Publications/Reviews

Books



Current project: 
Gold belt embellished with flowers, bees and fruits from the so-called Karpenisi Treasure, late 3rd-2nd cent. BC






Catalogue/monograph for The National Archaeological Archaeological Museum, Athens. Title: 
The Stathatos Collection of Hellenistic Gold JewelleryNational Archaeological Museum, Athens. 
The unique gold belt above - in the Stathatos Collection - was on display in the 'Countless Aspects of Beauty' exhibition, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the National Archaeological Museum. The exhibition explored mankind's eternal quest for beauty in all its manifestations. 


2017: Hellenistic Gold Jewellery in the Benaki Museum, Athens, Mouseio Benaki 10th Supplement - The Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens.
Getty Conservation Institute

This book was launched by the late Prof. Angelos Delivorrias on Tuesday 19th December 2017 in the Benaki Museum, Athens in conjunction with the Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens (AAIA). Benaki Monica M. Jackson-Hellenistic Jewellery- Launch
Athens City Guide_ Benaki Museum

An Australian launch took place on Thursday 15 February 2018 in MacLaurin Hall, The University of Sydney at 6.00 pm. Speeches were made by Professor Stephen Garton, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney and Dr Stavros Paspalas, Deputy Director of the Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens.
  
: How to order                                                                         
Benaki_publications
Sudoc.abes.fr
Biblio Australia
Hellenic Museum-Melbourne
Andromeda Books -The Classics Bookshop Athens
Public Greece
Biblio.com UK/Demetrias Siatras Athens
  • CHAPTERS
  • Preface
  • I. The Alexandrian Greeks and the Benaki family
  • II. The Rise of the Macedonian Kingdom and its Successor Dynasties
  • III. Seven Treasures: Seven Stories 
  • IV. Techniques
  • V. Catalogue of the Benaki Museum Hellenistic Jewellery
  • VI. Abbriviations - Bibliography 
SYNOPSIS – 2017: Monica M. Jackson, Hellenistic Gold Jewellery in the Benaki Museum, Athens, ISSN  1109-4109: ISBN 978-960-476-224-8. 176 pages; 113 catalogue illustrations in colour; 68 photographs, illustrations and drawings – 95% in colour. Publishers: Benaki Museum 10th Supplement; The Australian Archaeological Institute at Athen 

This book focuses on the nature and role of gold jewellery in the Hellenistic period, with its complex web of interconnections and broad geographical scope. It significantly changes the way we think about Hellenistic jewellery by focusing on the craftsmen as individuals. The first chapter traces the history of the Greek expatriates in the cosmopolitan city of Alexandria Egypt during the late 19th - early 20th centuries - where the collecting instincts of Antonis Benakis founder of the Benaki Museum in Athens were shaped. The following chapter discusses the rise of the Macedonian kingdom and its successor dynasties, a technologically innovative period when precious metal working reached its peak. Chapter III discusses a selection of seven pieces from the collection, the stories of which are traced using rich comparative material. Those examined with the optical microscope provided compelling evidence that individual jewellers may be identified by certain idiosyncrasies of technique - including one example of a goldsmith's hidden 'signature'. Microscopic observation is a means of communication with the goldsmith – a glimpse into his mind and imagination.

Chapter IV analyses the techniques of manufacture, which are comprehensively described and expertly illustrated. Micro and miniature techniques are discussed in detail

Chapter V - the Catalogue comprises a typological and descriptive examination of the entire corpus of 113 expertly photographed pieces of Hellenistic gold jewellery in the Museum's world-renowned collection.
This book not only considers the interaction between Greek and non-Greek cultures. It opens up new methodological insights into the scholarly world while providing a medium through which this fascinating material can be brought to the attention of an audience that extends far beyond the confines of aca

                       Prof. Angelos Delivorrias launched the book at the Benaki Museum, Athens, on 19 December 20.

AAIA Newsletter_MacLaurin Hall University of Sydney

Irini Papageorgiou - Curator Benaki Museum & Dr Monica M.

Book launch Benaki Museum Athens, Dr Monica M. & Mr David Jackson AM KC
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      Dr Stavros Paspalas speaking at the book launch at MacLaurin Hall, The University of Sydney, Thursday 15 February 2018
The Sydney event was launched by the Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Stephen Garton, and the Acting Director of the AAIA, Dr Stavros Paspalas.
             
