Lasting Impressions

Humble monks to emperors used seals to “lock” and authenticate documents and present their identity to the Byzantine Empire. Students will engage in close looking using a Harvard Project Zero thinking routine and use their observations to analyze what seals communicate about an individual’s identity. Then, students can design their own seal. Teachers can use the educator guide to facilitate this program for remote or in-classroom learning. A synchronous program is also offered by Dumbarton Oaks facilitators.

Content Areas: Arts (Dance/ Drama/ Music/ Visual Arts), Social Studies

Discipline: Humanities and Literary Arts, Visual and Media Arts, Theatre/ Drama

Resource Type: Online or Printable Lesson Plan/ Study Guide, Other Interactive Distance Learning Activity/ Online or Printable Resource

Learning Standards: Students will explore identity and self-representation through seals from the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire. This resource is aligned with the 9-12th This Is Us unit of the DCPS Arts Framework. DCPS Social Studies 7.9.

Grades: 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Length: 60 minutes

Seal of Katakalon Kekamenos - 3D model by Direct Dimensions (@dirdim) [7fd5c1e]Seal of Katakalon Kekamenos - 3D model by Direct Dimensions (@dirdim) [7fd5c1e]

Student Guide