On the afternoon of April 24, Bernadette Morin, Professor and Chair of the Department of Classical and Eastern Languages and Literatures at the University of Limoges in France, presented a lecture entitled “Greek Art and European Urban Planning” to CFLC faculty and students.
Ancient Greek culture, which represents the essence of classical culture, occupies a vital position in the West, if not in the world, and the majestic architecture in Western cities has deep roots in ancient Greek culture.
Prof. Morin began her lecture with an introduction to the origins of European culture and ancient Greek culture and the relations between the French, Latin, Etruscan and ancient Greek languages. She then elaborated on the origins and evolution of ancient Greek architecture and art. She also shared her insights in the forms and functions of Greek columns.
In the second part of her lecture, Prof. Morin expounded the increased influence of ancient Greek culture with the expansion of the Roman Empire, which was evident in theaters, arenas, bathhouses, temples and arches of triumphs on the shores of the Mediterranean. She pointed out that in the 18th century, neoclassicism reshaped the cityscapes of Europe and the Western world, and that architectural styles typical of ancient Greek eventually spread to all corners of the world, China included.
In the final part of her lecture, Prof. Morin explored the characteristics of Greek architecture, heritage preservation programs, and the cultural and architectural differences between China and the West. The lecture concluded with a Q&A session.
Prof. Morin is a renowned expert on ancient Greek and her research interests include ancient Greek tragedies, Homer’s Epic, and its relation to Greek mythology and history. She has published a number of articles on the theater of ancient Greek in A&HCI journals.
