enormous swimming pools and home to elite drinking parties. Examine the unmistakable Greek style blended with Persian and Assyrian influences characteristic of the period.

10. Greek Palaces in Conquered Lands II

31m

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This is the tale of two palaces - one in Jordan, the other in Libya - in the wake of Alexander the Great's death. Both were products of military expansion and occupation, but they displayed distinct identities. Learn how the palace origins influenced the design and layout of each.

Extended Details

  • SeriesArchitecture of Power: Great Palaces of the Ancient World
  • Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

The Great CoursesDirector
The Great CoursesProducer
Steven L. TuckActor