The origins of the Hellenistic art are in the fourth century BCE, before the reign of Alexander the Great, an era in which the Greek world knew deep political and philosophical changes. Indeed, the researchers consider the first seventy years of the 4^th century as consisting essential part of the "Classical" period on the one hand, and as the phase of "beginnings" and presenting new and essential models to the art to come.

            The Hellenistic art, traditionally dated between 323 to 31 BCE, was considered as the "declined period", following the influential book of Johannes Joachim Winckelmann "On the Painting and Sculpture" published in 1755; and only in the mid-twentieth century were these notions reconsidered. To date achievements of this period of about 300 years are reconsidered, and we admire breathtakingly its masterpieces like the "Samothrace Nike" in the Louvre, Paris or the "Pergamon Altar" in Berlin. The researchers study the uniqueness, importance, variations and its influence on the art to come. The re-evaluation of the Hellenistic art – which was created since the time of Alexander the Great through his inheritors ruling the different kingdoms all around the eastern parts of the Mediterranean basin, and eastwards, reveal a fascinating world, varied and or the highest artistic as well as technical qualities.

            In this course we shall try to get to know the rich artistic centres and works of art created in the different Hellenistic kingdoms such as the Ptolemaic one in Egypt, the Seleucid one in Syria or the Attalid one of Pergramon. We will try to discover the "secrets" of their success, and their common as well as varied expressions. The course intends to deal with architecture, sculpture, painting, metals and jewelry and their relation to the fourth c. as well as to the Roman period.

            During the course are intended 2-4 visiting lectures.