Classics Course Descriptions

An introductory survey of the major literary developments and the most influential texts of ancient Greece and Rome, with attention to their cultural context.

An introduction to Greek and Roman myths and the variety of approaches available for their study.

An introduction to the archaeological evidence of ancient Greek culture.

An introduction to the urban life and city planning of the ancient world, including the ancient Near East, Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

A general survey of ancient Greek literature and culture. Study of the major texts of ancient Greece in their social, historical and archaeological context.

A survey of ancient Rome, from its origins in legend and myth to late antiquity, as seen through its principal literary texts in their historical, social, and cultural context.

An introduction to the plays of Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus and Terence. Topics include the nature of humor and jokes, parody, and comedy's role in ancient societies.

A survey of ancient drama, focusing on selected plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes.

Introduction to the religions of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds: ritual types, forms of evidence, and methods of investigation, from the Bronze Age to the early Christian era.

A study of ancient fiction and romance and their influence on later Western literature.

Study of one or more important ancient genre "epic, lyric, oratory and rhetoric, dialogue, or history" and its influence on later literature. Course may be repeated for credit as topic varies.

(Same as Art History 220.) The material culture of the Greek Bronze Age architecture. ceramic, glyptic, sculpture, and metalwork; an investigation of the human activities surrounding these artifacts, the cultural systems in which they operated, the conditions and methods of production use and exchange.

(Same as Art History 221.) An investigation of ancient Greek art and architecture from its Dark Age beginnings through the legacy of Alexander the Great, concentrating on the creation of the monumental stone sculpture and ordered buildings, the visual interpretation of Greek mythology in painting and relief sculpture, the interaction of art and politics, of architecture and ritual, the dissemination of Greek art across the Mediterranean, and the history of archeological discovery.

(Same as Art History 222.) The Roman genius for cultural assimilation and innovative techniques transformed the art of the ancient Mediterranean. This course investigates major achievements in sculpture, painting, and architecture and their resonances with Roman politics, society, and religion.

Literature, art, and culture from Homer¿s time to the early Presocratics. Includes examination of archaic conceptions of death, cosmos, community, beauty, justice, and intelligence as reflected in the art, literature, and philosophy of the period.

Greek literature, art, and culture in the time of Pericles and Socrates. The development of tragedy and comedy, participatory democracy, oratory, history and philosophy, painting, architecture, and sculpture in fifth-century Athens.

A study of Golden Age literature, art, and culture during the reign of Rome's first emperor.

A study of Silver Age literature, art, and culture during the reign of Nero.

A comparative investigation of the relationship between science in the ancient world and the practice of science today.

Credit, one to four hours.

A comparative study of Greek and Roman law systems.

The roles and images of women in Greece and Rome as presented in literary, artistic, and documentary sources.

The Greco-Roman tradition in English literature as seen in the development of one or more genres.

Development of an integrated understanding of social, cultural, and religious interaction during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

A study of the archeological, artistic, literary, and historical evidence for the ancient symposium (or drinking party) and its impact on ancient society.

Archaeological, literary, and anthropological evidence for ritual behavior in the ancient Greek world, Neolithic to Hellenistic periods. Topics include funerary rituals, rites of passage, civic festivals, mystery cults, and magic.

Reading of Vergil's Aeneid and Dante's Divine Comedy in English translation.

Topic changes to meet current interest of students and faculty. Course may be repeated for credit as topic varies.

(Same as Anthropology 368.) Examination of the history of cooperative efforts between classics and anthropology, and focuses on ongoing efforts in studies of ritual and religion, kinship studies, and archaeological theory.

May be repeated as topic varies.

Credit, two to four hours.

Credit, one to four hours. Advanced supervised study in the reading of classical literature and other aspects of classical culture.