Classics

Courses in the Department of Classics cover numerous aspects of the ancient Greco-Roman world. Our courses focus on the study of Greek and Latin literary, historical, and philosophical texts, as well as evidence from material remains such as art, architecture, and the archaeological remains of daily life, as well as public and private inscriptions. Courses in the languages (Latin and Greek) are designed to provide students with a thorough introduction to the language and literature of ancient Greece and Rome. Courses taught entirely with readings in English (Classics courses) include those centered around literary genres, Greek and Roman history, and topics such as gender and archaeology. Completion of the Greek and Latin sequences, 101, 102, 103, and 204, fulfills the college language requirement.

Requirements for the Major

  • Thirty additional credits (five courses) in the general area of Classical Civilization (CLAS), Latin (LATN), or Greek (GRK), two of which must be at the 200 level or above. One of these five courses may be from a related department (History, Philosophy, Art History, Archaeology, Political Science, Religion), subject to adviser approval
  • CLAS 295 Junior Skills Colloquium
  • CLAS 394/CLAS 400 (6 credits)

75 credits total

The College language requirement may be satisfied by completion with a grade of at least C- in any of the Greek or Latin languages numbered 204 or above.

The Classics Departments of Carleton College and St. Olaf College cooperate in a program under which students of either college may elect certain courses on the other campus. This option is especially appropriate for upper level language courses not offered at Carleton. Carleton students should register for St. Olaf courses through the inter-registration process.

The Concentration in Archaeology will interest many students who are attracted to ancient civilization.

Certificate of Advanced Study in Foreign Language and Literature or Foreign Language and Area Studies: In order to receive the Certificate of Advanced Study in Classical Languages students must fulfill the general requirements (refer to Academic Regulations) in the following course distribution: six courses, of which at least three will be in the target language at the 200 level or above. Courses remaining may be from the Classics department or from a list of approved courses offered by other departments (philosophy, art, history, political science, etc.) Although courses for the certificate may be taken on a S/CR/NC basis "D" or "CR" level work will not be sufficient to satisfy course requirements.

Classics Courses (CLAS)

(These courses do not presume knowledge of Greek or Latin)

