Overview
The MA in the Classical Archaeology and the Ancient History of Macedonia Programme is being offered by the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics of the University Center of International Programmes of Studies of the International Hellenic University. The programme considers the history and the archaeology of ancient Macedonia, covering the region of Macedonia and the Macedonians from the Mycenaean period until the Roman era.
The MA in the Classical Archaeology and Ancient History of Macedonia is designed to provide a postgraduate (Master’s) level education in the archaeology, history, and culture in general of ancient Macedonia. It will focus on the acquisition of specialist knowledge on issues concerning public and private life in ancient Macedonia and in general cultural issues (institutions, art, religion, dialects) in the province of Macedonia and the greater Hellenistic world. It will emphasize the acquisition of a holistic, in depth grounding in the study of ancient Macedonia and its cultural influence, at an institution located at its heart and next to its archaeological sites.
The MA in the Classical Archaeology and Ancient History of Macedonia of the International Hellenic University accepts, after a careful selection process, graduates of History, Archaeology, Social Sciences, Humanities, Ethnography, Journalism, Balkan, Mediterranean or Oriental Studies and other related subject areas, from Greek universities or equivalent institutions from abroad and from Technological Educational Institutions of related subject areas according to Law 4485/2017 and 4610/2019, as applicable.
The courses are taught exclusively in English. The academics teaching on the programme come from universities both abroad and in Greece.
Official Government Gazette:
Re-establishment PDF (in Greek)
Regulation PDF (in Greek)
Amendment of the Postgraduate Program Regulations (in Greek)
The Study Programme is Certified by the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE)
Start date: 9 February 2026
Application deadline: 9 January 2026 (non-Greek applicants) / 20 January 2026 (Greek applicants) or until places are filled
Campus: Thermi, Thessaloniki
Duration/Mode: 3 semesters (full time) or 6 semesters (part time) / weekdays (also available in distance learning mode)
Taught language: English
Entry requirements: An undergraduate degree from a recognised University
Language requirements:IELTS (academic 6.5 and above), TOEFL (IBT, 95 and above) or TOEIC (745 and above) score, or a recognised by the Greek State certificate of proficiency in English of C1 level
Fees: 2,500€ (total)
How to apply: Please follow the instructions at the applications page
Programme announcement:
ENG
Spring intake 2025-26
Ashwini Lakshminarayanan
MA in the Classical Archaeology and the Ancient History of Macedonia
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The Faculty of Humanities (particularly the MA in Macedonia) and the administrative staff were extremely supportive during my time at the University. They were highly professional and ensured that I had the best advice possible in order to have a successful Ph.D application.
Who can apply
Entry requirements: An undergraduate degree from a recognised University
Language requirements: IELTS (academic 6.5 and above), TOEFL (IBT, 95 and above) or TOEIC (745 and above) score, or a recognised by the Greek State certificate of proficiency in English of C1 level
Course content
First Term courses
This is a course that introduces students to the literary and epigraphic sources on Ancient Macedonia. The syllabus has two principal aims: the first is to familiarise students with literary and epigraphic sources that provide useful information on the history, geography and the institutions of ancient Macedonia, with emphasis on the period before the dissolution of the kingdom by the Romans; the second is to introduce students to the proper study of those sources: dealing with problems of date, understanding their lacunary state, examining biases in, and disentangling contradictions between, our sources and in modern interpretations of them. Some outlines of the presentation of Macedonian history by both the great classical and Hellenistic historians and other authors who are not usually cited (local historians, poets, orators, etc.) will be given during the lessons. Within the section devoted to Greek historiography, a short introduction will explain the different approach which is necessary when dealing with works wholly or largely preservedas well as with ‘fragments’ and indirect quotations of lost works by later authors. A selection of relevant passages will be made available for downloading on the e-learning platform; a part of them will be discussed during the course.
Part of the course will be devoted to the epigraphic sources on ancient Macedonia and will introduce students to the main categories into which the epigraphic material can be classified, to the main epigraphic publications relevant for the study of ancient Macedonia and will show how deeply these sources have changed and continue to change our knowledge of ancient Macedonia. Particular attention will be devoted to the royal and civic institutions, and to information (derived particularly from the epigraphic sources) on matters pertaining to social stratification, gender roles, age groups, education and literacy. A selection of inscriptions will also be uploaded on the platform; a few texts drawn from such a selection will be discussed in detail during the lessons. Both literary and epigraphic texts will be given in Greek and in English translation.
Bibliography
- Hatzopoulos M. B. (1996) Macedonian Institutions under the Kings I-II. Athens.
