Classical Mythology

Catalog description

This course offers a survey of the major myths of Classical Greece and Rome known to us from ancient texts and art (both ancient and modern) with an examination of their interpretation, influence, and reception. We will see how myths functioned to reflect and reinforce (but also to challenge) the values, fears and desires of the Greeks and Romans on variety of topics including the creation of the universe and the structure of the cosmos, relations between gods and mortals, religion and divination, justice, society, family, sex, love, violence, madness, and death. We will discuss ways of understanding the compelling psychological, cultural, social, and political impact of mythic narratives, particularly how mythic narratives have engaged with and often reinforced social structures of power and how their impact is still felt today. Counts as a CAS Global & Cultural Diversity course. Counts as a Human Diversity & Commonality course. Counts as a Understanding Global Perspectives course.