CLAS 100 Alexander the Great He became king at twenty, conquered the known world, and was dead before his thirty-third birthday. He has been viewed variously as a military genius, philosopher, holy king, prophet, devil, or even god. But who was Alexander III of Macedon, and what is his legacy? By examining the life and afterlife of Alexander the Great from his own time to ours, this course explores both history and the human fascination with extraordinary individuals. Among other topics, it explores Alexander’s image in different cultures, the separation of man from myth, and the contributions of different academic disciplines to understanding Alexander. 6 credits; AI, WR1; Fall; Kathryn L Steed
CLAS 111 Classical Mythology Myth was an integral component of thought, both individual and societal, in the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome. We will study a selection of the most famous Classical myths through close reading of Homer, the Greek tragedians, Ovid and other ancient sources. In addition we'll discuss the most prominent of modern modes of myth interpretation, in an attempt to determine how myth speaks--both to the ancient world and to us. 6 credits; LA; Not offered 2016-17
CLAS 112 The Epic in Classical Antiquity: Texts, Contexts, and Intertexts It would be difficult to overstate the importance of the early Greek epics for the classical world and the western literary tradition that emerged from that world. This course will study closely both the Iliad and the Odyssey, as well as Hesiod’s Theogony, and then consider a range of works that draw upon these epics for their creator’s own purposes, including Virgil’s own epic, the Aeneid. By exploring the reception and influence of ancient epic, we will develop an appreciation for intertextuality and the dynamics of reading in general as it applies to generations of readers, including our own. 6 credits; LA, WR2; Not offered 2016-17
CLAS 116 Ancient Drama: Truth in Performance The tragic and comic stage offered the Greeks and Romans a public arena for addressing such fundamental topics as love, family, justice, and the divine. Although the written word has fortunately preserved many ancient plays, the proper vehicles for their communication remain, as their authors intended, the stage, the voice, and the body. This course will therefore address a variety of ancient tragedies and comedies with special attention, not only to their themes, but to the manner of their performance, culminating in student-driven, adaptive productions that put into practice skills and expertise developed in the class. 6 credits; ARP, WR2; Winter; Hans Wietzke
CLAS 122 The Archaeology of Mediterranean Prehistory: From the Beginning to the Classical Age "Never say that prehistory is not history." The late Fernand Braudel had it right. Over 99 percent of human history predates the written word, and this course examines one of the world's most diverse, yet unifying environments--the Mediterranean Sea--from the earliest populations around its shores to the emergence of the Classical world of the Greeks and Romans. Neanderthals and modern humans, the first artists and farmers, multiculturalism among Greeks, Phoenicians, Etruscans, and others... These are some of the topics to be covered as we study the precursors and roots of what would become "Western" civilization. 6 credits; HI; Not offered 2016-17
CLAS 123 Greek Archaeology and Art This course explores the archaeology and art of the Ancient Greek world. Beginning with prehistory, we will track the development of the material culture of Ancient Greece through the Classical and Hellenistic periods, and conclude by discussing aspects of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires that followed. We will focus throughout on aspects of archaeological practice, material culture and text, art and society, long-term social change, and the role of the past in the present. 6 credits; HI, IS, QRE; Not offered 2016-17
CLAS 124 Roman Archaeology and Art The material worlds of the ancient Romans loom large in our cultural imagination. No other civilization has made as direct a contribution to our own political system or to its physical vestiges of power and authority. From the architecture of the state to visual narratives of propaganda, Roman influence is ubiquitous in the monuments of western civilization. But what were the origins of the Romans? Their innovations? Their technical, artistic, and ideological achievements? How are they relevant today? This course explores these questions and more through the archaeology of the eternal city and beyond. 6 credits; HI, IS; Fall; Alex R Knodell