- Hatzopoulos M. B. (2011) “Macedonia and Macedonians”, in R. J. Lane Fox (ed.), Brill’s Companion to Ancient Macedon. Studies in the Archaeology and History of Macedon, 650 BC-300 AD, (ed.), Leiden, Boston, 43-49.
- Hatzopoulos M. B. (2015) “Federal Makedonia” in H. Beck and P. Funke (eds), Federalism in Greek Antiquity, Cambridge, 319-340.
- Ma, J. (2011) “Court, King and Power in Antigonid Macedonia”, in R. J. Lane Fox (ed.), Brill’s Companion to Ancient Macedon. Studies in the Archaeology and History of Macedon, 650 BC-300 AD, (ed.), Leiden, Boston, 522-543.
- Rhodes P. J. (2010) “The Literary and Epigraphic Evidence to the Roman Conquest”, in J. Roisman and I. Worthington (eds.), A Companion to Ancient Macedonia, Oxford, pp. 23-40.
- Vanderspoel, J. (2010) “Provincia Macedonia”, in J. Roisman and I. Worthington (eds.), A Companion to Ancient Macedonia, Oxford, pp. 251-275.
This course examines the development of cities within the Macedonian kingdom. It begins with an analysis of the core cities of Lower Macedonia, which were essential to the kingdom’s growth and organization. The archaeological evidence from these cities provides important insights into the kingdom’s political and social structure. The course then explores the cities of Upper Macedonia, highlighting their unique features due to their geographical context. These cities were pivotal in regional governance and defense, reflecting the diverse aspects of the Macedonian kingdom. Further study includes the cities located east of the Strymon River, where Macedonian and Thracian influences intersected. These cities were strategically significant and illustrate the complex interactions between Macedonia and its neighbors.
The course also covers the Greek colonies along the northern Aegean coast, focusing on their integration into the Macedonian kingdom. The impact of these colonies and their relationships with Macedonia, particularly during the reign of Philip II, will be analyzed in terms of political and economic changes.
The course combines historical and archaeological approaches, interpreting the formation of cities as a reflection of the kingdom’s organization and its impact on the broader region. Abundant archaeological material will be analyzed and linked to key historical events, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of ancient urbanization in Macedonia.
To complement theoretical knowledge, students will participate in visits to relevant archaeological sites, allowing them to directly engage with the physical evidence discussed in the course.
Bibliography
- Published archaeological guides of the ancient Macedonian cities (Aigae, Pella, Amphipolis, Aiani etc).
- Volumes of the ΑΕΜΘ (Το Αρχαιολογικό Έργο στη Μακεδονία και Θράκη / Archaeological Work in Macedonia and Thrace).
- Volumes of the Archaiologikon Deltion (Archaeological Bulletin) and the Praktika tis en Athinais Archaiologikis Etaireias (Proceedings of the Archeological Society at Athens).
- Publications series of Olynthus, Thasos.
- Ginouvès R., Ηatzopoulos M. B. (eds) (1993) Macedonia from Philip II to the Roman Conquest. Princeton. Athens.
- Hatzopoulos, M. B. (2006) La Macédoine : Géographie Historique, Langue, Cultes et Croyances, Institutions, Paris.
- Roisman, J., Worthington I. (eds.) (2010) A companion to ancient Macedonia, Oxford.
- Fox, R. L. (ed) (2015) Brill’s Companion to Ancient Macedon, Leiden/Boston.
- Malkin I. (2016) Greek colonisation: The Right to Return, in: L. Donnellan – Valentino Nizzo – Gert-Jan Burgers (eds.), Conceptualising early colonization. Brussels, 27-50 (with previous literature).
- Tiverios M. (2008) “Greek Colonisation of the Northern Aegean”, in Tsetskhladze G. (ed.), Greek Colonisation. An Account of Greek Colonies and other Settlements Overseas, 2. Leiden-Boston, Brill, 1-129.
- Winter E. (2006) Stadtspuren: Zeugnisse zur Siedlungsgeschichte der Chalkidiki. Wiesbaden.
More specific recommended reading will be given to the students on the particular topics of their essays.
This course introduces the concept of Macedonian geographic space that affected the historical procedures of the formation and development of the Macedonian kingdom.
Macedonia is first examined as a quite diverse geographical area, surrounded by mountains, but also including large plains traversed by significant rivers. The geophysical particularities of the land that hosted the kingdom of Macedon had an impact on the culture and the economy of the people that inhabited it in antiquity.
The course deals also with the emergence of the Macedonians and their kingdom, their Indo-European identity and their relation with neighbouring peoples. It further examines the basic stages of the Macedonian expansion. The examination is based on both archaeological and textual evidence (historical, geographical, mythical sources).
