Tests and Papers Mid- term Exam, Final Exam, Papers.

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1 Course Title: Age of Gods, Age of Heroes: Myth and Literature in Ancient Greece Course Code: MCAS CSLL 320 Subject: Classical Studies / Philosophy / Religion Credits: 4 Semester/Term: Semester J- Term Summer Course Description: Course Requirements: This course investigates the basic concepts of Greek religion and mythology, starting from the beliefs of Mycenaean civilization to the Late Hellenistic cultural traditions. Special focus is put on binomial divine/human in ancient Greek literature through the analysis of primary and secondary sources. With this course, students will be aware of the major features of the Greek spirituality and system of beliefs gained through the study of literary sources. Students will acquire knowledge of many of the myths and religious practices in ancient Greece by examining and analyzing evidence, both written (literature and epigraphy) and visual, from the Bronze Age through the Late Hellenistic period. They will also gain a greater understanding of how such material can aid in our reconstruction of ancient Greek history, religion, politics, and cultural beliefs and they will be engaged with a range of modern scholarly literature on the topic that represents a range of methodologies. Required Text 1. D. Ogden (ed.), A Companion to Greek Religion, Blackwell, Oxford ISBN: ; (PDF provided by the instructor). 2. R. D. Woodard (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Mythology, Cambridge University Press ISBN: ; (PDF provided by the instructor). Additional Readings Additional readings may be assigned by the instructor and made available in digital version. Tests and Papers Mid- term Exam, Final Exam, Papers. Arcadia University The College of Global Studies 1

2 Assignments Course Requirements Percentages 1. Paper 1 20% 2. Mid- term examination 20% 3. Paper 2 20% 4. Final examination 30% 5. Participation 10% Total 100% Assessment Components a) Mid- term and Final Exam will test students ability to analyze material and theories presented during the course. The tests are structured in four blocks of 5 questions each: first block deals with identification and interpretation of ancient visual sources having myths and religions scenes as subject; second block deals with comprehension and interpretation of short passages of prose and poetry; third block comprises a set of mutiple answers questions; fourth block comprises open essay questions. b) Two research papers covering key themes of the course are required. The paper 1 deals with the interpretation of a specific myth through the lens of thos author who wrote about it. Paper 2 has as object the role of myth and religion in the Greek theater. c) Students participation will be assessed based on the analytical quality of the comments and questions they contribute to the class, their engagement with reading assignments and lecture information and their willingness to share these with the group. Learning Outcomes and/or Expected Student Competencies: On completion of the course, students should be able to: Learning Outcomes 1. Describe and discuss thematically and chronologically with main interrogatives about nature of divinity and relationship between mortality and immortality and to related Course requirements that will be used to assess the student s achievement of this outcome Research Papers Arcadia University The College of Global Studies 2

3 answers that were proposed along centuries in the Greek literature. 2. Describe the rise of a mythological system in cultures of the Aegean Bronze Age to the primitive Mycenaean religion, from the 'Ages of God and the Ages of Heroes' of the Archaic literature to the binomial divine/human of the Classical theater and philosophy and to Hellenistic crisis of official religion, a complete survey of the ancient written and visual sources will be carried out, in order to define Greek religiosity. 3. Critically analyze distortions of the Greek religion in modern time and phenomena of abuse of ancient mythology in selected media. 4. Analyze Greek tragic and comic theater s masterpieces and of the Plato s dialogues and their role in religion, mythology and classical Greek theater. Exams and Research Papers Exams and Research papers Research Papers Course Outline: Session Topic Session 1 The roots of Greek religion: Mycenaean religion and rituals Readings: J.C. Wright, The Spatial Configuration of Belief: The Archaeology of Mycenaean Religion, in S. E. Alcock, R. Osborne (eds.), Placing the Gods: Sanctuaries and Sacred Space in Ancient Greece, Clarendon Press, 1994, S. Immerwahr, Death and the Tanagra Larnakes, in J.B. Carter S. P. Morris (eds.), The Ages of Homer, University of TexasPress, Austin 1998, pp Arcadia University The College of Global Studies 3

4 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4 Session 5 Session 6 Myth and religion between Homer and Hesiod Readings: G. Nagy, Homer and Greek Myth, in R.D. Mythology, Cambridge University Press 2007, pp The Homeric Hymns (selection). R. D. Woodward, Hesiod and Greek Myth, in R.D. Mythology, Cambridge University Press 2007, pp Hesiod, Theogony (selection). Assignment paper 1: a 2,000- word essay Archaic religion in lyric literature Readings: G. Nagy, Lyric and Greek Myth, in R.D. Mythology, Cambridge University Press 2007, pp Assignment paper 1: a 2,000 words essay Gods, Myth, religion and Greek art Readings: K. Dowden, Olympian Gods, Olympian Pantheon, in D. Ogden (ed.), A Companion to Greek Religion, Blackwell, Oxford 2007, pp S. Price, Religions of the ancient Greeks, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1999 (chapter 2). T.H. Carpenter, Greek Religion and Art, in D. Ogden(ed.), A Companion to Greek Religion, Blackwell, Oxford 2007,pp J. Neils, Myth and Greek Art: Creating a Visual Language, in R.D. Mythology, Cambridge University Press 2007, pp A place for praying: Sanctuaries Readings: B. Dignas, A Day in the Life of a Greek Sanctuary, in D. Ogden (ed.), A Companion to Greek Religion, Blackwell, Oxford 2007, pp On- site class: Syracuse Syracuse was one the richest and most famous Greek cities of the Ancient Mediterranean. In Classical times it reached its cultural climax also thanks to the presence, in this period, of some of the most famous poets and Arcadia University The College of Global Studies 4

