Classics
Office: 124 Sanders Classroom, Website:
http://vassun.vassar.edu/~classics/,
Phone: (845)437-5590, e-mail: classics@vassar.edu
Professors: Robert D. Browna, M. Rachel
Kitzinger (Chair), Robert L. Pounder (Assistant to the
President); Assistant Professor: J. Bertrand Lott;
Adjunct Associate Professor: Elizabeth W.
Scharffenberger; Blegen Research Fellow: Geoffrey S.
Sumi (Mount Holyoke College).
Students may concentrate in Greek or Latin or elect a
correlate sequence in Greek, Latin, or Classical
Studies.
Requirement for Concentration in Greek: 10 units,
to include Classics 216 and 217, Greek 297.01
(1/2 unit), 297.02
(1/2 unit), and 300, and at least 2
other units of Greek at the 300 level.
Requirement for Concentration in Latin: 10 units,
to include Classics 218 and 219, Latin 297.01
(1/2 unit), 297.02
(1/2 unit), and 300, and at least 2
other units of Latin at the 300 level.
Senior Year Requirement: Greek 300 or Latin 300,
depending on the language of concentration.
Correlate Sequences in Greek, Latin, or Classical
Studies:
Requirements for Correlate Sequences in Greek or
Latin: 6 units, to include 5 units of either Greek or
Latin, of which at least one must be at the 300 level; 1
unit chosen from the Vassar curriculum in consultation with
a departmental adviser; in addition to courses offered by
the Department of Classics, possible choices include Art
210, 211, 310, Drama 221, Philosophy 101, and 305 (if
relevant).
Requirements for Correlate Sequence in Classical
Studies: 6 units, to include one year of either Greek or
Latin; any one of Classics 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105;
any two of Classics 216, 217, 218, 219; and either Classics
300 or 310 or an approved 300-level course in another
department, such as Philosophy 305 (if relevant).
Those interested in completing a correlate sequence
should consult as soon as possible with a member of the
department to plan their course of studies.
Any course offered by the Department of Classics may be
elected (by non-majors only) under the NRO. Courses elected
under the NRO before the declaration of the major will be
counted toward the major.
Recommendations: For graduate study, command of
both classical languages is essential; a reading knowledge
of French and German is also desirable.
Advisers: The department.
A. Courses in Classical Civilization
I. Introductory
100a or b. The Blegen Lecture Course (1)
The course is offered by the Blegen Distinguished
Visiting Research Professor or the Blegen Research Fellow in
Classics, appointed annually to pursue research and lecture
on his/her scholarly concerns in classical antiquity. We
encourage students to take note of the fact that each Blegen
Lecture Course is uniquely offered and will not be repeated.
Since the topic changes every year, the course may be taken
for credit more than once. Offered in 2000/01 is 100a.
100a. The Blegen Lecture Course: "Sport, Society, and
Politics (1)
in the Roman World
This course examines the complex phenomenon of public
entertainment in Roman society against a backdrop of social
and political history. We begin with a discussion of
political and social institutions in Rome, including the
Roman family, the roles of men and women in roman society,
slavery and manumission, and life in the city. The core
component of the course is a discussion of spectacles in
Roman society, not only as entertainment but also as a form
of social control and a forum for the dissemination of
propaganda and political symbols. Among the spectacles we
consider are the gladiatorial combats and wild beast shows
that took place in the Colosseum and the chariot races of
the Circus Maximus. In connection with these we study the
evidence for the careers of individual entertainers
(gladiators, charioteers, and actors), who, though they were
mostly slaves or otherwise déclassé
(e.g. literary texts, inscriptions, and papyri) as well as
works of modern scholarship. Mr. Sumi.
Open to all classes.
[101a. Civilization in Question] (1)
(Same as College Course 101)
Not offered in 2000/01.
102a. Tragedy and the Athenian Polis (1)
This course studies a number of plays by Aeschylus,
Sophocles, and Euripides to understand tragedy both as a
dramatic genre and as a critique of the social, religious,
political, and familial structures of Athens in the fifth
century BCE. All materials are in English translation. Ms.