Moreover, as a case study, the area of the Thermaic Gulf is examined in detail, since it provides interesting geological as well as archaeological data. Stress is laid on the coastline change as well as the change in settlement patterns, from the Neolithic period until the Hellenistic period and the founding of Thessaloniki.
The cartographic representation of ancient Macedonia through time covers the last part of the course, where it is also examined how this representation has been used in modern politics, and how it can be used in the historical/archaeological research, in the effort to consider the location of unidentified ancient sites, Aegeae (the first capital of the Macedonian kingdom) being the case study.
Bibliography
- Hammond N. G. L. (1972) A History of Macedonia I. Oxford.
- Hatzopoulos M. B. (2006) La Macédoine: géographie historique, langue, cultes et croyances, institutions. Paris.
- Manoledakis M., and Livieratos E. (2006) ‘On the digital placement of Aegae, the first capital of ancient Macedonia, according to Ptolemy’s Geographia’. Proceedings of the First International Workshop “Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage”. Thessaloniki, pp. 262-270. Also, in: e-Perimetron 2.1 (2007), 31-41 (electronic magazine in www.e-perimetron.org).
- Manoledakis Μ. (2011) ‘Η αρχαία Μακεδονία στη χαρτογραφία’. In Grammenos D.B. (ed.), Στη Μακεδονία από τον 7ο αιώνα π.X. ως την ύστερη αρχαιότητα. Μελέτες και λήμματα για την 3η εκθεσιακή ενότητα της μόνιμης έκθεσης του Αρχαιολογικού Μουσείου Θεσσαλονίκης, Thessaloniki, pp. 45-75.
- Papazoglou F. (1988) Les villes de Macédoine à l’époque romaine. Athens.
- Thomas, C.G. (2010) ‘The Physical Kingdom’. In Roisman, J. and Worthington, I. (eds.), A Companion to Ancient Macedonia, Chichester, pp. 65-80.
A series of lectures that introduces students to the prehistory of Macedonia. The course covers all main periods of prehistory, with a focus on the Neolithic to the end of the Bronze Age. The aim of the course is to present and to synthesize the evidence concerning material culture, the organization and use of space, architecture, economy and burial practices of the main periods of prehistory. Moreover, during this course, issues of social organization and connectivity in the prehistoric communities of Macedonia and beyond are addressed. To this end, evidence for the network of exchange will be presented including the mobility of humans, raw materials and finished products. During the course cultural processes that might have contributed to the changes in the social organization of prehistoric communities in Macedonia will be discussed.
Bibliography
- Andreou S. (2010) “Northern Aegean”, in: E. H. Cline (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean (ca. 3000 – 1000 BC), Oxford, Oxford University Press, 643-659.
- Andreou S., Fotiadis M., Kotsakis K. (2001) “Review of Aegean Prehistory V: The Neolithic and Bronze Age of Northern Greece”, in: T. Cullen (ed.), Aegean Prehistory. A Review, 259-327. American Journal of Archaeology, Supplement 1. Boston, Archaeological Institute of America.
- Kotsakis K. (2014) “Domesticating the periphery. New research into the Neolithic of Greece”. Pharos, 20 (1), 41-73.
- Valamoti S. M. (2004) Plants and People in Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Northern Greece. BAR International Series 1258. Oxford: Archaeopress.
- Stefani, E., Merousis, N., Dimoula, A. (eds.) (2014) A century of research in Prehistoric Macedonia 1912-2012. International Conference Proceedings, Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, 22-24 November 2012, Thessaloniki: Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.
- Triantaphyllou, S. (2008) “Living with the Dead: a Re-Consideration of Mortuary Practices in the Greek Neolithic”, in: V. Isaakidou & P. Tomkins (eds.), Escaping the Labyrinth: The Cretan Neolithic in Context. SSAA 8. Oxford: Oxbow.
- Triantaphyllou, S. & Andreou, S. (2020) “Changing Social Identities in the Mortuary Landscape of the Late Bronze Age Communities of Macedonia”, in: J.M.A. Murphy (ed.), Death in Late Bronze Age Greece, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
The Hellenistic Kingdoms were the states that emerged after the death of Alexander the Great and the gradual division of his empire among his chief officials and generals. These large territorial states inherited and divided among them a great part of Alexander’s empire in Egypt and the Near East. They fought continuous wars against each other and became the main focus of political power in the Eastern Mediterranean. Their rulers governed and taxed several different ethnicities that interacted with each other in various ways. The aim of this course is to familiarize the students with the main aspects of these kingdoms’ foreign policy, administration, finances and social structure by examining selected literary, epigraphic and papyrological sources.
