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Classics

(CLAS)

Associate Professor: Janet D. Jones (Chair)

Assistant Professors: Kevin F. Daly, Stephanie Larson

The curriculum of the department of classics offers students opportunities to study the Mediterranean world of the ancient Greeks and Romans and, to a more limited extent, the societies of the Near East and Egypt. Some courses also stress the classical tradition, the western inheritance of Greco-Roman ideas and art forms. The department offers varied kinds of courses through which students may approach the study of the ancient world, including courses in Greek and Latin.

The classics curriculum offers a broad interdisciplinary approach to classical studies which prepares students well for a wide range of careers. A broad liberal arts education and training in critical, rigorous thinking and writing provide our students with the tools necessary to succeed in such varied careers as law, teaching, journalism, and business, and to adapt well to the rapid pace of change characteristic of contemporary life.

To facilitate students’ exploration of the diversity and complexity of the ancient world and the contemporary disciplines that study it, the department of classics groups its courses into five categories: 1) Ancient History and Society, 2) Archaeology and Material Culture, 3) Myth and Text, 4) Greek, 5) Latin.

The Major and Minors in Classics

The department recommends that a student choosing a major or minor in classics develop a focus in at least one of the above categories. Students who may have an interest in pursing graduate studies in classics are strongly recommended to include concentrated language study of Greek and Latin in their curriculum.

A major in classics consists of a minimum of eight courses, with the following requirements:

• at least two courses in Greek or Latin.
• at least two courses in Classical Humanities offered by the department of classics. Additional courses that relate to Classical Humanities offered by other departments (e.g., ART 101) may be applied to the major in classics with the adviser’s approval. No more than two courses of the Classical Humanities at the 100 level can count toward the major.

• an integrative course approved by the adviser. The nature of this course will vary from student to student, and may be a 300-level seminar in classics; the honors sequence CLAS 321-322; an independent study (CLAS 311); or a Capstone Seminar offered by classics, another department, or the College of Arts and Sciences.

Students are encouraged to choose an honors program in classics, Greek, or Latin. Candidates for honors must take CLAS 321-322 and pass with distinction the oral examination on the thesis.

The department encourages its majors to study abroad in a Mediterranean setting, in Italy or Greece especially. Several options, for a semester, a year, or a summer, are available.

Three minors are offered by the department of classics.

• The Greek minor consists of four full-credit courses in Greek at any level taken at Bucknell.

 • The Latin minor consists of four full-credit courses in Latin at any level taken at Bucknell.

• The minor in classics consists of five courses in classics, including no more than two courses in Greek and/or Latin. The minor in classics may include up to two courses offered by other departments or programs, chosen from a list that is periodically updated. This list includes HUMN 98, ART 101, PHIL 205, and POLS 250.

Classical Humanities (CLAS)

The courses in Classical Humanities are grouped into three categories: Ancient History and Society, Archaeology and Material Culture, and Myth and Text. Ideally, these courses are, except where noted, offered on a two-year cycle. A select number of courses may be offered annually. A calendar of the cycle along with more detailed course descriptions are available from the departmental secretary, Stephanie Snyder. Classical Humanities courses do not require knowledge of Greek or Latin. Although the courses are grouped according to their major focus, most courses may involve elements from all three tracks (material culture, history and society, myth and text).

Ancient History and Society

Courses in this category focus upon the study of the culture and society of ancient Greece, Rome, and the Near East, including religion, politics, law, sexuality, economics, education, and patterns of thought and behavior, as well as the approaches and methodologies of ancient historians.

131. Greek Civilization (I or II; 3, 0)
Introduction to the study of ancient Greek civilization through its art, literature, history, religion, etc. Emphasis on the classical period. Seniors by permission of the instructor.

132. Roman Civilization (I or II; 3, 0)
Introduction to Roman civilization from Romulus to Constantine. Emphasis on social and cultural history, including literature, art, architecture, religion, and historiography in their cultural context. Seniors by permission of the instructor.

