Fall 1996 Course Bulletin

CLASSICS

CLASSICS 31: CLASSICS OF GREECE

Athens under Pericles, in the fifth century B.C., became the intellectual and artistic center of the whole Greek world, with achievements admired by all subsequent ages. What was Athens' inspiration? This course uses the literature of ancient Greece (read in English translation) to explore aspects of Athenian life; the development of democracy, the flowering of poetic drama, the early growth of moral philosophy, and ideals of education and fitness. Readings normally include Homer's Iliad or Odyssey ; plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes; selections from Herodotus and Thucydides; and dialogues of Plato.

No previous knowledge of Classics assumed. This is a Humanities Distribution course and can count for the language requirement as a Classics Culture Area course.

 CLS 31A MERZLAK 37 (MON 9:30-10:20; TUTH 10:30-11:20)
CLS 31B TROUT 63+(MON 1:05-2:20; WED 11:30-12:45)
 
 

CLASSICS 32: CLASSICS OF ROME

An introduction to Roman civilization and culture as seen through its literature (read in English translation). Particular attention will be paid to Rome of the Late Republic and the Age of the Emperor Augustus, in order to understand the profound political, intellectual and artistic developments of that era. Readings normally include some of Cicero'ss speeches and essays, Virgil's Aeneid , parts of Ovid's Metamorphoses and Art of Love , Catullus' poems, the Satires of Juvenal and other Latin authors.

 No previous knowledge of Classics assumed. This is a Humanities Distribution course and can count for the language requirement as a Classics Culture Area or Italian Peninsula Culture Area course.

 HALPERN 37 (MON 9:30-10:20; TUTH 10:30-11:20)
 
 

CLASSICS 37: HISTORY OF ANCIENT GREECE

(Cross-listed HST 16 )

 The historical development of ancient Greece and the interaction of society, politics and culture in the Greek world, from the Mycenaean civilization commemorated by Homer to the conquests of Alexander the Great and the diffusion of the Greek way of life in the succeeding Hellenistic Age. The city-state as the characteristic Greek form of communal organization, the social and economic forces which united and divided Greek society, the evolution of democracy and the creation of new forms of intellectual and artistic expression. Relationship of the Greeks to other peoples of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East, especially the role of Persia in Greek history. Examination of materials, both literary and documentary, which serve as the basis for our knowledge of Greek history.

 Satisfies Humanities or Social Science Distribution Area.

HIRSCH 47 (MWF 10:30-11:20)
 
 

CLASSICS 45: WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT

(Cross-listed PS 45)

 The course is designed to introduce students to central concepts of ancient, medieval and early modern political thought. It begins with the ideas of Thucydides, Aristophanes, Plato and Aristotle during the rise and fall of Athens. Furthermore, it will examine the debates on the relation between religion and politics that animated the Roman empire and culminated in Christian political doctrine, exploring the new political outlook inaugurated by Machiavelli as the Renaissance challenged Christianity.
Among the themes analyzed are the debate that surrounded the founding of the idea of truth, the contention over whether human excellence is achieved through creativity or contemplation, the understandings developed as to the political meaning of nature, the disagreements over the tasks of philosophy in society, the role of political virtue and morality in sustaining a republic, the debate whether principles of justice merely serve particular interests or foster a general political good, the relation between polytheistic and monotheistic religions and the aims of political orders, the conflict between philosophy and religion and the founding of theology, the relations between democracy and leadership, the tensions between the rights of communities and the liberties of the individual, and the relations among empire, commerce, and corruption. The course also examines how ancient, medieval, and early modern political philosophy helped structure future political debate.

Requirements: There are no prerequisites for the course. Grades primarily are a product of mid-term and final take-home exams that analyze themes explored in lectures, class discussions and the readings. Students also will be rewarded for participation in class. The teaching assistants will lead four voluntary review sessions during the course of the semester. To facilitate analyses of the readings, a list of study guide questions will be distributed each week. Students are asked to bring the relevant book to each class.

Readings: Thucydides, Aristophanes, Plato, Aristotle, Lucretius, Cicero, St. Augustine, Machiavelli, Nietzsche.

 DEVIGNE B3 (TUTH 1:05-2:20 PM)
 
 

CLASSICS 55: INTRODUCTION TO GREEK DRAMA I

(Cross-listed DR 55)

 A survey of Greek drama with an emphasis on Aeschylus and Sophocles. This course explores the invention of Greek drama and with it the roots of all European theater. Connections between the plays and the historical and social milieu of the time are emphasized, with supplementary readings in authors such as Herodotus. We see how the tensions of the period--Athens was a democracy with an empire, a revolutionary free society that limited its freedom, Athenian literature constituted both elite and popular culture--all came together to make these plays among the most widely read and successful literary creations ever produced.

Prerequisites: None.

 CRANE 63+ (M 1:05-2:20; W 11:30-12:45)
 
 

CLASSICS 91: SHAKESPEARE'S ROME

(Cross-listed PS 141)

 Shakespeare's poetry as a means to explore a central question of political philosophy: How does the character of the regime affect the nature of the individuals who compose it? Examination of Shakespeare's views on Rome's greatness, the sources of its decline, Rome as a model of civic participation, the demands of Roman virtue, women in a martial regime, the place of philosophy in the city. The study of Shakespeare's plays on Rome, in conjunction with Shakespeare's classical sources, Plutarch, Livy, and Virgil, will lead to consideration of whether Shakespeare diverges from his sources to come to an independent judgement of Rome and, if so, why?