Bibliography
- Allen R. E. (1983) The Attalid Kingdom: A Constitutional History. Oxford.
- Aperghis J. J. (2004) The Seleucid Royal Economy: the Finances and Financial Administration of the Seleucid Empire. Cambridge.
- Austin M. M. (2006) The Hellenistic World from Alexander to the Roman Conquest. A Selection of Ancient Sources in Translation. Cambridge.
- Capdetrey L. (2007) Le pouvoir séleucide. Territoire, administration, finances d’un royaume hellénistique (312-129 avant J.C.) Rennes.
- Erskine A. (ed.) (2003) Α Companion to the Hellenistic World Oxford.
- Grainger J. D. (2010) The Syrian Wars. Leiden, Boston.
- Grainger J. D. (2014) The Rise of the Seleucid Empire (323-223 BC): Seleukos I to Seleukos II. Barnsley.
- Green P. (1990) Alexander to Actium. The Ηistorical Evolution of the Hellenistic Age. Berkeley.
- Hansen E. V. (1971) The Attalids of Pergamon. Ithaca, London.
- Ma J. (1999) Antiochos III and the Cities of Western Asia Minor. Oxford.
- Manning J. G. (2010) The Last Pharaohs. Egypt under the Ptolemies. Princeton.
- McShane R. B. (1964) The Foreign Policy of the Attalids of Pergamum. Urbana.
- Sherwin-White S. M., and Kuhrt A. (1993) From Samarkhand to Sardis: a new approach to the Seleucid Empire. Berkeley.
- Shipley Gr. (2000) The Greek World after Alexander, 323-30 B.C. London.
- Walbank F. W. (1981), The Hellenistic World. Glasgow.
- Walbank F. W., Astin A. E., Frederiksen M. W., and Ogilvie R. M. (eds.) (1984), The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume VII Part I: The Hellenistic World (second edition). Cambridge.
- Will E. (1979) Histoire politique du monde hellénistique. Nancy.
- Wolski J. (1999) The Seleucids: the Decline and Fall of their Empire. Krakow.
This course actually extends and supplements the course on Μonumental Αrt in Macedonia. The topics covered in the course represent an essential part of the material civilisation of ancient Macedonia. It includes many categories of objects and artefacts that serve practical needs (furniture, weapons, various utensils, etc.) but at the same time, they are considered exceptional pieces of art and crafts. Knowledge on ancient arts and crafts can complement and enrich the students’ understanding of ancient Macedonian civilization.
Bibliography
- Adam-Veleni, P., Kefalidou, E., Tsiafaki, D. (eds.) (2013) Pottery Workshops in Northeastern Aegean (8th-early 5th c. BC). Scientific Meeting AMTh 2010. Thessaloniki.
- Adam-Veleni, P., Zografou, E. Koukouvou, A. Palli, O. and Stefani, E. (eds.) (2017) Figurines. A Microcosmos of Clay. An Exhibition. Thessaloniki.
- Adam-Veleni, P. and Ignatiadou, D. (2012). Glass Cosmos, Catalogue of the Exhibition in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki.
- Barr-Sharrar B. (2008) The Derveni Krater. Princeton.
- Descamps-Lequime S. (ed.) (2011) Au Royaume d’Alexandre le Grand. La Macedoine antique, Catalogue de l’exposition. Paris.
- Drougou, S. and Touratsoglou, I. (2012) Topics on Hellenistic Pottery in Ancient Macedonia. Athens.
- Fox L. R. J. (ed.) (2011) Brill’s Companion to Ancient Macedonia. Studies in the Archaeology and History of Macedon, 650 BC-300 AD. Leiden and Boston.
- Kottaridi A., and Walker, S. (eds) (2011) Heracles to Alexander the Great. Treasures from the Royal Capital of Macedon, a Hellenic Kingdom in the Age of Democracy. Oxford.
- Papadopoulos, J.K. (2005). The Early Iron Age Cemetery at Torone, Los Angeles.
- Tiverios, M., Μissailidou-Despotidou, V., Manakidou, E., and Arvanitaki, A. (2012) Η κεραμική της Αρχαϊκής εποχής στο βόρειο Αιγαίο και την περιφέρειά του (700-480 π. Χ.). Thessaloniki.
- Manakidou, E. and Avramidou, A. (2019) Η κεραμική της Κλασικής εποχής στο βόρειο Αιγαίο και την περιφέρειά του (480-323/300 π. Χ.). Thessaloniki.
- Tiverios, M., Nigdelis, P. and Adam-Veleni, P. (eds.) (2012) THREPTERIA. Studies on Ancient Macedonia. Athens.