CLAS 127 Ancient Technology Technology--humanity's efforts to manipulate its physical environment--stands as a central concern of the modern world. This course examines the technology of the ancient world and investigates its integral relationship to other facets of human activity. Theories of technological change will be explored initially in order to develop a socially-informed understanding of technology. In the second part, students will investigate specific ancient technologies using archaeological and textual evidence and present their findings to the class. The goal of this course is to understand technology as a social phenomenon in both the ancient and modern worlds. 6 credits; HI, QRE; Not offered 2016-17
CLAS 131 Imagining New Worlds: From Homer to Columbus and Beyond From the beginnings of their civilization, the Greeks were aware that they inhabited just a small corner of a much larger world. How did they imagine faraway places and peoples? What did ancient maps look like? How much have Greek literature and science shaped later geographical thought and practice, from the Roman Empire to the European “Age of Exploration” to our own “Age of Google”? Can we use ancient methods to measure the world? Drawing on various sources in translation, we will explore the literary and scientific frontiers of ancient geography and trace its legacy into the modern world. 6 credits; HI, QRE; Fall; Hans Wietzke
CLAS 173 Sport and Daily Life This course is an exploration of life, death, and entertainment in the ancient world, particularly in Rome. We will focus especially on how and why people take part in sporting events and on how sport intersected with gender, social class, and economic concerns in the ancient world. Topics include the history of sport, slavery and marginal groups, demography, gladiatorial and combat events, and entertainment and politics. Our primary focus in lecture and discussion will be interpretation of a variety of ancient sources, but we will also evaluate modern views of ancient entertainment. 6 credits; HI, QRE, IS; Not offered 2016-17
CLAS 214 Gender and Sexuality in Classical Antiquity In both ancient Greece and Rome, gender (along with class and citizenship status) largely determined what people did, where they spent their time, and how they related to others. This course will examine the ways in which Greek and Roman societies defined gender categories, and how they used them to think about larger social, political, and religious issues. Primary readings from Greek and Roman epic, lyric, and drama, as well as ancient historical, philosophical, and medical writers; in addition we will explore a range of secondary work on the topic from the perspectives of Classics and Gender Studies. 6 credits; HI, WR2, IS, QRE; Not offered 2016-17
CLAS 223 Ancient Science Did the Greeks invent “science” as we know it, or has modern science blossomed into something wholly different from its ancient roots? How distinct are scientific and religious patterns of thinking? Who controls knowledge about nature, the cosmos, and the body, and what's the proper way to communicate it? Why should we trust “the experts,” ancient or modern, anyway? Pursuing these and other questions, this course introduces students to the strange and dynamic world of ancient science, from the earliest Presocratics to Roman-era authorities like Claudius Ptolemy. Students will not only learn about theories that dominated Western thinking for millennia, but also gain first-hand experience with ancient scientific methods. 6 credits; HI, WR2; Spring; Hans Wietzke
CLAS 227 Greek History: The Greek Polis The Classical Greek world, with its system of independent city-states, saw the development of unprecedented political structures and a flowering of art, literature, and philosophy, all in the midst of almost constant military conflict. The Greeks are credited with inventing tragedy, democracy, science, and rhetoric (among other things), but their history is both complex and contested. This course examines the period from 750 to 399 B.C.E. and addresses fundamental questions about the development of Greek political, military, and social systems; the conflict between common Greek and local identities; and how we can use limited sources to reconstruct the past. 6 credits; HI, IS, WR2; Spring; Kathryn L Steed
CLAS 227F Greek Epigraphic Texts This course will introduce students to inscriptions from the Greek poleis of the classical period, especially the Athenian tribute lists and the legal code of Gortyn. In addition to translation, we will focus on the processes of deciphering and editing original physical texts and on the problems presented by fragments. Prerequisite: Greek 103 or equivalent; Concurrent registration in Classics 227. 2 credits; S/CR/NC; NE; Spring; Kathryn L Steed
