107-104 Ancient Greece: Myth, Art and Text

This course will introduce students to ancient Greece, its mythology and its culture. Through a study of ancient Greek literary texts, art, and society, students will explore the mythic origins, heroic archetypes, gods and goddesses, monuments and societies of the ancient Greeks. The focus of the course will be on the period from Homer until the apex of classical Greek civilisation in the fifth century BC. The subject will cover topics such as the Homeric poems, Greek religion, the rise of the Greek city-state, the origins of ancient theatre, and the relationship between the Greeks and surrounding civilisations (such as the Persians and Egyptians). The course will also consider the formative influence of ancient Greece on modern Western culture.

• be skilled in critical thinking;

• possess effective written communication skills;

• have an understanding of social, ethical and cultural context.

An essay of 2000 words 50% (due during semester) and a 2-hour examination 50% (due during the examination period).

A subject reader will be available.

• Homer, Lattimore (trans), The Odyssey. Harper Perennial.