- Zimi E. (2011) Late Classical and Hellenistic Silver Plate from Macedonia. Oxford
Second Term courses
The purpose of this course is twofold:
- To introduce students to the history timeline of the Macedonian kingdom and its relation with the neighboring Greek and foreign states as well as the city-states of Southern Greece.
- To highlight the implicit cognitive issues of this “smooth” historical narrative and how they were addressed by modern scholars.
Bibliography
- Archibald 1. Z. – Davies J. – Gabrielsen V. – Olive G.J. (eds.) (2001), Hellenistic Economies, London/New York.
- Errington R. M. (1990) A History of Macedonia. University of California Press.
- Erskine A. (ed.) (2003) Blackwell Companion to the Hellenistic World. Oxford.
- Ginouvès R., Ηatzopoulos M. B. (eds.) (1993) Macedonia from Philip II to the Roman Conquest. Princeton, Athens.
- Hammond N. G. L., Griffith G. T. (1972-1988) A History of Macedonia I-III. Oxford.
- Hammond N.G.L. (1989) The Macedonian State. Oxford.
- Shipley G. (2000) The Greek World after Alexander 323-30. London.
The aim of this course is to acquaint students with the art and culture of ancient Macedonia through the material remains in the area of the Macedonian kingdom, which consist concrete evidence of the social, political, religious and daily life. Special emphasis will be given to the monuments and the categories with a monumental character. Through them the students will acquire a measure and, at the same time, a medium for an objective approach to the cultural production and its impact to the architecture and arts of the Hellenistic World.
Most of the grand monuments relate to religious and social life, such as the impressive Macedonian tombs, or to political and financial life, such as palaces, theatres and forums, while others, such as metalwork and frescoes, enrich or re-establish our knowledge on precious vessels or poorly attested ancient Greek Painting.
Bibliography
- Ginouves R. (ed.) (1993) Η Μακεδονία από τον Φίλιππο Β’ έως τη Ρωμαϊκή κατάκτηση. Athens.
- Miller S. (1970) Hellenistic Macedonian Architecture, Diss. Bryn Mawr.
- Lauter H. (1986) Die Architektur des Hellenismus. Darmstadt.
- Ανδρόνικος M. (1987) «Hζωγραφική στην αρχαία Μακεδονία», ΑΕ 126, 363–382.
- Γραμμένος Δ. (2004) Το Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Θεσσαλονίκης. Athens 2004.
- Guimier-Sorbets A.-M., Hatzopoulos M., Morizot Y. (eds.) (2006) Rois, cités, nécropoles. Institutions, rites et monuments en Macédoine, Actes des colloques de Nanterre (Decembre 2002) et d’Athénes (Janvier 2004). Athens.
- Brecoulaki H. (2006) La peinture funéraire de Macedoine: emplois et fonctions de la couleur IVe-IIe s. av. J.-C.. Athens.
- Roisman J., Worthington I. (eds) (2010) A Companion to Ancient Macedonia. Oxford.
- Lane Fox R. (ed.) (2011) Brill’s Companion to Ancient Macedon. Studies in the Archaeology and History of Macedon, 650 BC – 300 AD. Leyden, Boston.
- Descamps-Lequime S., Charatzopoulou K. (2011) Au royaume d’ Alexandre le Grand: la Macedoine antique, Musée du Louvre. Paris.
- https://www.latsis-foundation.org/content/elib/book_18/pella_gr.pdf
- Mangoldt H. von (2012) Makedonische Grabarchitektur: die Makedonischen Kammergräber und ihre Vorläufer. Tübingen.
- Βλαχόπουλος Α., Τσιαφάκη Δ. (eds.) (2017), ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΑ. ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΘΡΑΚΗ, Εκδοτικός Οίκος Μέλισσα. Athens.
- Πλάντζος, Δ. (2019) Η τέχνη της ζωγραφικής στον αρχαιοελληνικό κόσμο, Αθήνα.
Coins comprise an essential tool for archaeologists and historians in interpreting the past. Officially produced by state authorities in large quantities, they have been the main form of money in many societies for more than two millennia. The images and inscriptions on their surfaces are particularly enlightening to the history, ideology, religion and art of the societies that issued and used them. The metals used for their manufacture, their weight and size as well as their provenance, provide a wealth of information on the study of economies about which there is few or no written evidence.
The course focuses on the evolution of coinage and its role in ancient Macedonia. It examines various issues on coin production, iconography and circulation in Macedonia from the Archaic to the Hellenistic and Roman Republican period. Furthermore, the course aims at familiarising the students with the methodology of Numismatics –the study of coins and coin-formed objects– via a series of exercises on the identification, description and recording of ancient coins as well as with the function of coins as archaeological artefacts and important tool for dating archaeological sites and strata.
