Ancient Greek communities worshipped heroes as the direct source of their fertility and prosperity and as upholders of social justice. The literature of the ancient Greeks is the eventual outcome in stories of a hero's immortalization in song. In this class we study primarily Greek myths through close reading of ancient sources, considering the function they had in their own cultural contexts and in the western tradition. The students are exposed to texts in translation as well as a variety of other materials, including vase paintings. No previous knowledge of classical antiquity is assumed. The course is open to all majors, and a diversity of interests and perspectives is desirable.

As the course progresses, I construct on the web a collection of webpages for the students, including study aids, guidelines for writing assignments, relevant additional materials and links to other selected websites. Students are encouraged to conduct independent research using the Perseus Project, an interactive multimedia program with vast databases of texts, history, and other aspects of the ancient Greek culture, including a splendid collection of art and archaeology.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Classics 3307 will be given again in Fall of 2002.