217. Greek History (II; 3, 0)
Greek history from the heroic Bronze age down through the Persian invasion, the flourishing of Classical Athens, and the Peloponnesian wars to the death of Socrates, focusing on political, social and economic developments. Crosslisted as HIST 240.

218. Roman History (II; 3, 0)
Roman history from Rome’s foundations as a backwater village ca. 753 BCE through its rise as a world-power to its fall in the fourth century CE, focusing on economic and political issues. Crosslisted as HIST 241.

231. Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean (I; 3, 0)
Study of the various religions of the ancient Mediterranean, especially Greek and Roman pagan practices as well as Near Eastern influences and early Christianity.

233. The Age of Alexander the Great (AI: 3, 0)
Study of the transformation of Classical Greek culture into a civilization dominating the Mediterranean world and its Eastern neighbors. Topics may include art, urban culture, politics, intellectual expressions, and religious innovation.

236. The Age of Augustus (AI; 3, 0)
Study of late republican-early empire Rome, emphasizing the transition from the republic to empire, the role played by Augustus in this transition, the tension between East and West, and the crisis of morals.

237. Ethnicity, Gender, and Identity in Antiquity (AI or AII; 3, 0)
Ancient Greek and Roman perceptions, both social and biological, of gender (including sexuality) and ethnicity. Includes discussion of the social position of women and other marginal members of society in antiquity.

332. Classical Athens (I; 3, 0)
An in-depth, integrative study of Athens from the 6th-4th centuries including its literature, arts, architecture, religion, philosophy, politics. Some background required. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

Material Culture/Archaeology

Courses in this category focus upon the study of the physical evidence, including the processes by which material objects from the ancient world are uncovered and analyzed; the evolution of urban forms; the expressions of architecture and art; the theories and practices of ancient technology; and the relationships which ancient cultures had with their environments and ecosystems.

141. Ancient Cities (AI; 3, 0)
Introduction to Near Eastern and Greco-Roman civilization through study of major urban centers. Seniors by permission of the instructor.

241. Archaeology of Egypt (AII; 3, 0)
Survey of the material culture, with emphasis on major architectural and artistic developments and their legacy to modern Western civilization.

242. Archaeology of Greece (AI; 3, 0)
Survey of the material culture of the Greek world from the Bronze Age through the Hellenistic period.

243. Archaeology of Rome (AII; 3, 0)
Survey of the material culture of the Roman world from the Etruscans through the late Empire.

247. Ancient Technology (AI; 3, 0)
A detailed survey of the state of ancient technology by the time of the early Roman empire in its economic and social context. Topics include sources of power, mining and metallurgy, quarrying, land and sea transport, and the urban infrastructure.

Myth and Text

Courses in this category focus upon the study of the traditions of ancient mythology, the major Greek and Roman literary works and authors in translation, and the ways in which images and ideas from ancient myths and texts found shape in later literary traditions. Students interested in these topics also may want to consider the literature courses in Greek and Latin (see below).

98. Myth, Reason, Faith (I or II; 4, 0)
This course, which is also a Foundation Seminar, is designed to introduce students to some of the most significant works in the Western intellectual tradition. Works by major writers from Homer to Dante will be studied. Crosslisted as ENGL 98, HUMN 98, and PHIL 98.

215. Classical Myth (AI; 3, 0)
Study of the traditional tales of Greece and, to a lesser extent, the Near East and Rome; consideration and application of myth theory.

220. Classical Literature (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Interpretive study of a literary genre (e.g., history, lyric, satire, novel) or topic in works of the Greco-Roman period and beyond. May be repeated for credit when the topic varies.

221. Heroic Epics (AI or AII; 3, 0)
Interpretive study of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey and other epics chosen by the instructor (e.g., the Argonautica and Aeneid). Study may include epic works of later traditions.

222. Greek Tragedy (I or II: 3, 0)
Interpretive study of the works of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

223. Ancient Laughter (I or II; 3, 0)
Interpretive study of Greco-Roman dramatic comedy (works of Aristophanes, Plautus, and Terence) and the comic traditions.

