Summer 2026
Hakan Özlen
July 13 - August 9 (Online)
3 credits
Fulfills Literature, Elementary
Explore the untold stories of ancient Roman society.
Do you ever wonder if there’s more to the Roman Empire than emperors, battles, and gladiators? This course looks at those on the margins of the empire — witches, bandits, members of mystery cults, enslaved people, and more. Their stories survive in surprising places.
Our central text is The Golden Ass, the only complete Roman novel to survive from antiquity: a strange, funny, brutal story about a man transformed into a donkey. We will read it alongside poems, letters, religious inscriptions, and actual magical spells and curse tablets left behind by ordinary Romans.
Students will engage with primary sources through written reflections and creative projects. The final assessment offers a choice between an academic essay and a podcast.