CLAS 228 The Roman Republic Introduction to Rome's political and social history from the Etruscan period to the end of the Republic. Topics include Roman political culture, the acquisition of empire, the role of the army, the psychology of Rome, and interpretation of historical evidence. Based largely on primary source readings. 6 credits; HI, IS, WR2; Not offered 2016-17
CLAS 230F Hellenistic Greek: Scientific and Documentary Texts This trailer course will introduce students to scientific and documentary Greek texts from the Hellenistic world. Texts will include the Hippocratic Oath, Plutarch's descriptions of the inventions of Archimedes, brief selections from scientific works, and papyri containing personal letters and documents from Ptolemaic Egypt. In addition to regular readings, we will work with images of papyri and discuss the challenges of deciphering these texts. Prerequisite: Greek 103 or equivalent; Concurrent registration in Classics 230. 2 credits; NE; Not offered 2016-17
CLAS 230 The World of Alexander This course examines the background, career, and legacy of Alexander the Great and the emergence of the Hellenistic monarchies. The first part of the course examines the developments of the Fourth Century BCE, including classical philosophy, politics, and art; the rise of Macedon; Alexander the Great; and the wars of Alexander's successors. The second part explores the philosophical, cultural, and scientific world of Ptolemaic Egypt. The course focuses throughout on the lives and experiences of individuals and their place in a rapidly changing society. 6 credits; HI, IS, QRE; Not offered 2016-17
CLAS 231F Epigraphic Texts This trailer course will introduce students to Latin inscriptions and other documentary texts from the Roman imperial period. These will include the well-known Res Gestae of the emperor Augustus and lesser known materials such as career inscriptions, graffiti, and Diocletian's price edict. In addition to translation, we will focus on the processes of deciphering and editing original physical texts. Prerequisite: Latin 103 or equivalent; Concurrent registration in Classics 231. 2 credits; S/CR/NC; NE; Winter; Kathryn L Steed
CLAS 231 The Roman Principate This class introduces the history of Rome from Augustus to Diocletian. From demented emperors to new religions to economic collapse, the course uses Rome as a lens to address enduring historical questions. For example, how do individuals get, keep, and hand on power? What are the relationships between a central power and those on the periphery of that power and between a ruling elite and those they rule? How do foreign affairs affect internal policies and politics? Since we rely largely on ancient sources, we will also devote time to the interpretation of those sources in all their delightful eccentricity. 6 credits; HI, IS; Winter; Kathryn L Steed
CLAS 267 Political Landscapes: Archaeologies of Territory and Polity We live in a world of states. Nearly every inch of the earth is clearly delineated on maps and plans, ascribed to a particular political authority. But the widespread availability of precise spatial information is relatively new in human history. This seminar examines archaeology beyond the site. How did ancient polities understand and demarcate territory? What tools can we use to understand this? We begin by examining theories of space, place, landscape, and boundaries. The second part of the course compares case studies from across the ancient world to explore archaeological approaches to territory and polity in greater detail. Prerequisite: At least one previous archaeology course, Classics 122, 123, 124 or Archeology 246; contact instructor to discuss other relevant courses. 6 credits; SI, IS; Winter; Alex R Knodell
CLAS 295 Junior Colloquium A portfolio to be completed by majors in the Department of Classical Languages in the junior year, ensuring their preparation for the senior capstone experience. The portfolio will demonstrate specific skills using basic tools, as outlined in the majors' handbook. 3 credits; NE; Spring; Chico Zimmerman
CLAS 394 Senior Seminar As part of their senior capstone experience, majors in the classics department will formulate a call for papers developing the current year's theme for a colloquium, and following standard guidelines of the field produce proposals ("abstracts") for their own papers to be presented in the winter term. 3 credits; NE; Fall; Chico Zimmerman
CLAS 400 Senior Symposium From proposals ("abstracts") developed in Classics 394, departmental majors will compose a twenty minute presentation to be delivered at a symposium on the model of professional conferences. The talks will then be revised into articles to be submitted to a journal of professional style, accepted and edited by the group into a presentable volume. Prerequisite: Classics 384, Classics 385, Classics 386 or Classics 387. 3 credits; S/NC; Winter; Chico Zimmerman