Scharffenberger.
Open to all classes.
103b. The Culture of War (1)
Warfare fills the historical annals and literature of
Greece and Rome. To understand the ways in which wars were
fought, experienced, and imaginatively represented in the
ancient world, and to gain a perspective on the universal
realities of war throughout western history, this course
studies three ancient and one modern war. We begin with the
mythical Trojan War, as depicted in Homer's Iliad,
the Trojan Women of Euripides, and Vergil's
Aeneid. Next we turn to two historical wars: the
Persian Wars of 480-79 BCE, as described by Herodotus, and
the Gallic Wars of 59-50 BCE, as recounted by Julius Caesar.
The course ends with a brief examination of the First World
War (1914-18). From the "heroic" warfare of the Trojan War
we thus progress to the hoplite warfare of classical Greece,
the legionary warfare of Rome, and the mass destruction of
war in the twentieth century. Our aim throughout is to study
war as a pervasive cultural phenomenon affecting men and
women, combatants and non-combatants alikenot just as a set
of military facts. Mr. Brown
Open to all classes.
104b. Male and Female in Greek and Roman Literature
and Myth (1)
This course explores the way male and female roles are
defined and viewed in ancient literature in both the private
sphere of the family and in the public sphere. In addition
to discussing literary texts where gender roles are central
to the content, we put the definitions and points of view
expressed in these texts next to the evidence for the actual
conditions of daily life, as far as they can be
reconstructed, and next to the constructions of gender which
emerge in myths about divine figures. Literary texts we read
may include the Odyssey, the Oresteia, poems
of Sappho, Sophocles' Women of Trachis, Euripides'
Hippolytus, Aristophanes' Lysistrata and
Women of the Assembly, Plato's Symposium,
poems of Catullus, Propertius, and Tibullus, plays of
Plautus and Terence, Ovid's Art of Love and love
poems, and Apuleius' Golden Ass. In addition, we look
at speeches from law courts and archaeological remains as
evidence for daily life and the Homeric Hymns and Ovid's
Metamorphoses for the comparative evidence of divine
models. Ms. Kitzinger.
Open to all classes.
[l05b. The Rome of Caesar Augustus: Politics, Art,
and the (1)
Creation of the Empire]
The rise and reign of the first Roman Emperor, Caesar
Augustus (43 BCE-14CE), was an age of complex
contradictions, nuanced evolutions, and ongoing
experimentation. It stood between Republic and Empire, when
"liberty" became dynastic monarchy. It was marked by
domestic harmony, economic growth, and government sponsored
cultural excellence in the arts; it was also a time of
imperial conquests, book burnings, and the brutal repression
of political opponents, including Augustus's own daughter
and granddaughter. This class approaches the Rome of
Augustus from several directions, considering history,
literature, art architecture, religion, the economy, and
politics. We read Augustus's autobiographical epitaph; the
works of Virgil, Horace, and Ovid; and the historical and
biographical treatments of Velleius, Tacitus, and Suetonius.
More humble inscriptions left to us by the urban populace
are also an important source for the period. Finally we
evaluate the claim that Augustus "found Rome a city of brick
and left it a city of marble" by considering his major
building projects and the programmatic reshaping of Rome
into a capital city for the Emperor and the Empire. Mr.
Lott.
Not offered in 2000/01.
106b. Crosscurrents: History and Culture of the
Ancient Mediterranean (1)
The axiom of Ancient History that navigable water enables
communication is nowhere so true as with the Mediterranean
Sea, around which there grew up in antiquity the cultures
of, e.g., Egypt, Greece, Rome, Asia Minor, Syria, and North
Africa. This course provides an introduction to the ancient
Mediterranean from the earliest cultures of Mesopotamia and
Egypt (c. 3000 BCE) to the beginnings of the Christian
Middle Ages. Topics such as trade, migration, immigration,
conquest, and imperialism are used to illustrate both
historical developments and complex cultural interactions.
Through primary and secondary readings, students are asked
to consider questions like: How do cultures 'interact'? What
does it mean for one culture to 'borrow' from another? What
'belongs' to a culture? How do cultures conceive of their
debts to, and interactions with, other cultures? Mr.
