FIF 242 - Anatomy of Death in the Roman World: Skin and Bones

Course Description

Roman paintings, mosaics, and sculptures depict the human form in dramatic and beautiful ways. But what about the not-so-ideal representations of the human body, such as skeletons? Examples of these exist and, like their athletic, heroic counterparts, present correct anatomical features. Many scholars believe skeletal anatomy was incorrectly depicted by the ancient Romans, but direct comparisons dispute this. So, why did Roman artists depict the body in grotesque or non-ideal ways while maintaining accurate anatomy? Discover the answers, including links to the ancient concept of memento mori, which means ‘remember you will die’, a theme found throughout the ancient world and prevalent in the Middle Ages. A course highlight is a field trip to the Special Procedures Anatomy Lab at the Foothills Campus where we will examine medical cadavers.