Greek Courses (GRK)

(These courses all involve acquiring or using ancient Greek)

GRK 101 Elementary Greek Study of essential forms and grammar, with reading of connected passages. 6 credits; NE; Winter; Hans Wietzke
GRK 102 Intermediate Greek Study of essential forms and grammar, with reading of original, unadapted passages. Prerequisite: Greek 101 with a grade of at least C-. 6 credits; NE; Spring; Chico Zimmerman
GRK 103 Greek Prose Selected prose readings. The course will emphasize review of grammar and include Greek composition. Prerequisite: Greek 102 with a grade of at least C-. 6 credits; NE; Fall; Alex R Knodell
GRK 204 Greek Poetry Selected readings from Homer (in odd-numbered years) or Greek Tragedy (in even-numbered years). Prerequisite: Greek 103 with a grade of at least C-. 6 credits; NE; Winter; Chico Zimmerman
GRK 240 Xenophon's Oeconomicus While ostensibly a dialogue about how to manage one’s household (oikos), Xenophon’s Oeconomicus provides valuable insights into the ideology of land-ownership in classical Greece. In this class, we will read significant portions of Xenophon’s Oeconomicus in Greek as well as other texts, in English and Greek, that explore household economics. Throughout, we will consider what Xenophon’s text reveals about perceptions of gender roles within the home, notions of citizenship, the role of education, and the institution of slavery in the ancient world. Students will also work together to produce a student commentary of the text. Prerequisite: Greek 204 or equivalent. 6 credits; LA, IS; Not offered 2016-17
GRK 244 Plato Symposium Readings of some of the most significant dialogues in translation, with selections in the original. Prerequisite: Greek 204 or equivalent. 6 credits; LA; Not offered 2016-17
GRK 245 Herodotus's Histories In this course we will read and examine selections from Herodotus's Histories in Greek, as well as the whole of the work in English. We will explore questions about historiography, culture, ethnicity, ancient warfare, contact between Greece and Persia, among other issues. Prerequisite: Greek 204 or the equivalent. 6 credits; LA, LA; Not offered 2016-17
GRK 280 Philosophers and Martyrs Through the close reading and discussion of two texts from Late Antiquity in their original Greek, Lucian's On the Death of Peregrinus and the anonymous Martyrdom of Polycarp, we will gain experience in the reading and comprehension of late Hellenistic and koine Greek. We will also explore the ways in which these texts and their literary construction offer insight into the thought-worlds within which both Christian and various pagan philosophical schools developed. Prerequisite: Greek 204 or equivalent. 2 credits; HI, IS; Not offered 2016-17
GRK 281F Introduction to Byzantine Greek In this course, students learn about Byzantine Greek through initial work on prose selections from different authors, genres, and periods, followed by sustained engagement with a single author. For 2015, we will focus on a historian of the last years of Byzantium who writes a history of a failed Ottoman siege of Constantinople in 1422. Students will also gain some experience with later Greek paleography through readings and hands on work with photographs and facsimiles. Prerequisite: Greek 204 or instructor permission; Enrollment in History 233 encouraged but not required. 2 credits; LA, IS; Not offered 2016-17
GRK 304 Greek Tragedy for Advanced Students Intensive study of one play in the original and the remaining plays in translation. Offered simultaneously with Greek 204, with additional assignments for the advanced students. Prerequisite: Greek 204. 6 credits; LA; Winter; Chico Zimmerman
GRK 305 Homer Intensive study of selections from Homer's Iliad or Odyssey. Prerequisite: Greek 204 or the equivalent. 6 credits; LA; Not offered 2016-17
GRK 320 Hesiod and the Homeric Hymns Hesiod is the first Greek author to express an individual persona. He was a man from Askra -- “harsh in winter, hard in summer, never pleasant” -- yet at the same time he refers to nearby Mt. Helikon as the beautiful home of the muses who inspire his songs. His is a world of contrasts. This course will study (in Greek) Hesiod’s Theogony and Works and Days, which range widely in subject matter and message: the former describing the cosmic origins of the world; the latter a lesson in living the good life. We will also read some contemporary poetry. Prerequisite: Greek 204 or equivalent. 6 credits; LA; Spring; Alex R Knodell
GRK 351 Aristophanes Intensive study of one or two plays in the original and of the remaining plays in translation. 6 credits; LA; Not offered 2016-17