5 Session 7 Session 8 Session 9 Session 10 thinkers, as Aeschylus and Plato. The temples of Ortigia and the monuments of the archaeological park of the Neapolis were the setting for important cultural achievements and above all the Greek theater represented the core building for the critical analysis of the religious concepts and the dissemination of those messages to common people. Paper 1 due MIDTERM EXAMS Paper 1 due Cult of heroes and cult of dead Readings: G. Ekroth, Heroes and Hero- Cults, in D. Ogden (ed.),a Companion to Greek Religion, Blackwell, Oxford 2007, pp D. Felton, The Dead, in D. Ogden (ed.), A Companionto Greek Religion, Blackwell, Oxford 2007, pp Assignment paper 1: a 1,500- word essay Rituals, sacrifices and mysteries Readings: S. Price, Religions of the ancient Greeks, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1999 (chapter 2). K. Clinton, The Mysteries of Demeter and Kore, in D. Ogden (ed.), A Companion to Greek Religion, Blackwell, Oxford2007, pp M. W. Dickie, Magic in Classical and Hellenistic Greece, in D. Ogden (ed.), A Companion to Greek Religion, Blackwell, Oxford2007, pp Myth and Greek Tragedy: Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides Readings: P. Burian, Myth into muthos: the shaping of a tragic plot, in P. E. Easterling (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Tragedy, Cambridge University 1997, pp R. Buxton, Tragedy and Greek Myth, in R.D. Mythology, Cambridge University Press 2007, pp Arcadia University The College of Global Studies 5

6 Session 11 Session 12 Session 13 Session 14 Session 15 Myth and Greek Comedy: Aristophanes Readings: A. Bowie, Myth in Aristophanes, in R.D. Mythology, Cambridge University Press 2007, pp Plato: Religion and Philosophy Readings: D. Clay, Plato Philomythos, in R.D. Woodard, The Cambridge Companion to Greek Mythology, Cambridge University Press 2007, pp Myth and religion in Greek novel and Hellenistic mythography Readings: C. Higbie, Hellenistic Mythographers, in R.D. Mythology, Cambridge University Press 2007, pp F. Zeitlin, Religion, in T. Whitmarsh (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Greek and Roman novel, Cambridge University Press 2008, pp From Homer to Hollywood: media distortion of Greek mythology Readings: M. M. Winkler, Greek Myth on the Screen, in R.D. Mythology, Cambridge University Press 2007, pp Movie: Troy (2004). Paper 2 due FINAL EXAMS Field Study Other Policies: Expectations Professional behavior is expected of all students. This includes preparation for classes, on- time attendance at classes, attendance at all group sessions and appropriate participation in the form of attentiveness and contributions to the course. Respect for the academic process is the major guiding principle for professional behavior and extends to all communications, including e- mail. Arcadia University The College of Global Studies 6

7 Attendance/Participation Prompt attendance, full preparation, and active participation in class discussions are expected from every student in every class session. Course Policies For e- mail communications, students must use their Arcadia University e- mail account. Students are responsible for any information provided by e- mail or through Intranet postings. Plagiarism Representation of another s work or ideas as one s own in academic submissions is plagiarism, and is cause for disciplinary action. Cheating is actual or attempted use of resources not authorized by the instructor(s) for academic submissions. Students caught cheating in this course will receive a failing grade. Fabrication is the falsification or creation of data, research or resources to support academic submissions, and cause for disciplinary action. Late or Missed Assignments Will not be accepted for grading. Prerequisites: Country and Program Connection: Students with Disabilities Persons with documented disabilities requiring accommodations to meet the expectations of this course should disclose this information while enrolling into the program, and before leaving the United States so that appropriate arrangements can be made. None. The course provides students with a survey of ancient Greek myth and religion. Using ancient visualand written evidence, and their interpretation in modern scholarship, this course considers the functionand uses of myth; its relationship to religion, daily life, history, and cultural norms; religious ritual andfunction; the particularity of myth to a given locale; and the interpretation of myth and itsmethodologies. The city of Syracuse is fundamental for thestudy of the Greek Sicily and the resources available here give students the opportunity to examinedirectly monumental evidences of religious activity and the natural setting of several myths. Arcadia University The College of Global Studies 7