Bibliography
- Adam-Veleni, P. (ed.) (2000) Το νόμισμα στο μακεδονικό χώρο. Πρακτικά της Β΄ Επιστημονικής Συνάντησης. Νομισματοκοπεία, κυκλοφορία, εικονογραφία, ιστορία: Αρχαίοι, βυζαντινοί και νεότεροι χρόνοι, Οβολός 4, Thessaloniki.
- Kourebanas T. (2011) “The chronology of the Hellenistic coins of Thessaloniki, Pella and Amphipolis”, in: N. Holmes (ed.), Proceedings of the XIVth International Numismatic Congress Glasgow 2009, Glasgow, 251-255.
- Kremydi S. (2010) “Coinage and Finance”, in: R.J. Lane Fox (ed.), Brill’s Companion to Ancient Macedon. Studies in the Archaeology and History of Macedon, 650 BC-300 AD. Leiden, Boston, 159-178.
- Kremydi S. (2019) ‘Autonomous’ Coinages under the Late Antigonids, Μελετήματα 79, Athens.
- Mørkholm O. (1991) Early Hellenistic Coinage: From the Accession of Alexander the Great to the Peace of Apamea (336-186 BC), Cambridge.
- Τouratsoglou, Y. (1987) “Macedonia”, in: A.M. Burnett – Μ.H. Crawford (eds), The Coinage of the Roman World in the Late Republic, Proceedings of a Colloquium Held at the British Museum in September 1985, BAR International Series 326, Oxford, 53-67.
- Touratsoglou, Υ. (2010) Συμβολή στην οικονομική ιστορία του βασιλείου της Αρχαίας Μακεδονίας (6ος-3ος αι. π.Χ.) / A Contribution to the Economic History of the Kingdom of Ancient Macedonia (6th-3rd Century BC), Κέρμα ΙΙ, Athens.
- Tselekas P. (2015) “From the Aegean to the Mediterranean: Northern Greek silver in Southern Italy and Sicily in the 5th century BC”, in: P. Adam-Veleni – D. Tsangari (eds), Greek Colonisation: New Data, Current Approaches. Proceedings of the Scientific Meeting Held in Thessaloniki, 6 February 2015, Athens, 193-205.
- Westermark U. (1989) “Remarks on the regal Macedonian coinage ca. 413-359 BC:, in: G. Le Rider – N. Waggoner – U. Westermark (eds), Kraay-Mørkholm Essays. Numismatic Studies in Memory of C. M. Kraay and O. Mørkholm, Louvain-La-Neuve, 301-315.
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of religious life in ancient Macedonia, utilizing ancient texts and archaeological evidence to examine the cults and beliefs of the region. It focuses on the intricate relationship between religious observance, political power, and cultural integration within the Macedonian kingdom.
Among the deities in the Macedonian pantheon, Olympian Zeus, the Mother of the Gods, and Asclepius hold prominent roles. These cults were deeply connected to the political identity of the state, reflecting both the authority of the monarchy and the religious unity of the kingdom. The course also explores archaic mystery cults, emphasizing their sacred rituals and the profound spiritual connections they fostered. Herakles, as a heroic ancestor of the Macedonians, plays a central role in this religious landscape, embodying both divine and heroic elements essential to Macedonian identity.
Religious life in Macedonia evolved alongside the kingdom’s historical development, particularly during its expansion and eventual incorporation into the Roman Empire. This period saw the fusion of longstanding traditions with new influences, creating a rich tapestry of belief systems that blended local customs with those of the broader Mediterranean world. The course will analyze how these changes reflect the dynamics of power, identity, and cultural adaptation, shedding light on the complexities of Macedonian religious practices and their lasting legacy.
Bibliography
- Duell S. (1977) Die Goetterkulte Nordmakedoniens in roemischer Zeit. Munich.
- Malkin, Ι. (1987) Religion and Colonization in Ancient Greece. Leiden.
- 3. Guimier-Sorbets Α. Μ., and Hatzopoulos M. (2006) Mελετήματα 45, Rois, Cités, Necropoles. Athens.
- Steimle C. (2008) Religion im römischen Thessaloniki. Sakraltopographie, Kult und Gesellschaft 168 v. Chr. –324 n. Chr. Tübingen.
- Christesen P., Murray, S. C. (2010) “Macedonian Religion”. In Roisman J., Worthington, I. (eds.), A Companion to Ancient Macedonia. Oxford, pp. 428-445.
- M. Mari (2011) “Traditional Cults and Beliefs”. In Lane Fox, A. J. (end) Brill’s Companion to Ancient Macedon. Studies in the Archaeology and History of Macedon, 650 bc–300 AD. Leiden, Boston, 453-465.
