by Emma Buckingham

Are you fascinated by the connections between art, archaeology, and birds? Mark your calendars for two upcoming presentations by Dr. Alicia Dissinger – an expert on ancient Cyprus, its remarkable artistic traditions, and the roles that birds played in them. Both talks are free and open to the public, and each offers a distinct glimpse into how people in antiquity perceived and represented the natural world.

Alicia Dissinger, Programs Administrator at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, will soon visit Columbia to deliver two free public talks exploring the significance of birds in the ancient Mediterranean world. With a PhD in Art & Architectural History from the University of Virginia, an MA in Art History from the University of Texas at Austin, and a BA in Archaeology from the College of Wooster, Dr. Dissinger has excavated in Cyprus, Greece, and Italy. Her research centers on Archaic Cyprus, focusing on the symbolic and cultural roles that animals – particularly birds – played in ancient societies.

On Thursday, April 17 at 5:30 PM (preceded by a 5:00 PM reception), Dr. Dissinger will speak on “Birds in Cypro-Archaic Art: Classifications, Comparanda, and Case Studies,” hosted by the Central Missouri Chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) at the Swallow Hall Auditorium (Swallow 101) on the University of Missouri campus. This talk examines how waterfowl, songbirds, and raptors appear in Cypriot pottery and sculpture, revealing their unexpected links to death, sacrifice, and rulership in daily life and religion. Why did these associations exist? And what can they tell us about how birds were viewed and venerated in the ancient world?

A second presentation, “Images of Birds in the Ancient Mediterranean World,” will take place on Friday, April 18 at 4:00 PM in Ellis Library Auditorium (Room 21). Co-sponsored by Columbia Audubon and the University of Missouri Museum of Art & Archaeology, this special April Membership Meeting invites audience members to compare modern birding observations with ancient depictions of avian life. Little details that modern-day birders might notice also appear in many instances of ancient art, helping us understand how people in antiquity thought about and experienced the natural world. As part of her research on bird iconography on ancient Cypriot pottery, Alicia Dissinger has used modern-day bird typologies, looking at aspects such as silhouettes and proportions, to help understand and identify images of birds in ancient art. Come and put your birding skills to the test and learn about avians in antiquity!

Following the Friday lecture, attendees can enjoy a reception and tour the Museum of Art & Archaeology’s antiquities galleries for an up-close look at artifacts featuring bird iconography. Both talks are free and open to the public.

Both of these presentations shed light on how people in the ancient Mediterranean world observed, honored, and mythologized birds in their art and culture. Whether you’re a birder, an archaeology enthusiast, or simply curious about the ancient world, you’ll leave with new insights into the creative and cultural significance of our feathered friends.

We look forward to seeing you at one – or both – of these exciting events! If you have any questions, please reach out to Emma Buckingham, Vice-President of Columbia Audubon and President of the Central Missouri Chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America, at buckinghame@missouri.edu