Lott.
Open to all classes.
183b. Ancient Mythologies (1)
(Same as Jewish Studies 183) In searching for the roots
of western culture, we must turn back both to Homer and the
Bible, Athens and Jerusalem, Greece and Israel. In this
course we devote ourselves to a comparative look at the
mythologies of the ancient Greeks and the ancient Israelites
with a view toward understanding both the convergences and
divergences of these two foundational traditions. Among the
topics we consider are: creation myths, family dynamics, the
hero's journey and the idea of homeland. Readings are drawn
primarily from the poems of Homer and Hesiod, the Library
of Apollodorus, Greek tragedy, and the Books of
Genesis, Exodus, and Judges.
Open to freshmen only.
II. Intermediate
210b. Greek Art and Architecture (1)
211a. Roman Art and Architecture (1)
[216a. The Formation of Greek Culture: Greece from
the Bronze Age (1)
through the Persian Wars]
(Same as History 216) A survey of Greek history from the
Bronze Age to the end of the Persian Wars is combined with
intensive study of selected problems and texts, especially
Herodotus' Histories. Topics include: Greek
interaction with its Mediterranean neighbors in the Bronze
Age and Orientalizing Period; the institutions of early
Sparta; Hoplite warfare; tyranny and the beginnings of
democracy; Herodotus' Hellenism defined in relation to Egypt
and Persia; Delphi; Olympia; and sixth-century Athens. Mr.
Lott.
Prerequisite: 1 unit in Classics, Greek, or Latin, or 1
unit in history.
Not offered in 2000/01.
217a. Democracy and Imperialism: Athenian Democracy,
(1)
The Peloponnesian Wars, and the Aftermath
(Same as History 217) A survey of Greek history from the
end of the Persian Wars to the rise of Macedon is combined
with intensive study of selected problems and texts,
especially Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian Wars.
Topics include: the growth of Athenian imperialism;
social and constitutional history of Athens; Aristophanic
comedy; sophistic thought and the Platonic response; the
trial of Socrates; the Athenian agora; and the diffusion of
Hellenism through the conquests of Alexander the Great. Mr.
Lott.
Prerequisite: 1 unit in Classics, Greek, or Latin, or 1
unit in history.
[218b. Republican Rome: From the Foundation
through (1)
the Age of Augustus]
(Same as History 218) A survey of Roman history from its
beginnings to the death of Augustus, as revealed in the
writings of historians such as Livy, Polybius, Sallust, and
Caesar, as well as other literary and nonliterary ancient
sources. Topics include: the evolution of the Roman
constitution; the status of nobles, equestrians, plebeians,
women, slaves, and foreigners in the social hierarchy; Roman
warfare and the struggle with Carthage for supremacy in the
western Mediterranean; the influence of Greece on Roman
literature, thought, and private life; abuses of Roman
government; and the political strife that led to the
collapse of the Republic and the establishment of autocracy
under Julius Caesar and Augustus. Mr. Lott.
Prerequisite: 1 unit in Classics, Greek, or Latin, or 1
unit in history.
Not offered in 2000/01.
219b. The Roman Empire: From the Julio-Claudian Era
through the Fall (1)
(Same as History 219) A survey of Roman history from the
first emperors to the dissolution of the empire, as revealed
in the writings of historians such as Tacitus, Suetonius,
and Ammianus Marcellinus as well as other literary and
nonliterary ancient sources. Topics include: the developing
relations of the emperor and imperial family with the
senate, army, and people; politics, intrigue, and excess
amongst the wealthy classes; private life as illustrated by
archaeological discoveries at Pompeii and elsewhere; the
diverse provinces of the empire, from Britain to North
Africa and from Spain to Judaea; social, intellectual, and
religious changes (culminating in the triumph of
Christianity); and the reasons for the decline and fall of
the western empire and the survival of Byzantium. Mr.
Sumi.
Prerequisite: 1 unit in Classics, Greek, or Latin, or 1
unit in history.
