Selective study of Greek myths and rituals focused on dynamics of inclusion and exclusion that parallel modern definitions of ethnicity and gender. Satisfies the cultural heritage component of level 2 of the core curriculum. Also: Humanities elective and Women's Studies elective. It may be taken for Honors credit.
Prerequisites: Math 1310 and six hours of sophomore English credits.
This a course for students in any major, who will not be expected to have any prior knowledge of mythology or of the ancient Greek world.
Honors students and majors in Classical Studies are required to write their research assignments using Perseus, a multimedia program available on campus and on the web. For other students the use of Perseus is optional.
To all students, however, I highly recommend exploring Perseus, both as a study tool and to find primary materials for the writing assignments. As I develop each topic in class, I will give suggestions on specific searches you may do with Perseus. T. Martin's Overview (accessible under Secondary Tools in the Perseus menu) provides an excellent introduction to the development of the ancient Greek culture, with particular emphasis on religious, sociopolitical, and economic aspects as well as on the roles of women. Under Related Links in the Perseus menu it is possible to access Diotima, an admirable www site for the study of gender in antiquity.
I will be available to help students who need instruction in handling electronic materials, both for browsing and for their individual projects.
Aeschylus, Persae / Suppliant Women, transl. Vellacott, Penguin rp. ISBN 0-14-044112-3
Aristophanes, Lysistrata, transl. D. Parker. Penguin Mentor. ISBN 0-451-62495-5
Cartledge, Paul. The Greeks. A Portrait of Self and Others. Oxford. ISBN 0-19-289147-2 [Henceforth: CARTLEDGE]
Euripides, Hecuba, transl. Janet Lembke and K. Reckford, Oxford (series: Greek Tragedy in New Translations). ISBN 0-19-506874-2
Euripides, Helen, transl. James Michie and Colin Leach, Oxford (series: Greek Tragedy in New Translations). ISBN 0-19-507710-5
Hesiod,Works and Days,The Theogony, transl. S. Lombardo, Hackett. ISBN 0-8-7220179-1
Grimal, Pierre, Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology, Penguin USA. ISBN 0-14-051235-7
Morford, M., and R. Lenardon, Classical Mythology, Longman 1994 (5th ed). ISBN 0-8013-1138-1 [Henceforth: M-L
Walter Burkert, Greek Religion, tr. J. Raffan, Harvard 1985.
Students are urged to read before each class the texts assigned for the subtopic to be discussed in each class.
READINGS FOR TOPIC 1
--CARTLEDGE, Chapters 1, 2.
1.1
Class (sub)topic: Introduction to the Greek civilization. The Greek culture in the ancient world. Greek myth and its role in shaping the Greek tradition.
1.2
Class (sub)topic: Introduction to the issues of ethnicity and gender.
Approaches and methods of study.
1.3
Class (sub)topic: Illustration of Topic I with images from Greek art and general introduction to the use of Perseus.
READINGS FOR TOPIC 2
--Hesiod, The Theogony.
--Hesiod, Works and Days, lines 58-125, 126-135
REFERENCE WORKS FOR THE NARRATIVES OF MYTH
--Morford, M. and R. Lenardon, chapters 1-2
and/or
--Grimal, P., The Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology
2.1
Class (sub)topic: The cast of divine characters. The story of "creation."
2.2
Reading assignment: The Theogony, 1-508. REF: M-L ch 1
Class (sub)topic: Introduction to Hesiod's Theogony: a myth of succession.
2.3
Reading assignment: The Theogony, 509-end.
Class (sub)topic: Prometheus, the great rebel.
2.4
Reading assignment: Hesiod, Works and Days, 126-135
Class (sub)topic: Myth of the Ages
2.5
Reading assignment: (reread)The Theogony, 573-620; read Works and Days, 58-125.
Class (sub)topic: The fabrication of Pandora, the first woman.
2.6
Class (sub)topic: Mother-goddesses, nymphs, female monsters. Women in ritual trance.
READINGS FOR TOPIC 3
--M-L, chapters 3, 6, 7, 9, 11.
Optional: For further information concerning religion and ritual I recommend Burkert 1985. Look up the analytical index.
3.1
Class (sub)topic: Local and panhellenic religious traditions. Cult of Zeus and Hera.
3.2
Class (sub)topic: Cult of Athena. Rituals of Aphrodite.
3.3
Class (sub)topic: The "arrivals" of Dionysus. Dionysiac ritual celebrations.
READINGS FOR TOPIC 4
--CARTLEDGE, chapters 5-6.
FOR REFERENCE
M-L, chs 17, 19, 21, pp 496-501, and/or use Grimal
4.1
Class (sub)topic: Local heroes: Perseus, the Calydonian Boar Hunt.
