CLA 010 Greek, Rome, & Near East Myth

CLA 010 Greek, Rome, & Near East Myth

Instructor: Melissa Stem

Lecture—3 hour(s). Examination of major myths of Greece, Rome, and the Ancient Near East; their place in the religion, literature and art of the societies that produced them; their subsequent development, influence and interpretation. GE credit: AH, VL, WC.

This course introduces the principal stories, characters, and contexts of myths of the ancient Mediterranean world. The course focuses primarily on Greek myths, but we also analyze Near Eastern and Roman myths. The class emphasizes common themes and motifs in these myths, explores their origins and development, and examines their relationship to political, cultural, and religious movements in the ancient world. Awareness and understanding of these myths enable a richer understanding of the many later literary and visual representations that continue to draw inspiration from myths.