Dr Monica M. & Prof. Alexander Cambitoglou - MacLaurin Hall, Book Launch 2018
                                               Professor Alexander Cambitoglou 1922-2018

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2006: Hellenistic Gold Eros Jewellery: Technique, Style and Chronology, British Archaeological Reports (BAR) International Series 1510 (Archaeopress, Oxford).
ISBN(S)
  • 9781841719443 (paperback)
  • 9781407329642 (ebook)


Read online: BAR Publishing          

How to order:



General Introduction:


Scholarship in the area of ancient jewellery has progressed to a level of academic acceptance not thought possible even two decades ago, yet in terms of serious scientific archaeological research, it continues to be marginalized as part of the minor or decorative arts. Paradoxically it is also because of its small size, exquisite beauty and intrinsic value that jewellery has traditionally not been considered seriously as archaeological evidence. Consequently, until recent times jewellery has been poorly recorded in excavation reports.

The aim of this PhD thesis is to provide a basis for future work by approaching the study of ancient Eros jewellery as archaeological artefacts - the products of a vanished material culture. In other words, it will attempt to look at the objects in their archaeological contexts - as a crucial part of the chronological evidence that has survived from ancient times. At the same time, it will also attempt to look through the objects at the contexts in which they were created and evolved - social, cultural, religious, political and economic. By taking into account the content and contextual associations of expertly excavated objects, crucial information about chronology can also be ascertained. Ancient jewellery must now be understood as fundamental to the archaeological record.

                              Book launch Nicholson Museum, The University of Sydney, 30 June 2006
          













                                                                                               
From left: Prof. Richard Waterhouse, Prof. Margaret Miller, David Jackson AM KC, Dr Monica M. Jackson  

2006:  Monica M. Jackson, Hellenistic Gold Eros Jewellery: Technique, Style and Chronology, ISBN 1841719447. £57.00. xi+240 pages; 28 figures, illustrations and drawings; 32 plates, including 12 in colour. BAR S1510

This work presents a systematic and objective examination of the large corpus of Hellenistic gold Eros jewellery. By focusing on the question of the interconnections between the major centres of production – Egypt, South Italy and South Russia, Western Asia Minor, Greece and Syria a number of regional schools and new jewellery groups are identified. The keys to the discussion are the well-documented find contexts from Northern Greece, South Italy and Tel Atrib (ancient Athribis Egypt) that make it possible to arrive at a relative chronology for a particular type of Eros, found throughout the Hellenistic world. The morphological, stylistic, iconographic and technical continuities between Hellenistic jewellery and in particular the Eros motif ensure the successful use of this methodology. Evidence from Koroni in Attica and from several South Italian tomb groups has been examined in detail and dated, according to the methodology described above to ca. 240 BC. The study includes a discussion of the significance of Eros in the Hellenistic period. The study has shown the value of Eros jewellery as an indicator of the cultural life of the Hellenistic world – its values, literature and basic lore about nature and the arts. The Eros motif and its morphological lineage are traced through related depictions in contemporaneous decorative arts. The catalogue has brought together as much material as possible to establish a typology and chronology of Eros jewellery in the hope that it will provide the maximum amount of information for future studies. 32 plates, including 12 in colour, illustrate the work.

                                                 

2002: PhD Dissertation: Case Studies of Hellenistic Eros Earrings with a Catalogue of Gold Eros Jewellery, Vols. I & II, PhD Dissertation, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, The University of Sydney, Australia. Oliver Archaeology Collection at The George Washington University, Washington DC. 

Google Books
George Washington University_Melvin Gelman Library - Columbian College_Classical Archaeology Collection

The Oliver Archaeology Collection

National Library of Australia 



              Reviews: Hellenistic Gold Eros Jewellery: Technique, style chronology

                             Museum Helveticum


   

Vol. 64, No. 3, Sept. 2007


 Published by: Schwabe AG Verlag

https://www.jstor.org/stable/i40170241



2007: Dietrich Willers review of Monica M. Jackson, Hellenistic Gold Eros Jewellery: Technique, Style and Chronology (2006). In M. Billerbeck, T. Gelzer, A. Giovannini (eds.), Museum Helveticum, Schweizerische Zeitschrift für klassische Altertumswissenschaft. Revue suisse pour l'étude de l'antiquité classique. Rivista 
svizzera di filologia classica, Vol. 64, Fac. 3 (Sept. 2007) Schwabe Verlag Basel, p. 172. 

