Past Video Lectures

AIA Toronto Society has worked hard to make sure that its lectures are accessible to all. However, there are some videos that are only available to our members. If you would like to become a member and enjoy access to these lectures please
click here.

It’s All About the Money: The ROMkomma Project at the Royal Ontario Museum

This talk will look at historic displays of ROM’s Greek coins, how the new ROMKomma project is making the coins accessible to new audiences, and why this is an essential duty for a modern museum.

Antiquity in Colour: Kore 670 from the New Acropolis Museum to the ROM

This lecture will discuss the meaning of a Kore, the archaeological story, and its aesthetics. Another topic will be the use of polychrome on sculpture since many of the korai were found with some of their original colours preserved.

Currents and Commodities: How Oceanographic effects influenced the prehistoric colonization of the islands

This presentation considers questions of resource acquisition as mediated by oceanographic and wind conditions, comparing results from archaeological projects in the Pacific and the Caribbean.

“Vital Voids: Cavities and Holes in Mesoamerican Material Culture” by Prof Andrew Finegold

Anchored by the close analysis of a single object— a Late Classic Maya codex-style dish known as the Resurrection Plate—this talk examines a variety of empty spaces created in diverse grounds in the material culture of ancient Mesoamerica.

Members only full video lecture: “Spartans: How different?” by Prof. Paul Cartledge

The AIA Toronto Society and the Pan-Laconian Federation of Ontario present a lecture in commemoration of the 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Thermopylae from Professor Paul A. Cartledge (Cambridge University and Honorary Citizen of Modern Sparta) on, “Spartans: How Different?”

Introduction to the 2500th anniversary of Battle of Thermopylae

Introductory session to the lecture by Prof. Paul Cartledge on Sparta, including forward speech by Greek Ambassador to Canada (Konstantina Athanassiadou) and Mayor of Sparta (Petros Doukas). Sponsored by the Pan-Laconian Federation of Ontario.

“Hannibal’s (war) Elephants” by Dr. Patrick Hunt

Employing brilliant surprise tactics, Hannibal beat the Romans in quite a few decisive battles where he was outnumbered but increased his arsenal by weaponizing nature. At Trebbia he made the Romans cross the freezing Trebbia river in midwinter…