Greek and Roman Myths

4 credits · Undergraduate

The myths of the ancient Greeks and Romans are a gateway to their cultures, societies, and understanding of the world. The origin of the cosmos and of us humans; the nature of the gods; beliefs and fears about eros and sex, marriage and family, birth and death; the use of myth for political ends; good, evil, suffering: These will be explored in ancient literature (in English translation) and visual representations in sculpture, painting, and architecture. We will study some theories of myth that have arisen since the 19th century along with post-ancient reworkings of myth in literature, film and other media.