Latin Courses (LATN)

(These courses all involve acquiring or using Latin)

LATN 101 Elementary Latin While many claims are made about the benefits of learning Latin, here’s what we know for sure: it’s a beautiful language, both intensely precise and rigorous, as well as poetically expressive and inviting. Spoken by millions in the ancient world and kept continuously “alive” up to the present, Latin provides a window onto an intellectual and cultural landscape that is both foreign and familiar to modern students. This beginning course will develop necessary vocabulary, forms, and grammar that allows students to begin reading short passages of unadulterated prose and poetry from the ancient Roman world right from the start. 6 credits; NE; Fall; Hans Wietzke
LATN 102 Intermediate Latin Continuation of essential forms and grammar. Prerequisite: Latin 101 with a grade of at least C- or placement. 6 credits; NE; Winter; Chico Zimmerman
LATN 103 Introduction to Latin Prose and Poetry The course is designed to help students make the transition from the discrete rules of morphology and syntax to the integrated reading of extended passages of Latin prose and poetry with fluency and understanding. The first half of the course will focus on the consolidation of grammar through a systematic review of morphology and syntax based on compositional exercises keyed to passages of medieval Latin and Cicero. The second half will equip students with the basic skills needed to engage ancient Latin poetry, including meter, genre, rhetorical devices and poetic tropes, as encountered in selections from Ovid's mythological epic, Metamorphoses. Prerequisite: Latin 102 with a grade of at least C- or placement. 6 credits; NE; Spring; Kathryn L Steed
LATN 204 Intermediate Latin Prose and Poetry What are the “rules” of friendship? Would you do anything for a friend? Anything? The ancient Romans were no strangers to the often paradoxical demands of friendship and love. The goal for Intermediate Latin Prose and Poetry is to gain experience in the three major modes of Latin expression most often encountered “in the wild”—prose, poetry, and inscriptions—while exploring the notion of friendship. By combining all three modes into this one course, we hope both to create a suitable closure to the language sequence and to provide a reasonable foundation for further exploration of Roman literature and culture. Prerequisite: Latin 103 with a grade of at least C- or placement. 6 credits; NE; Fall; Chico Zimmerman
LATN 233 The Catilinarian Conspiracy In 63 BC, a frustrated Roman nobleman named Catiline attempted to start a revolution to overthrow the Roman government, only to be exposed and stopped by the politician Cicero. At least, that is how Cicero depicts it, and we will read part of Cicero's speech that led to Catiline's condemnation. However, we will also read the contemporary Roman historian Sallust's magisterial account of the events which reveals a more complicated story about both Catiline and the senators' response. These are two of the greatest works in Latin literature and reading them together will allow us to investigate what really happened in 63 BC. Prerequisite: Latin 204 or equivalent. 6 credits; LA, IS; Not offered 2016-17
LATN 246 Livy In this course we will read and examine selections from Livy's ab Urbe Condita in Latin, as well as the larger work in English. We will explore questions about historiography, culture, politics, ancient warfare, and the city of Rome, among other issues. Prerequisite: Latin 204 or equivalent. 6 credits; HI; Not offered 2016-17
LATN 253 Seneca the Younger Seneca the Younger was a key figure in the reigns of the Roman Emperors, Claudius and Nero. He was a prolific writer and a major force in shaping the moral philosophy of the later Roman world. This course will examine Seneca's thought and lively writing style by reading samples from a broad selection of his prose works (philosophical essays and letters) as well as his tragedies. There will be a short paper (six-eight pages) in addition to other assignments designed to familiarize students with some of the research tools and practices of the discipline. Prerequisite: Latin 204 or the equivalent. 6 credits; LA; Not offered 2016-17
LATN 255 Biography, History, and Empire in Tacitus’ Agricola How is it possible to be a good person in a morally deficient system? Part biography, part history, part eulogy, and part invective against Roman Emperor Domitian, Tacitus’ Agricola charts the life and military accomplishments of the author’s father-in-law, Gnaeus Julius Agricola, in modern-day Britain. In conversation with other readings in English, we will engage closely with the style and language of the text in Latin as we explore the constraints and possibilities of genre, and Tacitus’ understanding of geography and ethnicity. Prerequisite: Latin 204 or equivalent. 6 credits; LA; Not offered 2016-17
LATN 256 The Art and Philosophy of the Letter Dear Carl, What Latin class are you taking this fall? Have you considered The Art and Philosophy of the Letter? The course will investigate why epistolary form was so important in Latin literature, and you’ll learn about the consequences (even controversies!) that resulted when authors imparted the form of personalized communication to texts with a public reception. We’ll read Cicero, Ovid, and Seneca, but also the correspondence of private individuals and some theoretical treatments of letter-writing, all to determine the range of styles and content that epistolary form enveloped. See you in September, Hans. Prerequisite: Latin 204 or equivalent. 6 credits; LA; Fall; Hans Wietzke
LATN 257 Caesar, Lucan, and Civil War This course will examine narratives of the early stages of the Roman Civil War through contemporary prose accounts of Caesar and Cicero and the poet Lucan's Neronian epic on the Civil War. Topics will include manipulation of public opinion and memory, historical reconstruction through text, the relationship between prose history and historical epic, and the literal and metaphorical dissolution of Rome through civil war, as well as stylistic and philosophical concerns specific to each author. Prerequisite: Latin 204 or the equivalent. 6 credits; HI, IS; Winter; Kathryn L Steed
LATN 258 Seminar: Horace Selection from Horace's Odes, Epodes, Satires and Epistles in Latin and the remaining works in translation. Prerequisite: Latin 204 or equivalent. 6 credits; LA; Not offered 2016-17
LATN 259 Seminar: Vergil Intensive study of selections from Vergil. May be offered simultaneously with Latin 359 without the supplemental assignments for advanced students. Prerequisite: Latin 204 or the equivalent. 6 credits; LA; Not offered 2016-17
LATN 280 Martyr Texts from Roman North Africa Through close reading and discussion of Latin texts on Christian martyrdom from the second and third centuries, including The Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicity and Tertullian's To the Martyrs, we will discuss the qualities of the newly emerging Christian Latin. We will also examine how these authors construct an image of a new hero--the martyr--in the classical landscape and the nature and meaning of their struggle. Prerequisite: Latin 204 or equivalent. 2 credits; HI, IS; Not offered 2016-17
LATN 345 Roman Comedy Selected readings in the original from Plautus and/or Terence; study in translation of both Roman Comedy and its predecessor Greek New Comedy. 6 credits; LA; Not offered 2016-17
LATN 359 Vergil Intensive study of selections from Vergil. May be offered simultaneously with Latin 259, with additional assignments for the advanced students. Prerequisite: Latin 204 or the equivalent. 6 credits; WR2, LA; Not offered 2016-17