Classics

138s    Heroes of the World    The Greeks, the Romans, the Irish: peoples around the globe have produced their own unique heroes appropriate to the needs and desires of their particular cultures. Nevertheless, these heroes share a variety of traits and experiences. The similarities and differences of the heroes of Ireland, Greece, Rome, and other cultures; why we crave heroes and how that craving has shaped us all. Three or four credit hours.  L, I.    O'NEILL

141j    Killing Agamemnon: How Archaeology Put an End to Homer's Bronze Age    When Heinrich Schliemann began his quest to prove the veracity of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, little did he know that his pursuits would end in failure. By the mid-20th century, scientific and methodological advancements had ripped the Bronze Age from its Homeric context. Now, sites like Knossos and Mycenae are seen as centers of their own powerful, strange, and mysterious civilizations rather than just the palaces of warrior-kings. Three credit hours.  H.    KVAPIL

145j    Between Revolution and Tradition: Julius Caesar and Augustus    How Julius Caesar and Augustus both contributed to the crisis of the Roman republic and tried to resolve it. Topics include conflicts between republican traditions and a monarchical regime, Caesar's dictatorship, his image, the Ides of March, Augustus's attainment of sole power, his relationship with senators, commoners and slaves, the Roman games, and society and literature in the Augustan age. Two credit hours.    J. ROISMAN

151s    Anatomy of Bioscientific Terminology    The Greek and Latin word elements that combine to form most of the specialized terms in biological sciences. The student who learns the meanings of these elements and the rules of word formation will usually recognize the basic meaning of any unfamiliar word in this field. Attention also to misformation, common errors, and words still in use that reflect scientific theories since rejected. Two credit hours.    H. ROISMAN

[171]    Liar, Liar! Homer's Odysseus    Through tall tales and bold-faced lies, Odysseus reinvents himself to suit every audience and situation. His adaptability and elastic sense of the truth are the keys to his success and survival. How could a liar like Odysseus become one of the best-known and most admired heroes of the ancient world? Why did the Odyssey become an integral part of ancient literature education? Readings include translations of the Odyssey, part of the Iliad, and secondary literature on Homeric poetry. Three credit hours.  L.    

231f    Hero's Rage in the Iliad    War gives heroes a space to prove their worth. Was war idealized or perceived as a positive experience in the ancients' minds? And what roles were open to women in the Iliad? Three credit hours.  L, I.    H. ROISMAN

[234]    In Search of a Strong Man: Greece in the Fourth Century    The fourth century B.C.E. was a transition period for the Greeks. They were forced to reassess basic values relevant to their political systems, their ways of life, and their relationship with non-Greeks. They re-examined the role of great individuals in a community that looked at such men with suspicion. The challenges faced by the city-state, the search for a powerful individual as a solution for social and political problems, the phenomenon of mercenaries, and the accomplishments of the kings of Macedonia, Philip II, and Alexander the Great. Open to first-year students. Three credit hours.  H, I.    

[236]    Roman Legends and Literature    Through reading the works of selected Roman authors in translation, an examination of major concepts in mythology: cosmogony, the hero, the interplay of legend and history, etc. Open to first-year students. Four credit hours.  L.    

[238]    Aeschylus: Beginnings of Greek Tragedy     Examines the origins of Greek drama and discusses Aeschylus as traditionalist, innovator, and father of Western dramatic theater. Reading the seven extant tragedies of Aeschylus with special emphasis on moral and political dilemmas as portrayed in the Oresteia as well as Prometheus Bound. Three credit hours.  L.    

[242]    Tragedies of Passion: Euripides     Euripides's tragedies show the effects of passion and reason on human actions. His characters are not only ambiguous about their choices but often act contrary to their professed intentions. Reading from a selection of plays, such as Medea, Hippolytus, Bacchae, Alcestis, Helen, Trojan Women, Hecuba, and Electra, as well as secondary literature on Greek tragedy. Three credit hours.  L, I.    

[244]    Myth and Archaeology     Is myth fiction or does it have some basis in fact? Since the 19th century, there have been numerous claims that archaeological evidence has been discovered to prove the veracity of myths from the Trojan War to episodes in the Bible. An exploration of the often explosive and controversial intersection between myth and archaeology. Four credit hours.  L.    

356f    Alexander the Great    Alexander in Europe and Asia: his relations with Greeks and non-Greeks, his military conquests, his divinity, and the creation of the Hellenistic states. Enrollment limited. Four credit hours.  H.    J. ROISMAN

398s    The Good, the Bad, and the Mad: Early Imperial Rome     Explores the political and social history of Rome under the Julio-Claudians, from Augustus to Nero. These emperors ranged from the good to the bad to the stark, raving mad. Focuses on the relationships among emperor, the Roman elite, and people, the provinces, and other related topics. Four credit hours.    J. ROISMAN

491f, 492s    Independent Study    Individual projects in areas where the student has demonstrated the interest and competence necessary for independent work. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. One to four credit hours.    FACULTY