Classics 517: Ancient Religion

This course studies the religions of the Greeks and Romans, including the development of Christianity within the political setting of the Roman Empire. Using modern scholarship and ancient sources, you will explore religious beliefs and practices in their social and historical contexts. The course is held in a collaborative learning classroom, with students organized into small groups for discussion and other activities. By the end of the course, you will understand the concepts and practice of Greek and Roman religion, including the roles of oracles, festivals, and centralized worship; religious practice in daily life; how religion supported the Greek and Roman political systems; and the relationship between religion and literature, philosophy, and the arts. You will also exercise your skills in dialogue and critical thinking, especially with respect to the interpretation of sources and engagement with scholarly arguments. The course assumes no prior knowledge of the ancient world.