JSTOR HomeJSTOR

Der Titel lässt eine hochspezialisierte und spezialistische Studie erwarten. Sie ist dies auch, aber wie bei fast jeder erfolgreichen Einzeluntersuchung gewinnen die Ergebnisse auch hier generelle und übergreifende Bedeutung. Voraussetzung für eine derart erfolgreiche Durchführung ist der allgemeine Reichtum an Körperschmuck seit der 2. Hälfte des 4.Jh. und gleichermassen die wachsende Beliebtheit von Eros und Eroten in der Hellenistic Bilderwelt. Letzteres hat zwar auch banal vordergründige Aspekte, doch es blieb offensichtlich auch das Wissen von der beseligenden und schlimmen Macht des Eros, die alle Lebensbereiche durchdringt, erhalten (das 5. Kapitel widmet sich Fragen des <>). Das primäre Erkenntnisinteresse gilt dem Schmuck aus dokumentierten Fundkomplexen – aus Nordgriechenland, Süditalien, dem nördlichen Schwarzmeergebiet, Westkleinasien und Unterägypten. Man wird nicht ohne Überraschung gewahr, dass eine solche Gesamtschau auf breitestmöglicher Materialbasis bisher nicht geleistet war. Die vergleichende Analyse ermöglicht es, regionale Werkstattzentren genauer als bisher zu erkennen, und damit auch, Schmuckgruppen deutlicher zu identifizieren, Die ganzheitliche Aufarbeitung der Fundkontexte ergibt ferner erfreulich konkrete Ergebnisse zur relativen und absoluten Chronologie (in frühhellenistischer Zeit wurde bisher zumeist zu früh datiert). Die Studie verdiente es, zum Referenzwerk zu werden. Sie hätte vollends das Zeug dazu, wenn der Tafelteil an Bildqualität und damit an Informationswert der Untersuchung und dem Katalog gleichwertig wäre. Das Ohrringpaar Kat. 10 D 4 gehört der Archäologischen Sammlung der Universität Bern: D. Willers/L..Raselli-Nydegger (Hgg.), Im Glanz der Götter und Heroen, Mainz 2003. 114f. Nr.96.


TRANSLATION:

The title indicates a highly skilled and specialized study. This is accomplished, but in accordance with almost all effective independent research, the conclusions are comprehensive and of widespread significance. The prerequisite for such a successful study is the rich heritage of personal jewellery from the second half of 4th Century BC, and equally the growing popularity of Eros and Erotes images in the Hellenistic world. Indeed, while the superficial aspects of the latter were obvious, what was also preserved was an understanding of the good and evil power of Eros which penetrates all areas of human life (Chapter 5 is devoted to questions of "meaning"). Of fundamental importance is the information gained from the research into jewellery from documented find complexes – Northern Greece, South Italy, the northern Black Sea area, western Asia Minor and Lower Egypt. It is not surprising to find that until now no one has published this most extensive corpus of material. Comparative analysis enables regional workshop centres to be recognized more precisely than previously, as well as the identification of associated jewellery groups. The comprehensive processing of find contexts provides further gratifyingly convincing results with regard to relative and absolute chronology (up until now the Early Hellenistic period was - for the most part - dated too early). This study deserves to become the authoritative work. Finally, it would have completed everything if the quality of the catalogue images had matched the value of the research and information contained therein.
The pair of earrings Catalogue 10 D, 4 belongs to the archaeological collection at the University of Berne.


Review Google/Amazon_Dietrich Willers_Hellenistic Gold Eros Jewellery                                                     



2008: Hélène Guiraud review of Monica M. Jackson, Hellenistic Gold Eros Jewellery: Technique, Style and Chronology (2006). In Latomus Revue d' études Latines, v. 67, 3  (Sept.) pp. 833-835
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                                                  Sydney.academia.edu/MonicaMJackson

Book Chapters

2011: "Early Hellenistic Earrings from a Regional Black Sea Workshop". In Terra Antiqua Balcanica et Mediterranea. Miscellanea in Honour of Alexander Minchev, Acta Musei Varnaensis, VIII-1, Ongul, Varna, 85-92.Terra Antiqua Balcanica et Mediterranea; 60th Anniversary of Alexander MinchevEarly Hellenistic Jewellery_Black Sea Workshophttps://www.academia.edu/





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Refereed Journal Articles

2015: Manuscript Draft - "Crete and the Antikythera Shipwreck: Late Hellenistic Precious Metal and Coroplastic Interconnections",  American Journal of Archaeology, 1-21.