300a or b. Seminar in Classical Civilization
(1)
The seminar treats a significant topic in Greek and Roman
history and culture through the study of literary sources
and their theoretical constructs. Possible topics include:
orality and literacy; comparative mythology; gender and
status; slavery; cults and sanctuaries; sexuality; insiders
and outsiders. Since the topic changes every year, the
course may be taken for credit more than once.
Topic for 2000/01b: Greek and Roman Sexuality. The
course examines sexual mores in ancient Greece and Rome.
Possible topics include: societal views on sex as expressed
in normative practices, moral codes, and laws; obscenity;
male and female homosexuality; philosophical theories about
sex; slavery and prostitution. Members of the seminar help
determine the choice of topics and are expected to integrate
their study of ancient sexuality with their knowledge of
other societies, both former and contemporary. Discussion is
based upon works of Greek and Latin literature in English
translation, in conjunction with modern studies. Knowledge
of Greek or Latin is not required. Prior study of the
ancient world is beneficial but not mandatory. Mr.
Brown.
Prerequisite: juniors and seniors by special
permission.
310b. Seminar in Ancient Art
B. Courses in Greek Language and Literature
I. Introductory
105a-106b. Elementary Greek (1)
Introduction to the language. Readings in the New
Testament and Plato.
Open to all classes; four 50-minute periods.
II. Intermediate
215a. Fifth- and Fourth-Century Literature (1)
Authors may include Sophokles, Euripides, Xenophon,
Lysias and Plato. In addition to consolidating knowledge of
grammar, the selection of passages brings into focus
important aspects of Athenian culture. Ms.
Scharffenberger.
Prerequisite: Greek 105-106 or by permission of
instructor.
230b. Archaic Literature (1)
Authors may include Homer and Homeric Hymns, Hesiod,
lyric poets, and Herodotus, as the first prose writer.
Selections allow discussion of the interrelationship of
poetic forms in this period and the growth of prose out of
oral poetry. Social, religious, and political issues
surrounding the texts are discussed. Mr. Lott.
Prerequisite: Greek 215 or by permission of
instructor.
Reading Courses
297.01a or b. Mythology and Religion
(1/2)
Readings on the mythology and religion of Greece.
Prerequisite: declaration of a Greek major or correlate
sequence, or by permission of instructor.
297.02a or b. Literary History
(1/2)
Readings on the literary history of Greece.
Prerequisite: declaration of a Greek major or correlate
sequence, or by permission of instructor.
298a or b. Independent Work (1/2 or
1)
III. Advanced
Greek 300 and 301 are offered every year, 302 and 303 in
alternation; the topic of 301 changes annually. Prerequisite
for all advanced courses: 2 units in 200 level courses in
the language or by permission of instructor.
300a or b. Senior Project (1)
301b. Topics in Greek Literature (1)
This course involves close reading of texts from a single
genre or author or texts which have a common thematic
interest. Study of the texts and of secondary material
allows us to explore various features of ancient society.
For example, the course might take as its topic a genre such
as Greek history or comedy, the ouevre of a single author
such as Pindar or Plato, or a theme such as the depiction of
foreigners, the Greek sophists, or the tradition of the
funeral oration. Since the topic changes every year, the
course may be taken for credit more than once.
Topic for 2000/01: Utopias. In this course we look
at two very different imaginative representations of an
ideal state: Aristophanes' Birds and Plato's
Republic. Through careful reading of the Greek texts
we try to understand how the act of imagining an alternative
social and political structure serves as a critique of one's
own culture. In thinking about this question with these two
texts, we also explore the differences between the genres of
comedy and philosophical dialogue as social critique. Ms.
Kitzinger.
302a. Euripides (1)
A reading of a play of Euripides. Careful study of the
texts helps us understand Euripides' reputation as a
playwright who challenged the dramatic conventions of Greek
tragedy, as well as the social, political and religious
assumptions of his audience. Ms. Scharffenberger.
[303a. Sophokles] (1)
A reading of a play of Sophokles. In addition to studying
closely Sophokles' style and dramatic technique, we consider
how the play examines and responds to the historical, social
and political conditions of Athens at the time of the play's
production.