- Chatzinikolaou, K.G. (2011) Οι Λατρείες των Θεών και των Ηρώων στην Ανω Μακεδονια κατα την Αρχαιότητα. Thessaloniki.
- Simon, E. (2021) The Gods of the Greeks. Wisconsin.
The course is instrumental in providing insights into the historical importance of ancient Macedonia from the viewpoint of language use, which is a key component of the identity of population groups, ancient and modern alike.
In the former part, the syllabus focuses on key concepts like ethnicity, language, dialect (and their relation), and introduces the students to the understanding of fundamental terms and methods of historical-comparative and contact linguistics as well as of dialectology. Students will familiarize themselves with aspects of linguistic theory that may help us approach ancient linguistic varieties, which, as is the case with Macedonian too, are often poorly documented.
The latter part of the course consists primarily of a critical examination of the evidence for ancient Macedonian (incl. onomastics) as well as a discussion of the long scholarly debate over it. The variegated makeup of ancient Macedonian and its relationship to / contacts with both certain Paleo-Balkan languages and the ancient Greek dialects, esp. of the neighboring areas, will be analyzed in detail before we attempt to reach some overall conclusions.
Bibliography
- Chambers J. K. & Trudgill P. (2004) Dialectology, 2nd ed. Cambridge, pp. 3-44, 89-103 (= chapters: “Dialect and language”, “Dialect geography”, “Dialectology and linguistics”, “Boundaries”).
- Crespo E. (2012) “Languages and dialects in ancient Macedon”. In: G.K. Giannakis (ed.), Ancient Macedonia: Language, History, Culture. Thessaloniki, pp. 121-131.
- Hatzopoulos M. (2019) “Recent research in the ancient Macedonian dialect: consolidation and new perspectives”. In G. K. Giannakis, E. Crespo & P. Filos (eds.), Studies in Ancient Greek Dialects: from Central Greece to the Black Sea. Berlin/Boston, pp. 299-328.
- Méndez Dosuna J. (2012) “Ancient Macedonian as a Greek dialect”. In: G.K. Giannakis (ed.), Ancient Macedonia: Language, History, Culture, Thessaloniki, pp. 133-145.
- Panayotou A. (2007) “The position of the Macedonian dialect”. In: A.-F. Christidis (ed.), A History of Ancient Greek: From the Beginnings to Late Antiquity, Cambridge, pp. 433-443.
- Sihler A. L. (2000) Language History: An Introduction. Amsterdam/Philadelphia, pp. 135-207 (= chapters: “Reconstruction”, “External aspects of language change”, “Written records”).
The aim of this course is to acquaint students with the employment of technologies in the field of Cultural Heritage and in particular, Archaeology. From the outset, archaeologists have undertaken responsibility for the preservation of finds both as primary evidence and as the only thing that will survive of a specific site. The emergence of Information Technologies as well as of the Archaeological Science (e.g. Archaeometry) provide the traditional archaeological research with new tools and contribute in the development of new approaches and methods. The employment of repositories, geographical information systems (GIS), multimedia applications, 3D digitization and reconstruction along with material analysis or dating techniques provided by Archaeometry, represent some indicative examples of the topics that will be taught to the students. New terms used nowadays (Digital Archaeology, Digital Curation, Cyberarchaeology etc) will be presented and clarified. Overall, the course aims at preparing students to practice Archaeology in the 21st century.
Bibliography
- Bentkowska-Kafel A., Macdonald L. (2017) Digital Techniques for Documenting and Preserving Cultural Heritage, Kalamazoo and Bradford.
- Evans T. L., Daly P., (eds) (2016) Digital Archaeology: bridging method and theory, Routledge 2016.
- Κουτσούδης, Α. Παυλίδης, Γ. 3Δ Ψηφιοποίηση, Athens.
- Lock G. (2003) Using Computers in Archaeology: Towards Virtual Pasts. Routledge.
- Μπούνια Α., Νικονάνου Ν., Οικονόμου Μ. (eds.) (2008) Η Τεχνολογία στην Υπηρεσία της Πολιτισμικής Κληρονομιάς: Διαχείριση – Εκπαίδευση -Επικοινωνία, Πρακτικά 2ου Διεθνούς Συνεδρίου Μουσειολογίας Μυτιλήνη 2004. Athens.
- Tsiafaki D. (2012) “The Contribution of New Technologies in Archaeology: Goals & Issues”, in: N. Zacharias (ed.), 2nd Symposium – Archaeological Research and New Technologies ARCH_RNT, University of Peloponnese, DHACRM, Kalamata, October 21-23, 2010. Kalamata, pp. 93-98.
