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Rel 320 A
Spring 2009 M-6
1:00-1:50PM MWF
Class Syllabus
This course introduces the student to the world and religious practices of
the ancient Greeks. Much of the material used in the course comes from the
ancient Greeks themselves: poets, playwrights, historians and mythographers.
Perspectives on the cosmos (universe), polis (city and its society), psyche
(self) and theos (gods) will be explored, in addition to rituals, narratives
and festivals which seemed fundamental to the construction of religious
identity. It is hoped that the student will encounter a very different set of
assumptions and values concerning religion in this course (considering we
will explore polytheistic religious systems that possess no scripture or
doctrine while advocating an astonishing number of rituals). We shall mix
literary and historical analysis with the most recent work in archeology to
paint as detailed a portrait as possible.
This course has been designed as a reading intensive engagement. A large
percentage of your final grade rests on responding to the readings through
the weekly discussion board question, essay questions and classroom
discussion. Please stay current on course readings and online participation.
Feel free to read in advance.
This course shall also introduce the student to the Persesus Project, an
impressive on-line detailed searchable library of texts, translations, art,
and archaeology of Ancient Greece and Rome.
[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu]
Much of the supplemental reading will be found through this resource, as will
be photographs of many of the archeological sites we shall explore.
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ANCIENT GREECE
C. 2000 TO 50 BC
c. 2000 1300 BCE: Minoan Civilization
2000 BCE: The Palace at Knossos
c. 2000 1100 BCE: Mycenean Era
2700-1100 BCE: Bronze Age on Crete and in the Aegean basin:
c. 1100 800 BCE: The Greek Dark Age
c. 1100 BCE: The Dorian invasion of Greece
c. 850 800 BCE: Homer
c. 800 BCE: Hesiod
c. 800 500 BCE: The Archaic Period
c. 776 BCE: The beginnings of the Olympic Games
c. 600 BCE: The beginnings of Greek Philosophy
c. 594 508 BCE: Development of Athenian Democracy
c. 500 300 BCE: The Hellenic Period
Classical Greek Culture
499 479 BCE: The Persian Wars
490 BCE: The Battle of Marathon
480 BCE: The Battle of Salamis
480 404 BCE: The highpoint of Athenian culture
431 404 BCE: The Peloponnesian War
404 336 BCE: After the Peloponnesian War
c. 300 50 BCE: The Hellenistic
Period
336 323 BCE: The Conquests of Alexander the Great
323: Ptolemy becomes ruler of Egypt (Ptolemaic Kingdom)
306: Seleucus founds the Seleucid Kingdom
279: Celtic invasion of Balkans and Asian Minor
276: Antigonus founds the Antigonid (Macedonia) Kingdom
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Required Reading
The Greek Myths (I) Graves, Robert
The Greek Myths (II) Graves, Robert
Theogony Hesiod
Greek Religion Burkert, J. and Raffin, J.
Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion Harrison, J.E.
The Iliad, Homer (Fagles, R. , translator)
The Odyssey, Homer (Fagles, R., translator)
Dance and Ritual Play in Greek Religion, Steven H. Lonsdale
Religion in the Ancient Greek City, Zaidman, L.B et al.
Euripides: The Complete Greek Tragedies (I), Euripides
Agamemnon, Aeschylus (free online)
Oresteia, Aeschylus (free online)
Oedipus the King, Sophocles (free online)
Electra, Sophocles (free online)
The Bacchae, Euripdides (free online)
The Homeric Hymns, Jules Cashford, ed.
Recommended Reading
Apuleius, The Golden Ass
Green, Ancient Greece: An Illustrated History
Guthrie, The Greek and Their Gods
Rice and Stambaugh, Sources for the Study of Greek Religion
Starr, The Ancient Greeks
Athanasakis, The Homeric Hymns
Bolton, Aristeas of Proconnesus
Chadwick, The Mycenaean World
Kallimachos, Hymn to Zeus
Parke, The Delphic Oracle
Sargent, The Homeric Hymns
Course Requirements
1. Each student will participate each week in the online bulletin board
discussion (via Google Groups) of the readings. You should have recieved an
email inviting you to join the group. Full credit requires two (2) postings
of significant length and depth. This means your
posting should demonstrate:
A) comprehension of reading assignments,
B) ability to identify and discuss the nuances of opinions in the field, and
C) ability to challenge the reasoning of classmates.