2008: "Stylistic Influences of Coins on Jewellery: from the Eastern Mediterranean to Bactria", Antiques & Art, Issue 74 (February-August) World of Antiques & Art, 40-44World of Antiques & ArtStylistic Influences of Coins on Jewelleryhttps://sydney.academia.edu/MonicaMJackson



 2008: "Archaeology, Looting and the Luxury Arts in the XXI Century", Art Antiquity and Law, XIII, Issue1 (April) Institute of Art and Law, 59-73. Academia.edu                                                                             Citation 2010: J. Kreder, The University of Miami Law Review, V. 64, n. 80.



1999: "Jewellery from a Tomb in Metaponto: A Chronological Review", Art Antiquity and Law, Issue 4 (December) Institute of Art and Law, 347-362.

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Citations

Every year, on behalf of the International Committee of Historical Sciences, the Bibliography catalogues the most important new publications, historiographical monographs, and journal articles throughout the world, extending from prehistory and ancient history to the most recent contemporary historical studies. Within the systematic classification according to epoch, region, and historical discipline, works are also cited according to the author's name and characteristic keywords in their title.


2014: M. Mastrogregori, (ed.) Bibliography of Historical Sciences, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/Boston. Dec 12 _ Cit. 1662: "New Jewellery Evidence from the Antikythera Shipwreck: A Stylistic and Chronological Analysis", Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique (BCH) 134,1, 2010, 177-194;


Citation: 2012: E. Stassinopopoulou, The   Antikythera   Shipwreck   the   Ship,  the  Treasures,  t he  Mechanism,  Exhibition   Catalogue  (April   2012 - April   2013)  National   Archaeological   Museum  Athens, 146-151, 297.


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Peer Reviewed Articles 

2021: "Metal Jewellery of the Southern Levant and its Western Neighbours"Ancient West 
& East, 20, 2021, 480-483.

 2010: "New Jewellery Evidence from the Antikythera Shipwreck: A Stylistic and Chronological Analysis", Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique (BCH) 134,1, 177-194. 
BCH_2010_134_1-New Jewellery Evidence/Antikythera Shipwreckhttps://www.academia.edu.



2004: "Jewellery Evidence and the Lowering of South Italian Ceramic Chronology", Ancient West & East, 3, 2, 283-313. Ancient West & East_Jewellery Evidence South Italy_Google




1999: "New Evidence for Dating a Group of Ptolemaic Earrings", Études et Travaux / Centre d'archéologie méditerranéenne de l'Académie polonaise des sciences, Varsovie, 61-86. Academia.edu                                                                  








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                          Catalogue, Journal & News Articles           
    
2023: The Museum, NMA, April 23, Issue 21, "The power of priestesses in the ancient world", 56-61.
                                                                                                      March 2017: "Hellenistic Gold Jewellery in the Benaki Museum Collections: A Vignette", in The Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens Bulletin, Vol. 13, 21-25.
Academia.edu/Jackson_AAIA_Benaki_Bulletin_2017.pdf

            
Sheet gold and pearl diadem from Pompeii, Villa Imperiale 

July 2016: "Roman Jewellery: Status, Beauty, Luxury", Lecture synopsis in Nova, The Journal of the Friends of Antiquity, The University of Brisbane, 3-5. In conjunction with the exhibition in the R D Milns Antiquities Museum: "Useless Beauty: Luxury and Rome"(10 June 2016 - ca. February 2017).
 Nova: Journal of the Friends of Antiquity


October 2014: "Hellenistic Jewellery in the Benaki Museum", Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens (AAIA) Newsletter: No 7, p. 3. AAIA Newsletter 2014




 


2010: "A pair of Nike Earrings in the Nicholson Museum", in Beauty and Betrayal: Ancient and Neo-Classical Jewellery, The Nicholson MuseumThe University of Sydney, 71-74. In conjunction with the jewellery exhibition (30 June - 26 November 2010) The Nicholson Museum, The University of Sydney.