- Τσιαφάκη Δ. (2019) «Η συμβολή των φυσικοχημικών μεθόδων στη μελέτη της κεραμικής», στο: Θ’ Επιστημονική Συνάντηση για την Ελληνιστική Κεραμική, ΙΙ, Θεσσαλονίκη 05-09/12/2012. Athens, pp. 723-729.
- Tsiafaki D., Koutsoudis A., Arnaoutoglou F., Michailidou N. (2016) “Virtual reassembly and completion of a fragmentary drinking vessel. el reensamblaje y la reposición virtual de un recipiente de beber fragmentado”, Virtual Archaeology Review, 7(15), pp. 67-76.
Students will take part in the excavation of the International Hellenic University. There, they will become familiar with the fundamental principles of the excavation procedure, as well as identifying, cataloguing, and studying the archaeological material. Furthermore, the participants will have the chance to see the cleaning and preservation of the artefacts. Finally, students will practice the procedure of drawing the trial trenches, as well as the ancient objects that will be found.
Open Source Lecture
Attend an open source lecture of our Master Programme “MA in the Classical Archaeology and the Ancient History of Macedonia”
Learning and Research Tools
Schedule
The MA in the Classical Archaeology and the Ancient History of Macedonia is a 14-month full-time programme of study comprised of three parts over three semesters. It is taught mainly on weekdays over three-hour teaching periods. The first two semesters cover the courses of the programme. Each teaching term has 13 teaching weeks followed by a 10-day exam period. The third period is taken up with work on the Master’s dissertation. The programme is also available in part-time mode. The attendance of lectures is compulsory. There is a limit of absences allowed (for more information please consult the Programme Handbook). The programme is also available in distance learning mode.
Weekly Timetables
The MA in «MA in the Classical Archaeology and the Ancient History of Macedonia», is a 3-semester full-time programme of study. It is taught mainly on weekdays over three-hour teaching periods. The first two semesters cover the courses of the programme. Each teaching term has 13 teaching weeks followed by a 10-day exam period. The third period is taken up with work on the Master’s dissertation. The programme is also available in part-time mode and in distance learning mode.
Fees & Financing
Fees
The programme fees for the MA in the Classical Archaeology and the Ancient History of Macedonia is 2500€. The amount is payable in two instalments for the full time mode or in four instalments for the part time mode at the beginning of each semester.
Deposits
If you have been accepted to a postgraduate programme, you will need to make a payment of the deposit of 500€ to secure your place. This amount will count towards the first instalment of your tuition fees. The deposit is non-refundable once you have commenced your studies at the IHU. Prior to that, a refund can be made but a 20% administrative fee will be retained. The deposit can be paid by bank transfer or bank draft. Credit card payments can be made through electronic banking (contact your Bank as handling fees may apply).
*For non-EU students, an advance payment of 1.250 Euros out of 2.500 Euros towards the tuition fees must be paid.
Scholarships
The School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics offers a number of scholarships for the programmes it offers, covering a significant proportion of the fees. These scholarships are competitive. Award criteria include the quality of the first degree, the undergraduate grades of the candidate, his/her command of the English language and overall profile. Candidates for scholarships should include a separate letter with their application documents in which they request to be considered for a scholarship, stating the reasons why they think they qualify.
Programme announcement – Admissions
The next intake in the MA in the Classical Archaeology and the Ancient History of Macedonia starts 9 February 2026. Interested parties are invited to submit their online application by 9 January 2026 (non-Greek applicants) / 20 January 2026 (Greek applicants) or until places are filled, by following instructions at the applications page.
Programme announcement:
ENG
Spring intake 2025-26
Program Digital Archaeology
Program of the Center of Education and Lifelong learning of the International Hellenic University
Archaeology in Action
Program of the Center of Education and Lifelong learning of the International Hellenic University
Ideal career path
The MA programme offers a critical and multifarious study of ancient Macedonia, from institutions, languages and cults to art and the important archaeological sites. The obtained skills that the graduates develop allow them to work in Educational Institutions and Academies concentrating on ancient Macedonia or Greece, Archaeological Departments, Research Institutes, Museums, etc.
Location
The MA in the Classical Archaeology and the Ancient History of Macedonia takes place in the facilities of the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics of the University Center of International Programmes of Studies of the International Hellenic University in Thermi-Thessaloniki.
Contact
Postal address:
School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics
Department of School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics
University Center of International Programmes of Studies
14th km Thessaloniki – Nea Moudania 570 01 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece
Tel: +30 2310 807 526/523/530
Εmail: infoshsse@ihu.edu.gr