Responses such as "I really enjoyed the reading this week" or a
series of summation statements similar to a book review will receive ZERO
credit. WEEKLY POSTINGS WORTH 25 POINTS. POSTINGS START MONDAY, JANUARY 19.
13 WEEKS POSSIBLE. 325 POINTS POSSIBLE.
2. Each student shall respond to the weekly essay question provided at the
beginning of class on Monday. This essay shall be graded for content and
composition (please use the Writer's Cheat
Sheet. Each response should reflect course readings and discussions. You
may use all scholastic materials at your disposal in writing your response.
Papers due no later than the beginning of class on Friday. Use proper citation.
You may use either MLA or Chicago style. Do not mix styles nor create one of
your own. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. 12 ESSAYS REQUIRED. EACH ESSAY WORTH
50 POINTS. 600 POINTS POSSIBLE
4. Each student will take a mid term examination on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4.
Examination will consist of Fill-in-the-Blank, Identification of
Terms/Concepts and short answer essay. Test will cover readings and class
lectures/discussion. There will be no study guide provided; instead, take
copious notes and participate in class. 500 POINTS POSSIBLE.
3. Each student shall compose a 10-12 page research paper that documents a
specific area of interest in Ancient Greek Religion. Your research should
begin no later than January 28. This paper will be used as the basis for a 15
minute in-class presentation during the last week of class. 600 POINTS
POSSIBLE and awarded in stages (see chart below). All work due at the
beginning of class; late work will simply not be accepted.
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Material Due
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Date Due
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Percentage of
Project Grade
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Final
day for confirmation of Paper Topic by Professor. Submit this topic in
writing to professor.
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January
28
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15%/
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Complete
Bibliography
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March
4
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15%
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Complete
Sentence Outline of Paper
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March
13
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15%
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Rough
Draft of Paper
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April
1
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15%
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Final
Paper
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April
15
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20%
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15
Minute Oral Presentations
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April
15-29
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20%
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6. As a final examination, students in teams of 3-4 persons will design
(based on extensive research) and execute a ritual from Ancient Greek
Religion. Think props, costumes, settings, memorized scripts. This production
should be well researched, well planned and well rehearsed. This
final exam will be worth 200 points, maximum, and used to compensate for
points missed throughout the semester. Of course you should find Lonsdale
and other texts quite helpful.
ATTENDANCE POLICY NOTICE:
- Class attendance is an
obligation, not an option, for every student.
- After three
non-excused absences, the student's FINAL LETTER GRADE will be dropped
by ten points for each additional absence. For instance, if you made 100
A for the final grade, but missed five class periods, your final grade
would be 80. If you made an 80 for a final grade and missed four
classes, your final grade would be a 70-C.
- What constitutes an
excused absence?
- Death in immediate
family (will need to see obituary with your name listed in it or a copy
of a death certificate)
- Medical emergency (a
verifiable excuse written by your attending physician, with contact
information)
- Athletic Commitment
(if notified by a Centenary Coach in advance)
- Just tired? Hung
over? Tummy ache? Too bad. Life's rough.
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2025 SEMESTER POINTS
POSSIBLE
1823-2025 Points = A
1621-1822 Points = B
1419-1620 Points = C
1215-1418 Points = D
1214 or Below = F
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Revised Syllabus
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April
6
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Read
Harrison, Chapter 11. Be ready to discuss.
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April
8
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Religion in
the Ancient City (I)
Read Zaidman and Pantel, Parts I and II
[Finally, easier reading]
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April
10
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EASTER
RECESS
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April
13
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EASTER
RECESS
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April
15
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Term
Paper Presentations
FINAL PAPERS DUE
WEEK ELEVEN DISCUSSION QUESTION POSTED AND ESSAY QUESTION ASSIGNED
Presenters:
1)
Truc
2)
Ian
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April
17
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Term
Paper Presentations
3) Rachel
4)
Marissa
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April
20
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Term
Paper Presentations
5) John
6)
Michelle
Twelfth Week Discussion Question Posted and
Essay Question assigned
Week Eleven Essay due
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April
22
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Term
Paper Presentations
Presenters:
7)
Victoria
8)
Ashlee
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April
24
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Term
Paper Presentations
9) Allison
10)
Jude
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April
27
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Term
Paper Presentations
11) Allie
Religion in the Ancient City (II)
Read Zaidman and Pantel, Part III
Thirteenth Week Discussion Question Posted
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April
29
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The Death of
Greek Religion via the eyes of Pausanias
Book One
Book Two
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May
6
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FINAL
EXAM, STARTING AT 8:00AM
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