224. Poetry of Passion in Greece and Rome (AI or AII; 3, 0)
Interpretative study of Greek and Latin poetic genres (such as lyric, epigram, elegy, pastoral, and satire), with an emphasis on the representation of love and sexuality. May include discussion of post-classical traditions of erotic poetry.

Further Courses, Seminars, and Independent Study

Foundation Seminar (I or II; 3, 0)
Topics vary. First-year students only.

250. Topics in Classics (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Study of a topic relating to the classical world and its tradition. Examples: slavery, women, religions, a historical period. May be repeated for credit when the topic varies.

311. Independent Study in Classics (I or II; R) Half to full course.
Topics in classical civilization, to be chosen by the student. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

321 and 322. Honors Tutorial and Thesis (I and II)
Independent study and research leading to the writing of a thesis.

350. Seminar on a Classical Topic (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Study of a topic of importance in classics. Examples: a current problem, an important figure, a historical period.

450. Capstone Seminar on a Classical Topic ( I and II; 3, 0)
Study of a topic of importance in classics. Open to seniors.

Courses offered occasionally: 226 Ancient Conflict and Competition, 239 Fall of Rome and Rise of Byzantium

Classical Languages: Greek (GREK) and Latin (LATN)

The courses in Classical Languages are grouped into Greek and Latin and involve the study of the language and reading of primary authors. Although Latin and ancient Greek are no longer spoken, we encourage students to study language knowing that work with the ancient languages encourages logical thought, provides a sophisticated grasp of the possibilities of language, enhances an understanding of the culture, and gives the student opportunities to study at first hand some of the greatest works of the human spirit.

Beginning and Intermediate sequences (101, 102, 151) are offered in both languages each year. Courses beyond the intermediate level are offered according to demand.

Greek (GREK)

Students with previous Greek experience should consult a member of the department when choosing where to start in the sequence. The sequence begins with 101 in the fall semester.

101 and 102. Introductory Classical and Biblical Greek (I and II; 4, 0)
An introduction to the classical and koine forms of the language. Emphasis upon forms and grammar, and rapid development of facility in reading. In the second semester, selections chosen from a range of Greek periods. Prerequisite for GREK 102: GREK 101 or equivalent.

151. Intermediate Greek (I and/or II; 3, 0)
Study of selected works in Greek, including such authors as Euripides, Herodotus, Lysias, Plato, Xenophon. Review of forms and grammar. Prerequisite: GREK 102 or equivalent.

221. Studies in Greek Literature (I and II; R; 3, 0)
Study of a topic or author focusing on original Greek texts (e.g., Herodotus, Homer, Sophocles, Plato, New Testament). Highly recommended for students anticipating application to graduate programs in classics or divinity. Prerequisite: GREK 151 or equivalent.

311. Independent Study in Greek (I or II; R)
Independent study of Greek texts with concomitant study of secondary sources. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

Latin (LATN)

The introductory and intermediate sequence of LATN 101, 102, 151 is offered each semester. LATN 151 is intended for students with at least two semesters of college Latin or three or more years of secondary school Latin. Students with two or fewer years of secondary school Latin should enroll in LATN 101 or LATN 102; consultation with a member of the department is advised.

101. Introductory Latin (I and II; 4, 0)
Introduction to the language. Emphasis upon forms and grammar, and rapid development of facility in reading. Not open to students having completed LATN 106.

102. Introductory Latin (I and II; 4, 0)
Continuing study of Latin grammar with review of basic material, including the introduction to Latin reading. Prerequisite: LATN 101 or equivalent. Not open to students having completed LATN 106.

151. Intermediate Latin (I and II; 3, 0)
Review of the grammar necessary for the introductory reading of selected Roman authors. Authors may include Plautus, Cicero, Catullus, and Vergil. Prerequisite: LATN 102 or 106 or equivalent.

221. Studies in Latin Literature (I and II; R; 3, 0)
Advanced readings in Latin authors. Authors vary by semester, prose and poetry offered in alternate semesters. May be repeated as credit when topic varies. Prerequisite: LATN 151 or equivalent.

311. Independent Study in Latin (I or II; R)
Independent study of Roman authors, with concomitant study of secondary sources. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.