CLAS105-17S2 (C) Semester Two 2017

Roman Mythologies

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 July 2017
End Date: Sunday, 19 November 2017
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 28 July 2017
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 13 October 2017

Description

An introduction to Roman myths and the mythology of "Empire" and the way these are disseminated (or subverted) in literature and art. Topics include legendary figures (eg Aeneas and Romulus) as well as historical figures of legendary status (eg Spartacus, Cleopatra and Nero).

This course surveys the sources, contexts and uses for Roman "myth" in Latin literature, historical writing, Roman art and Hollywood movies. Lectures and readings explore the following themes: the role of myth in the formation of Roman identity and culture; the use of mythical heroes and heroic women as examples of social values and models for proper "Roman" behaviour; the connection between mythical enemies represented by Dido and Carthage and "real" enemies Mark Antony, Cleopatra and Egypt; the use of myth by the emperor Augustus to legitimize his dictatorship and to promote his own social ideology; and the role of the Hollywood movie industry in the continuation and recreation of Roman myths in modern times.

Restrictions

CLAS102, CLAS103

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Enrica Sciarrino

Lecturer

Alison Griffith

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Assignments 40% Two short assignments on primary sources worth 20% each.
Quiz 25% Five tutorial quizzes worth 5% each, via Learn.
Final examination 35% Final exam.

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Livy. , De Selincourt, Aubrey; The early history of Rome : Books I-V of The history of Rome from its foundation ; Repr. with new introd; Penguin, 1971.

Virgil. , Day Lewis, C., Griffin, Jasper; The Aeneid ; Oxford University Press, 1986.

The edition for the Aeneid is now: Virgil’s Aeneid (trans. F. Ahl, Oxford University Press, reprint 2008)

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $732.00

International fee $2,975.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Humanities .

All CLAS105 Occurrences

  • CLAS105-17S2 (C) Semester Two 2017