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
NRC
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

Episodes

1 to 3 of 24

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.

Extended Details

  • Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

The Great Coursesdirector
The Great Coursesproducer
Steven L. Tuckactor