Not offered in 2000/01.
399a or b. Senior Independent Work (1/2 or
1)
C. Courses in Latin Language and Literature
I. Introductory
105a-106b. Elementary Latin (1)
Introduction to the language. Readings in classical prose
and poetry. Mr. Lott.
Open to all classes; four 50-minute periods.
II. Intermediate
215a. Republican Literature (1)
Authors may include Plautus, Terence, Caesar, and
Sallust. The selection of readings is designed to
consolidate knowledge of grammar, provide an introduction to
the translation of continuous, unadapted Latin, and
highlight interesting features of Roman culture in the last
two centuries of the Republic.
220b. Literature of the Empire (1)
Authors may include Horace, Livy, Ovid, Seneca,
Petronius, and Suetonius. Readings are selected to
illustrate the diversity of literary forms that flourished
in the early Empire and the interaction of literature with
society, politics, and private life. Ms. Kitzinger.
Reading Courses
297.01a or b. Mythology and Religion
(1/2)
Readings on the mythology and religion of Rome.
Prerequisite: declaration of a Latin major or correlate
sequence, or special permission.
297.02a or b. Literary History
(1/2)
Readings on the literary history of Rome.
Prerequisite: declaration of a Latin major or correlate
sequence, or special permission.
298a or b. Independent Work (1/2 or
1)
III. Advanced
Latin 300 and 301 are offered every year, 302-304 in
rotation; the topic of 301 changes annually. Prerequisite
for all advanced courses: 2 units in 200-level courses in
the language or special permission.
300a or b. Senior Project (1)
301b. Topics in Latin Literature (1)
The course involves close reading of texts from a single
genre or author or texts which have a common thematic
interest. Study of the texts and of secondary material
allows us to explore various features of ancient society.
For example, the course might take as its topic a genre such
as Roman satire or the Roman novel, the relationship between
the diverse works of a single author like Horace or Seneca,
or a theme such as the depiction of slaves, the evolution of
love poetry, or Roman attitudes toward death. Since the
topic changes every year, the course may be taken for credit
more than once.
Topic for 2000/01: The Life and Works of Horace.
Quintus Horatius Flaccus is notable for the variety and
distinctive personality of his poetry, and its connection to
the Augustan regime. Among Horace's favorite themes are
those of love and friendship, poetry, wine, religion,
philosophy and the achievements of Augustus. The course
traces Horace's life and career through selections from the
Epodes, Satires, Odes, and Epistles. Mr.
Brown.
[302a. Vergil] (1)
Selections from the Eclogues, Georgics, or
Aeneid of Rome's greatest poet. Subjects of study
include the artistry of the Vergilian hexameter, the
relationship of Vergil's works to their Greek models, and
general topics such as his conception of destiny, religion,
and the human relation to nature. Mr. Brown
Not offered in 2000/01.
[303a. Tacitus] (1)
Close readings from the works of the imperial historian
and ethnographer Tacitus. In connection with further
developing students' reading skills, the class focuses on
particular literary, cultural, or historical issues. Mr.
Lott.
Not offered in 2000/01.
[304. Catullus and Cicero] (1)
Poems of Catullus are read in relation to Cicero's
speech, Pro Caelio and against the social and
literary background of contemporary Rome. Comparison between
these authors' separate portrayals of Clodia/Lesbia leads
into discussion of the personal mores, forensic
oratory, and poetic innovations of the late Republic.
Not offered in 2000/01.
380a. Apuleius' Golden Ass (1)
Apuleius' Golden Ass (the Metamorphoses in
Latin), written during the second century CE, is one of the
most intriguing and puzzling works of prose fiction to
survive from antiquity. As such it has been the subject of
much scholarly debate. Is it a serious conversion narrative,
or entirely parodic in tone? What is the literary pedigree
of the work? What is the relationship between its outer
frame narrative and its inset tales? In this course we
devote ourselves to a close reading of selections from the
work in Latin so as to address these and other questions. We
supplement our reading in Latin with the reading of
secondary sources that apply various contemporary approaches
to the novel.
399a or b. Senior Independent Work (1/2 or
1)
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