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Course Descriptions

CLAS 171 Love and War, Gods and Heroes: Greek and Roman Epic Poetry

The great stories of Greek and Roman epic poetry continue to inspire modern literature, art, and film. In this course, Homers Iliad and Odyssey, Hesiod's Theogony, and Vergil's Aeneid will be read and discussed in English translation. Emphasis will be on plot and narrative technique, genre characteristics, changes in world view, and the reception of these poems in later periods.

CLAS 199 Topics in Classics

A semester-long study of topics in Classics. Topics and emphases will vary according to the instructor. This course may be repeated for credit with different topics. See the New and Topics Courses page on the Registrar's webpage for descriptions and applicability to graduation requirements.

CLAS 231W Myth and Cult in the Ancient East Mediterranean

Delves into the Near Eastern background of ancient Greek myth and cult, looking at parallels among deities, myths, and cult performances; also how, when, and why shared cultural features moved across linguistic and geographic barriers in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age. Works with both oral-derived written texts and material culture, including iconography, pottery, and architectural remains, reading them in conjunction to achieve a holistic understanding of how texts and artifacts created or were embedded in performance contexts and spaces where ritual and cult were enacted. Covers the Near Easter background of specific Greek gods and heroes: goddess of sexuality, storm-god, sun deities, sea deities, young man deities, healing deities, agricultural deities, mountain deities, underworld deities, disappearing or dying of deities, Achilles, Hector, Heracles; cosmogonies; Chaoskampf and snake-slaying myths; ancestor veneration and its connection to epic and hero worship; curses and black magic; invocations; purification rituals; prayers and other performances in temple and sanctuary settings; festivals and processions; animal sacrifice; ritual drama; sacred marriage and other gendered and sexual metaphors for the relations between humans and the divine; genealogies; legitimization of kingship; wisdom literature.

CLAS 244W The Greek and Roman Stage

Tragedy and comedy are among the most important genres of ancient literature. The study of major plays by writers such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Seneca, Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus, and Terence will illustrate the development of ancient theater and the immense influence these dramatic creations still exert on modern Western literature and film. Emphasis will be laid on the historical context of these works, their structure and generic conventions (and the conscious play with them), and on practical issues of staging and performance.

CLAS 247 Women in Roman Literature and Life

Through the study of ancient Roman texts in translation, this course explores the life experience of women in ancient Rome and the way their lives are reflected in 500 years of Roman literature. Since most Roman authors were men, students will try to reconstruct women's voices and their human experience by exploring both literary and non-literary sources, such as laws, grave inscriptions, and graffiti. In addition, students will examine artistic representations of women in the form of portrait sculptures and funerary monuments.

CLAS 250W Greeks, Romans and Barbarians

Herodotus, Caesar, and Tacitus will be consulted, along with comedy, tragedy, fragments of ethnographers and passages from other primary sources to see how perceptions of barbarians changed over time, affected by the ways that Greek and Roman interaction with them changed. In order to better understand how recent history shapes our interpretation of ancient culture, we will study post-colonialist, Afro-centric, and anti-anti-Semitic approaches to the Greco-Roman image of Egyptians, Persians, Indians, Scythians, Libyans, Ethiopians, Phrygians, Lydians, Gauls, Britons, and Germans. Credit may only be earned in one of the following: GREEK 350W, LATIN 350W or CLAS 250W.

CLAS 252 Poetics of Magic, Magic of Poetry

The origin of poetic speech in magical incantations and prayers is explored, using a variety of theoretical frameworks, including linguistic, anthropological, and literary, both ancient and modern. We begin with the following premises: Perfectly true speech creates the cosmos; perfectly expressive words compel action. Written signs imbue objects with meaning and render ephemeral performances permanent. Examples are drawn from texts that ancient Wise Women, Masters of the Word, and inspired poets used in magic rituals and cult, with translations. Students will also craft their own charms and prayers following the principles introduced for each genre, and according to the practices of the various ancient European, Near Eastern, and South Asian cultures studied.

