Summer School Short Course: The Birth of Church Architecture
Trace the evolution of monumental church architecture – from the first large-scale churches under Emperor Constantine, to the diverging traditions in Western Europe and the Byzantine world – in a short course for the Hellenic Museum's 2027 Annual Summer School.
Time & Location
04 Jan 2027, 1:30 pm AEDT – 08 Jan 2027, 2:30 pm AEDT
Hellenic Museum or Online, 280 William St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Event Details
Join the Hellenic Museum and Dr Christopher Gribbin at the tenth annual Summer School. Spend a week exploring the spectacular and fascinating world of the ancient Greeks and Romans in this series of informative, relaxed and entertaining short courses, where anyone is welcome!
About this course
When Christianity emerged from the shadows and became the religion of emperors in the 4th century CE, it needed buildings that could inspire awe. This required a change from the humble buildings that came before. But what should a monumental church look like? This course starts with the first large-scale churches under Emperor Constantine and how Roman architecture was adapted to create these new sacred spaces. It then looks at the innovation and diversity of designs between the 4th and 6th centuries. Finally, we examine the diverging architectural traditions in Western Europe and the Byzantine world, and the way that these traditions continue to influence church architecture today.
Session times and topics
This course consists of 5 sessions over 5 days, delivered in-person or online at 1.30–2.30PM daily (AEDT). People taking part online can participate live or watch recorded lectures at a time of their convenience. Sessions will cover:
The Earliest Churches
The Diversity of Design in the 4th to 6th Centuries
Piety in Paint and Stone – Church Decoration
The Eastern Tradition – Byzantine and Orthodox Architecture
The Western Tradition – the Romanesque and Beyond
About the presenter
Dr Christopher Gribbin is a public historian, specialising in ancient Greece and Rome. He has a particular interest in understanding how people make sense of the world, whether through religion, philosophy, myth, art or architecture.
Christopher is an Adjunct Lecturer at La Trobe University and has also lectured at Melbourne and Monash universities. He founded the University of Melbourne’s Classics Summer School in 2002 and ran it for 15 years. He has run the Hellenic Museum Summer School since 2018.
Christopher is actively involved in bringing the ancient world to the community in a meaningful and entertaining way. He regularly talks to community groups, professional organisations and school groups. He has worked on special events with the Hellenic Museum, Humanities 21, the National Gallery of Victoria and Melbourne Museums. He has developed educational products with the ABC and the History Teachers’ Association of Victoria. He also records podcasts and leads cultural tours visiting ancient sites with Australians Studying Abroad.
He is well regarded as a clear and enthusiastic teacher who loves to share his passion about the ancient world with the community. Find out more about Christopher.
Explore other courses
There are four courses on offer in 2027. Visit the Summer School hub to explore individual courses, or bundle and save with a four-subject pass.
FREE LECTURE: Secluded or Active? Reconstructing Women’s Lives in Ancient Athens
Get a taste of what's to come at this free talk presented by your Summer School lecturer, Dr Christopher Gribbin. Were ancient Athenian women hidden away at home, or were they active members of their community? The answer is complicated. This talk will look at evidence from historians, legal cases, literature, vase paintings and the remains of ancient houses to explore what we can really know about the role and status of women in ancient Athens.
11AM Sunday 29 November, online or in-person at the Hellenic Museum. Bookings essential – click here to reserve your free place.
Tickets
Single Course Enrolment
From $135.00 to $165.00
$165.00
$135.00
Total
$0.00