Posted by Stella from ? (140.192.201.61) on Friday, March 22, 2002 at 2:19PM :
Northwestern University
Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Inaugural Lecture of the
The Jeremiah S. and Helen James Lecture
on Assyrian Civilization and Culture
Thursday, April 18, 2002
7:30 p.m. Lecture by Professor Holly Pittman of University of
Pennsylvania
Reception to follow
Hardin Hall
Rebecca Crown Center
633 Clark Street
Evanston, IL
The James Lecture on Assyrian Civilization and Culture was established
in
1999 by the late Helen James Schwarten, a prominent and active member
of the
Assyrian community. The Lectureship was conceived with the purpose of
promoting understanding and scholarship of both ancient and modern
Assyrian
culture.
Mrs. Schwarten's gift to Northwestern University was just one of the
ways in
which she expressed her commitment to the Assyrian community. She
sponsored
educational and cultural events for adults, endowed hundreds of college
scholarships for young people, formed a library and museum, and helped
countless immigrants make new lives for themselves in America.
As a young girl, Mrs. Schwarten fled Persia with her family and after
three
years arrived in the United States. A devout Presbyterian, she met her
first husband, Jeremiah (Jerry) Sargis James at church. They raised
two
sons, Edward and Kenneth, who have followed in their parents' footsteps
of
philanthropy and devotion to the Assyrian community.
Northwestern University is honored to perpetuate the educational
tradition
of the late Jeremiah S. James and Helen James Schwarten with this
Inaugural
Lecture.
Lecturer Professor Holly Pittman teaches the art and archaeology of the
ancient Near East at the University of Pennsylvania. At the same time,
she
is a curator of the Near East Section in the University of Pennsylvania
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Additionally, she occupies the
College of Women Class of 1963 Endowed Term Chair in the Humanities.
Before
joining the University of Pennsylvania in 1989, she was a curator in
the
Ancient Near East Section of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She has
written several books and numerous articles, dividing her research
interests
between early state-formation of Mesopotamia and the Art of the
Assyrian
Empire. She has excavated in many countries in West Asia including
Turkey,
Syria, Iraq and Iran.
Lecture Title: "The Assyrian Palace Reliefs: Animated History of
Empire"
The Assyrian Kings were the first to use history to justify, define and
extend their vast imperial domain. In addition to detailed written
annals,
court artists created vivid visual programs that lined the long walls
of the
royal palace that reported military victories and specific civic
achievements. By the end of the seventh century, B.C. these panoramas
became virtually cinematic in their detail, surely captivating all that
viewed them. Professor Pittman will bring these powerful images of
history
alive again in an abundantly illustrated slide lecture.
-- Stella
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