Intermediate Greek: Homer's Iliad

Catalog description

The Iliad of Homer holds a seminal place at the start of the Western literary canon. Transmitted orally for centuries before it was written down in the late 8th century BCE, the Iliad follows the events of the last year of the Trojan War, beginning with the quarrel between the Greek hero Achilles and King Agamemnon. This course serves as an introduction to Homeric Greek and to Homer's Iliad specifically. We will be reading selections from the Iliad in the original Greek to develop an understanding of the syntax, vocabulary, and dialect of Homeric Greek. We will also read parts of the Iliad in translation to get a sense of the setting, plot, and characters. Classics majors and minors must take course for letter grade. Classics majors and minors may repeat for credit with advance approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies.