Winter 2024▲

See complete information about these courses in the course offerings database. For more information about a specific course, including course type, schedule and location, click on its title.

Topics in Classical Civilization: The Tragedy of Troy

CLAS 295E - Loar, Matthew P.

This course will examine how authors both ancient and modern have used stories of the Trojan War to probe themes of grief, loss, and the healing power of community. We will read Homer’s Iliad as a handbook for PTSD, discuss Greek tragedy as a technology for griefwork, and explore modern adaptations of these ancient texts as mechanisms for processing the traumas of war. Far from glorifying violence and displays of valor, this class will highlight the many ways that war damages people and communities – sometimes irreparably – and how art and literature can sometimes, slowly and with luck, begin to heal.

Pompeii

CLAS 338 - Benefiel, Rebecca R.

The site of ancient Pompeii presents a thriving Roman town of the first century AD, virtually frozen in time by the devastating eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. In this course, we examine Pompeii's archaeological remains-public buildings, domestic architecture, painting, artifacts, inscriptions, and graffiti-in order to reconstruct the life of the town. We also consider religion, games and entertainment, politics, and the structure of Roman society.

CLAS345-01/LJS345-01 Introduction to Roman Law

CLAS 345 - Crotty, Kevin M.

Law is one of the most important legacies Rome has left behind--one that continues in importance to this day, not only for its historical interest, but as an excellent introduction to basic legal concepts that still function in modern legal systems. In this introductory course, we study the history of Roman law, particularly as it mirrored the largest developments in Roman constitutional history. We also study some of the most basic legal concepts of the person, family, property and obligations. We will also consider  criminal law, international law, and the role of rhetoric. We approach these matters both through case law and by reading ancient Roman treatises on law. 

Fall 2023▲

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FS: First-Year Seminar: Gateway to the Ancient Greek and Roman World

CLAS 180B - Brobeck, Emma

Who were the ancient Greeks and Romans? This course introduces students to Greek and Roman ways of understanding the world and their place within it. Students will learn broadly about the history and literature of ancient Greece and Rome, while readings will focus on the theme of community building. Topics will include historical and material developments of ancient cities, their legal and social worlds, myth, gender, citizenship, and ethnicity. Likewise, students will read a variety of ancient sources, including epic, drama, poetry, historiography, and letters. Throughout the course students will practice different methods of analysis used in the Humanities and will also develop skills in interpreting ancient texts in translation.

Spring 2023▲

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Supervised Study Abroad: Athens

CLAS 287 - Laughy, Michael H.

Classics and history of Greece. A survey of the development of art, archaeology, history, and literature in ancient and modern Greece, with an emphasis on the relationship between past and present conceptions of Greek identity.

Topics in Classical Civilization: The Image & Influence of the Roman Emperor

CLAS 295D - Brobeck, Emma

This course explores the image of the Roman emperor in literature, art, architecture, and society in ancient Rome. Students learn the history of four key dynasties of the Roman Empire from the Julio-Claudians to the Severans. Class readings and discussion explore how the emperors interacted with the populace and how they were in turn depicted by others. Secondary topics such as historiography, numismatics, iconography, and epigraphy are built into the analysis of each imperial dynasty. Course work emphasizes core research materials and databases within the field of Classics and gives students an in-depth understanding of the processes for interpreting the role of the emperor in ancient Rome. Collaborative work will further enhance student understanding of methods of analysis of ancient written and material remains from the Roman Empire.