Dreaming in the Ancient World

Dreaming has always been part of our everyday experience. But did the Greeks and Romans dream any differently than we do? How and why did they extract meaning from their nightmares and daydreams? In this course, we will explore the cultural history of dreams and dream interpretation, a curious practice that stands at a fascinating intersection in the history of ideas between psychology, religion, and medicine. Readings (all in translation) include Homer, Herodotus, Plato, Egyptian magical papyri, Babylonian dream diaries, Cicero, Freud, and more. No previous knowledge of the Ancient World required.