4.2
Reading assignment: Read about the myths of the Trojan war in your reference sources.
Class (sub)topic: The myths of the Trojan war and the heroic (aristocratic) ideology. Enslavement of the defeated. Women as war prizes.
4.3
Reading assignment: Read about the myths of Theseus in your reference sources.
Class (sub)topic: Religion and myth in the construction of "ethnic" or "national" pride and power. Theseus. Athenian imperialism.
MIDTERM: Includes Topics 1-4
Paper topics and guidelines will be handed out.
READINGS FOR TOPIC 5
--CARTLEDGE, chapter 3.
--Aeschylus, The Persians
--Herodotus, The Histories. Selected passages will be indicated in class.
5.1
Reading assignment: Read Herodotus, The Histories, Book 1.
Class (sub)topic: The Persian war. Herodotus. Introduction to the Greek theatre and to Aeschylus, Persians
5.2
Reading assignment: Read Aeschylus, Persians.
Class (sub)topic: Aeschylus, The Persians. Discussion.
READINGS FOR TOPIC 6
--Aeschylus, The Suppliant Women
--Aristophanes, Lysistrata
--CARTLEDGE, chapter 4.
6.1
Reading assignment: Aeschylus, The Suppliant Women.
Class (sub)topics: Male and female initiation; marriage. Aeschylus, The Suppliant Women. Discussion.
6.2
Reading assignment: Aristophanes, Lysistrata.
Class (sub)topic: War and peace. Aristophanes, Lysistrata. Discussion.
6.3
Reading assignment: Euripides, Helen.
Class (sub)topic: Helen of Troy, adulteress or goddess? Euripides, Helen. Discussion.
6.4
Reading assignment: Euripides, Hecuba.
Class (sub)topic: Euripides, Hecuba. Discussion.
Students who have worked with Perseus may volunteer to make multimedia presentations to the class; others may volunteer to make oral presentations. Some of the issues discussed are listed below; you may suggest others.
I will lecture on the following topics:
a) The ideology of inherited privileges and power. Natural slavery. The "Aryan" origin of the western, self-defined as civilized, world. The "Black Athena" controversy.
b) Construction of "natural" or "dedicated" spaces in myth, ritual, and the theatre. Choral dancing.
c) Inclusion and exclusion in ritual and history. Emancipation in song. Enactment of subversion within boundaries.
These readings are suggested for students who wish to explore the field further (majors in Classical Studies, post-baccaleaureate or graduate students in other departments, etc.). The titles marked *A* ( = Advanced) may not be accessible to readers who have not studied Greek or who have no previous background in the subject matter.
Caldwell, R. The Origin of the Gods: A Psychoanalytic Study of Greek Theogonic Myth. Oxford, 1989.
Fantham, E., et al, Women in the Classical World Oxford 1994.
Finley, M.I. Slavery in Classical Antiquity: Views and Controversies. Barnes and Noble, rp. 1964.
Foley, Helene P. Reflections of Women in Antiquity. New York, 1981.
Gould, J., "Law, Custom and Myth: Aspects of the Social Position of Women in Classical Athens," Journal of Hellenic Studies 100 (1980), pp 38-59.
Herodotus, The Histories. Edited by W. Blanco and Jennifer T. Roberts. Translated by W. Blanco. It includes notes, a historical background, and several essays.
Lefkowitz, Mary, Women in Greek Myth. Baltimore, 1979.
*A* Loraux, Nicole, The children of Athena: Athenian Ideas about Citizenship and the Division between the Sexes, Princeton, 1993, pp 147-183.
Lord, B. Epic Singers and Oral Tradition. Cornell, 1991.
*A* Nagy, G. "Homeric Questions," Transactions of the American Philological Association 122 (1992), pp 17-60.
*A* Peradotto, J. and J. P. Sullivan, eds. Women in the Ancient World: the Arethusa Papers. Albany, 1984.
Pomeroy, Sarah. B. Goddesses, Whores, Wives, and Slaves: Women in Classical Antiquity. 1995.
*A* Pozzi, D.C. and J. Wickersham, (eds.) Myth and the Polis. Cornell 1991.
*A* Richlin, A., and N. Rabinowitz, Feminist Theory and the Classics, New York 1993.
Starr, Chester G. The Ancient Greeks.
Tyrrell, Wm. B. and F.S. Brown, Athenian Myths and Institutions. Words in Action, Oxford 1991.
Wiedemann, T., Greek and Roman Slavery, Johns Hopkins 1981.
*A* Winkler, J. The Constraints of Desire: The Anthropology of Sex and Gender in Ancient Greece. New York, 1990.
Xenophon, On the Management of the Household. Read in Perseus or in the edition with notes by S. Pomeroy.