Classical Mythology

4.0 credits

Introduction to the mythology of the classical world. We will examine the major myths about the gods, the origins and nature of the universe, and the heroic past, as they developed in the Greek world and as they were adapted in the Roman world. We will consider the nature and function of myth in society, some theoretical approaches to myth, and the way in which myths were adapted by Greek and Roman authors to fit a particular literary or historical context. This course will also devote time to comparing the classical system of myths to other mythological systems.