                                                                                                                                                                         
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Encyclopedia Entries

2012: "Gold". In R. Bagnall, K. Brodersen, C. Champion, A. Erskine, S. Huebner (eds.), The Encyclopedia of Ancient History (Blackwell, Oxford). Published Online 26 October 2012.
Wiley-Online Library_Encyclopedia of Ancient History


: "Snapshot: Hellenistic Jewelry". In Djurdja Bartlett (ed.) The Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion. East Europe, Russia and the Caucasus, Vol. 9, Part 5: Southeast Europe,  Berg Fashion Library, Oxford International Series (Westford MA) 446-447.

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Conference Proceedings

2013: "From Vani to Varna: Late Classical Jewellery Reconsidered". In G. Tsetskhladze, S. Atasoy,  A. Avram, Ş. Dönmez (eds.), The Bosporus: Gateway Between the Ancient West and East (1st Millennium BC-5th Century AD) Fourth International Congress on Black Sea Antiquities, Istanbul 14-18 September 2009. (BAR) International Series 2517 (Archaeopress, Oxford) 151-157, figs. 1-11. Academia.edu - "From Vani to Varna"_BAR Oxford_ 2013;  Bryn Mawr Classical Review;            4th-International Congress on Black Sea Antiquities_Istanbul_14-18-September-2009


2012: "The Amisos Treasure: A Hellenistic Tomb from the Age of Mithradates Eupator". In G. Tsetskhladze (ed.) E. Lafti, J. Hargrave, W. Anderson (assist. eds.). In The Black Sea, Paphlagonia, Pontus and Phrygia in Antiquity. (BAR) International Series 2432 (Archaeopress, Oxford) 109-116, figs. 1-11. 
Academia.edu_"The Amisos Treasure"_BAR_ Oxford_ 2012

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                                          Conference Papers

2010: “The Christian Element in Anglo-Saxon Hoards”, International Conference of Archaeology, Reflections of Faith: Christian Architecture and the Arts 4th-5th Centuries AD, Archaeological Museum Varna, Bulgaria. 

2007: "In the Shadow of the Tombaroli: Archaeology and Cultural Heritage in the 21st Century", International Conference organised jointly by the Faculty of Law, the University of Pecs and the Institute of Art and Law, Portable Antiquities and Archaeological Looting in the Modern European Context: Law, Ethics, Policy and Practice, University of Pecs, Hungary 11-13 July, 2007.


2006: "The Stylistic Influences of Coins on Jewellery from the Eastern Mediterranean to Bactria", as a participant on the numismatic panel: 'Numismatics of the Orient: Current Research Issues' at the Fiftieth Anniversary Conference: World Without Walls: East and West: 21st Century Perspectives, The Oriental Society of Australia (OSA), The University of Sydney, 3-7 December, 2006.


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Book/Thesis Reviews & Book Proposal Reviews


2022: A. Herman, The Parthenon Marbles Dispute: Heritage, Law, Politics, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc London. (Published 2023, Hart Publishing IBSN PB: 978-1-50996-717-9).

2020: J.A. Verduci, Metal Jewellery of the Southern Levant and its Western Neighbours: Cross-Cultural Influences in the Early Iron Age Eastern Mediterranean, Ancient Near Eastern Studies Suppl. 53, Peeters, Leuven/Paris/ Bristol, CT 2018, xviii+435pp., illustrations. Cased. ISBN 978-90-429-3536.5

2020: A. Polokoff, The Jewelry and Accessories from Subterranean Complex 169 at Maresha: A Comparative Approach to the Cultural Context, MA Thesis, University of Haifa, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Maritime Civilizations, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, June 2020.

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Other
Knidos bronze coin, Aphrodite at her bath, Cabinet des Medailles Paris

2010: Travel cruise article, "Aphrodite of Knidos & The Datça Peninsula". In Suleiman the Magnificent, Swan Hellenic 'Minerva' Cruise Book, 7-21 October 2010 (West Sussex, England) 50-51. https://sydney.academia.edu/MonicaMJackson

Politeianet.gr/books: Politeia Bookstore Athens Greece