CLAS 260 Gender and Sexuality in Greek Society

This course explores Greek attitudes towards gender roles and sexuality, drawing on primary medical texts, tragedy, comedy, didactic poetry, forensic speeches, the romance novel, philosophy, early lyric poetry, and secondary scholarship about these texts. Topics include gender construction, misogyny, hysteria, virginity, marriage, rape, seduction, inheritance, female and male desire, homosexuality, and rites of passage.

CLAS 299 Topics in Classics

CLAS 399 Topics in Classics

CLAS 429 Topics in Classics

CLAS 496W Senior Seminar in Classical Studies

Required course for Classical Studies majors. Students will choose a topic in consultation with Classics faculty, read a text appropriate to that topic in the ancient language(s) and write a substantial research paper. Prerequisite: Senior standing in Classical Studies or consent of instructor.

CLAS 497W Senior Seminar in Classical Civilizations

Required course for Classical Civilization majors, but open to all Seniors majoring in the Arts & Humanities. Study of an advanced topic in Classical Civilizations. Students read ancient texts in English translation appropriate to that topic and write a substantial research paper.

GREEK 131 Elementary Ancient Greek 1

Introduction to the morphology and syntax of ancient Greek.

GREEK 132 Elementary Ancient Greek 2

Introduction to the morphology and syntax of ancient Greek.

GREEK 199 Topics in Greek

A semester-long study of topics in Greek. Topics and emphases will vary according to the instructor. This course may be repeated for credit with different topics. See the New and Topics Courses page on the Registrar's webpage for descriptions and applicability to graduation requirements.

GREEK 231 Ancient Greek Prose

Reading and translation of selected ancient Greek prose texts, including works by Herodotus, Plato, Lysias and others.

GREEK 232 Ancient Greek Poetry

Selections from Greek epic poetry or a complete Greek tragedy will be read and discussed.

GREEK 299 Topics in Greek

GREEK 331W Myth and Cult in the Ancient East Mediterranean: Readings in Ancient Greek

Delves into the Near Eastern background of ancient Greek myth and cult, looking at parallels among deities, myths, and cult performances; also how, when, and why shared cultural features moved across linguistic and geographic barriers in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages. Works with both oral-derived written texts and material culture, including iconography, pottery, and architectural remains, reading them in conjunction to achieve a holistic understanding of how texts and artifacts created or were embedded in performance contexts and spaces where ritual and cult were enacted. Covers the Near Eastern background of specific Greek gods and heroes: goddess of sexuality, storm-god, sun deities, sea deities, young man deities, healing deities, agricultural deities, mountain deities, underworld deities, disappearing or dying deities, Achilles, Hector, Heracles; cosmogonies; Chaoskampf and snake-slaying myths; ancestor veneration and its connection to epic and hero worship; curses and black magic; invocations; purification rituals; prayers and other performances in temple and sanctuary settings; festivals and processions; animal sacrifice; ritual drama; sacred marriage and other gendered and sexual metaphors for the relations between humans and the divine; genealogies; legitimization of kingship; wisdom literature. Taught concurrently with CLAS 231W, with one extra hour of translation of a Homeric text.

GREEK 350W Greeks, Romans and Barbarians: Readings in Greek

Taught 3 hours a week in conjunction with CLAS 250W (Greeks, Romans and Barbarians), one hour per week translating Herodotus and/or Heliodorus. Primary sources will be consulted to see how perceptions of barbarians changed over time, affected by the ways that Greek and Roman interactions with them changed. In order to better understand how recent history shapes our interpretation of ancient culture, we will study post-colonialist, Afro-centric, and anti-anti-Semitic approaches to the Greco-Roman image of Egyptians, Persians, Indians, Scythians, Libyans, Ethiopians, Phrygians, Lydians, Gauls, Britons, and Germans. Credit may only be earned in one of the following: GREEK 350W, LATIN 350W or CLAS 250W.

