The World of Homer (210-0-1)

Instructors

Ann Gunter
847/467-0873
Kresge 4333

Meeting Info

Kresge Cent. Hall 2-380 Kaplan: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM

Overview of class

What do we know of the world inhabited by the heroes of Homer's epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey? Do the poems describe a largely imaginary realm created by their author(s), or do they reflect a particular period of ancient Greek history—and if so, which one?

This course explores the society, economy, and culture of Early Iron Age Greece with special emphasis on the Geometric and early Archaic periods, emphasizing what scholars have learned through archaeological discoveries along with study of the poems themselves. Topics include the excavations at Troy, Mycenae, Athens, and other sites; contacts with the rich cultures of Egypt and the ancient Middle East and settlements across the Mediterranean; trade, exchange, and the technology of travel; literacy and oral tradition; political communities and warfare; society and ethical conduct; religion, burial practices, and the art of ritual and commemoration.

Class Materials (Required)

The Odyssey, trans. Emily Wilson. New York: W. W. Norton and Co., 2018. ISBN: 9780393356250

The Iliad, trans. Stanley Lombardo. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co., 1997. ISBN: 9780872203525

Class Notes

There is no waitlist for this course.

Class Attributes

Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Pre-Registration -- Reserved for Classics majors or minors.

Associated Classes

DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-343: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM

DIS - Frances Searle Building 2107: Fri 12:00PM - 12:50PM