EEA 2026
Session 76 | Artists and Craftsmen in Ancient Greece: Technology, Status and Production Dynamics

Through a multidisciplinary approach combining archaeological, epigraphic, and literary evidence, this session aims to explore the complex place and identities of artists and craftsmen in Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman Greece. By focusing on production processes, the organisation of labour, and the social dimension of technology, the session seeks to offer a nuanced professional and social characterisation of ancient craftsmen.
The traditional opposition between “artist” and “artisan”, although rooted in both ancient and modern discourse, fails to reflect the complexity and diversity of specialisation, skill transmission, and perceptions of manual work in antiquity.
To move beyond this opposition, particular attention will be given to techniques and contexts of production — notably sanctuaries, but also urban workshops, domestic spaces, and settings linked to public or private commissions. This broader perspective will allow participants to examine how artistic and craft practices were embedded within social, economic, and religious frameworks throughout Greek history.
Through case studies and comparative approaches, the session invites discussion on how the material and social conditions of craftsmanship shaped creation and professional identity from the Archaic to the Imperial period. Contributions addressing theoretical, methodological, or contextual aspects of ancient craft production are welcome, especially those that cross disciplinary boundaries or integrate textual, material, and technological data. Papers adopting comparative or regional perspectives (including from the wider Mediterranean) and studies using technical or archaeometric analyses are particularly encouraged.