Kottabos VR – Lesson 1 (Reading Assignment)

Lesson overview:

Students will read a passage from Athenaeus, The Deipnosophists about the game of Kottabos. They will then examine an ancient artwork. After discussing the passage and artwork, students will play Kottabos VR to see the artwork and game in an interactive ancient context. Students will write and discuss how their understanding of the game and artwork has changed.

Learning objectives:

• Learn about ancient gaming.
• Learning about the social context of ancient art.
• Use technology to learn about how ancient people and art interacted.

Materials:

• Passage of Athenaeus, The Deipnosophists6 (pdf or link: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+15.6&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0003).
• Images of the artwork (pdf).
• Handout to write answers (pdf).
• Kottabos VR from Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2626890/Kottabos_VR/).

Lesson Steps:

1. Have your class read a passage (15.6) from Athenaeus, The Deipnosophists.
   • Handout: Have each student answer a question (2-3 sentences) on what they think the passage means.
   • In a group: Discuss what they think the passage means.
   • Discussion Points:
     • What is cottabus/Kottabos as described in this passage?
     • Athenaeus (3^rd CE) is quoting many older sources describing cottabus/Kottabos. Does it sound like it is always played the same way or used the same way?

2. Look at an artwork, the symposium scene kylix (ancient cup) by the Malibu Painter*.
   • Handout: Have each student answer a question (2-3 sentences) on what they thought the artwork was used for before doing this assignment today.
   • In a group: Discuss what they thought the artwork was used for before today.
   • Discussion Points:
     • Where have they seen this type of artwork before? (Museums, classrooms?)
     • Does it look breakable or like something that can be handled easily?
     • What types of images are depicted on it? What do you think the purpose of those images was?

3. Play the game Kottabos VR. Have the students watch in a group as each student plays and cheer for each other!
   • Handout: Have each student answer a question (2-3 sentences) on how their understanding of the game of Kottabos and their understanding of the artwork have changed today.
   • In a group: Discuss the context of the artwork in the 3D world as opposed to the museum.
   • Discussion points:
     • How has their understanding of the game of Kottabos and this type of artwork changed since doing this assignment and playing the game today?
     • What are artworks in our daily lives that function similarly now to how this work functioned for ancient Greek people?
     • How does the museum context change how you think about this artwork than how you think about it in a dining space?

Lesson Assessment:

Assess this assigned based on the following.

• Group participation in discussions.
• Individual participation in playing the game.
• Written answers to the three discussion questions (handout).

* 3D model created by Allard Pierson and the 4Dresearchlab (CC-BY). https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/drinkschaal-kylixsianaschaal-symposium-scene-19f91ca0e7944e3ebd22ecd8d9c9c4b6