Classics/AIA Lecture: Dr. Hilary Becker

The Department of Classical Studies at Tulane University and The Archaeological Institute of America New Orleans Society present “The materiality of blue: technical knowledge, innovation, and adaptation in the ancient Mediterranean” by Hilary Becker (Binghamton University). Date ~ Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Time ~ 6:00pm Location ~ Jones 204 Natural blue pigments in the ancient world are uncommon, usually sourced from far away and difficult to process. Reviewing these shady characters, like lazurite and azurite, will shed light on ancient artisanal capabilities, technical knowledge, and even trade connections that reveal the extent to which ancient people would travel and experiment in order to find blue. The development in the late 4th millennium B.C. of a synthetic blue pigment, Egyptian blue, made it possible not only to paint in blue but even to use this material in ways beyond its primary state as a pigment. Experimental archaeology paired with ancient texts and archaeology, making