GREEK 360 Gender and Sexuality in Ancient Greek Society: Readings in Euripides

Taught 3 hours a week in conjunction with CLAS 260 (Gender and Sexuality in Ancient Greek Society), plus one hour per week translating a tragedy by Euripides. This course explores Greek attitudes towards gender roles and sexuality, drawing on primary medical texts, tragedy, comedy, didactic poetry, forensic speeches, the romance novel, philosophy, early lyric poetry, and secondary scholarship about these texts. Topics include gender construction, misogyny, hysteria, virginity, marriage, rape, seduction, inheritance, female and male desire, homosexuality, and rites of passage. Credit may only be earned in oe of the following: GREEK 360 or CLAS 260.

GREEK 362W Advanced Research and Writing on Greek Literature

This course is intended to provide students with appropriate preparation in Greek, an additional opportunity to read Greek in the original and to polish their research and writing skills.

GREEK 390 Independent Study

Advanced study of selected Greek texts.

GREEK 399 Topics in Greek

GREEK 429 Topics in Greek

LATIN 131 Elementary Latin 1

Introduction to the morphology, syntax and style of classical Latin.

LATIN 132 Elementary Latin 2

Introduction to the morphology, syntax and style of classical Latin.

LATIN 199 Topics in Latin

A semester-long study of topics in Latin. Topics and emphases will vary according to the instructor. This course may be repeated for credit with different topics. See the New and Topics Courses page on the Registrar's webpage for descriptions and applicability to graduation requirements.

LATIN 231 Latin Prose

Close reading of classical Latin prose authors. Texts by Cicero, Sallust, Livy, Suetonius, Seneca and/or Apuleius will be translated and discussed.

LATIN 232 Latin Poetry

Close reading of classical Latin poetry. Works by Catullus, Propertius, Vergil, Horace, Ovid and others will be translated and discussed.

LATIN 299 Topics in Latin

LATIN 350W Readings in Caesar and Tacitus: Greeks, Romans and Barbarians

Taught 3 hours a week in conjunction with CLAS 250W (Greeks, Romans and Barbarians), one hour per week translating Caesar, and Tacitus. Herodotus, Caesar and Tacitus will be consulted, along with comedy, tragedy, fragments of ethnographers and passages from other primary sources to see how perceptions of barbarians changed over time, affected by the ways that Greek and Roman interactions with them changed. In order to better understand how recent history shapes our interpretation of ancient culture, we will study post-colonialist, Afro-centric, and anti-anti-Semitic approaches to the Greco-Roman image of Egyptians, Persians, Indians, Scythians, Libyans, Ethiopians, Phrygians, Lydians, Gauls, Britons, and Germans. Credit may not be earned for both LATIN 350W and CLAS 250W.

LATIN 353 Latin Sources on Roman Women

Taught 3 hours a week in conjunction with CLAS 247, one hour per week translating original Latin texts by and about Roman women. This course explores the life experience of women in ancient Rome and the way their lives are reflected in 500 years of Roman literature. Since most Roman authors were men, students will try to reconstruct women's voices and their human experience by exploring both literary and non-literary sources, such as laws, grave inscriptions, and graffiti, focusing on issues such as female literacy, female genres, and gender-specific language. In addition, students will examine artistic representations of women in the form of portrait sculptures and funerary monuments. Credit may only be earned in one of the following: LATIN 353 or CLAS 247.

LATIN 390 Independent Study

Advanced study of selected Latin texts.

LATIN 391 Advanced Reading in Latin Literature

This course allows for intensive study at the third-year level of a text or texts in a single genre or time-period of Latin literature. The primary focus remains translation, but secondary readings will be incorporated and discussed.

LATIN 394W Advanced Research and Writing on Latin Literature

This course is intended to provide students with appropriate preparation in Latin, an additional opportunity to read Latin in the original and to polish their research and writing skills. Meets concurrently with the Latin-based Classics Senior Thesis.

LATIN 399 Topics in Latin

LATIN 429 Topics in Latin

Willamette University

Classical Studies

Salem Campus
Address

900 State Street
Salem Oregon 97301 U.S.A.

Contact

503-370-6077

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