 SULLIVAN 73+ (TUW 1:05-2:20 PM)

CLASSICS 140: CLASSICAL EPIC

An intensive study of the epic in ancient times. Primary works include; among others, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and Virgil's Aeneid. Consideration as well of the modern epic tradition as we find it in literature, music and film.

 Requirements: short oral reports, one short focused paper, final exam.

Prerequisite: CLS 31, 32, 37, or 38.

 HALPERN 53+ (TUTH 11:30-12:45 PM)

CLASSICS 146: THE HISTORY OF ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN MEDICINE

The historical development of ancient Greek and Roman medicine with emphasis on methodology and sources, as well as the assessment of the influence of ancient medicine on the development of modern clinical medicine. Topics covered include ancient practices with regard to anatomy, physiology, surgery, pharmacology, etiology of disease, and medical deontology.

 Fulfills Classics Culture Area/Humanities Distribution requirements.

 PHILLIPS 65+ (MTH 1:05-2:20 PM)
 
 

CLASSICS 151: ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY

(Cross-listed PHIL 151 )

 Problems about nature, necessity, being and nonbeing, truth and reality will be introduced in the setting where they first appeared.
Twentieth century classical scholarship and the attention of first-rate philosophers, especially in the last twenty-five years, have made the ancient texts more accessible than anyone once thought possible--not just the works of Plato and Aristotle but what remains to us of their predecessors, the so-called pre-Socratics, and of their successors.
A principle theme in philosophy of the modern period beginning with Descartes is the quest for certainty. In the ancient tradition the goal is not certainty but understanding, and the result is, in some respects, surprisingly contemporary. The setting is alien; these people lived a very long time ago. But anyone willing to reach back to their problems and what they said in response to them is sure to find it worth the effort.
This course is designed for philosophy majors looking for the original formulation of some problems in metaphysics and the philosophy of logic and language, classics majors interested in ancient philosophical thought, minors in the history of philosophy, and -- since little is presupposed beyond the ability to read and write mature English -- any junior or senior looking for a historical introduction to philosophy.

 Texts: Early Greek Philosophy, Jonathan Barnes (trans.), Plato: The Complete Dialogues, Hamilton & Cairns (eds.), a New Aristotle Reader, John Ackrill (ed.), and assorted xeroxed material.

Prerequisites: PHIL 1 or consent.

 SMITH 47 (MWF10:30-11:20)

CLASSICS 163: AEGEAN ARCHAEOLOGY

(Cross-listed FAH 112)

 In this course, we will study the sites and monuments of the Aegean area from the Neolithic period to the end of the Bronze Age with special emphasis on the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations.

Prerequisites: CLS 27/ FAH 19 or FAH 1 or consent.

 MAGNESS 83+ (MW 2:30 - 3:45 PM)
 
 

CLASSICS 166: CLASSICAL PORTRAITURE SEMINAR

(Cross-listed FAH 193)

 A study of the representations of specific persons from before 6000 BC to after 400 AD, with emphasis on the changing styles in the portrayals of Greeks and Romans. Starting with the hypothesis that a portrait is a deliberate representation of a specific person, usually still alive, rendered in the style of the time, we shall investigate sculpted and painted works in class, in assigned readings, and in museums. Weekly meetings will include classroom lecturers on the Tufts campus but most of the classes will be in the galleries of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, with trips to museums in Cambridge, Providence and Worcester as well. Students will give presentations in the museums, will participate in class discussions, and will complete a seminar paper on an appropriate aspect of Classical Portraiture to be determined in conference with the professor.

Prerequisite: Consent

 BALMUTH Z3* (W 2:30-5:00 PM)

CLASSICS 187: QUMRAN AND THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS

(Cross-listed FAH 190B/JS 191)

 The first Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered by a Bedouin boy in 1947, when he stumbled into a cave near the site of Qumran, by the shore of the Dead Sea. This discovery soon generated a great deal of excitement among scholars, who realized that some of the scrolls represent the oldest preserved copies of the Bible, dating to about the time of Jesus. Others are literary works describing the beliefs and practices of an extreme Jewish sect. Since their discovery, the scrolls have been the focus of intense scholarly debate, centering around such questions as the identity of this extreme Jewish sect; the nature of their beliefs and practices; their possible connections with or influence upon early Christianity; and the character of the site of Qumran. We will explore all of these questions and more, in a course with the format of a seminar; each class meeting will focus upon a specific topic or problem.

 Be prepared for reading assignments, oral reports, classroom discussion, and writing assignments.

Prerequisites: none.

 MAGNESS W3 ( W 6:30-9:00)

LATIN

LATIN 1: ELEMENTARY LATIN

A course in Latin for beginners, and those who need a refresher course in the language. Emphasis will be on training students to read Latin at an early stage in the course. But great stress will be placed , too, on cultural enrichment and vocabulary building, through a study of English derivatives from Latin works.

SETNIK 47 (MWF 10:30-11:20)
 
 

LATIN 003: INTERMEDIATE LATIN

This course will use a selection of Latin texts, from both the Roman and Medieval periods, to review basic grammar and syntax and enhance fluency. We will then focus on Latin texts that illuminate--and are illuminated by--the ruins of Pompeii, destroyed by an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD.; these will include Pliny's account of the eruption, some passages from Petronius' Satyricon and Pliny the Elder's Natural History, some epigrams of Martial, and inscriptions from Pompeii itself.

Prerequisite: LAT 1 and 2 or placement by department exam, Advanced Placement, or Achievement scores, or by consent.

 REID 37 (M 9:30-10:20; TUTH 10:30-11:20)
 
 

LATIN 91: PETRONIUS

A close reading of selections from Petronius' Satyricon as a reflection of Roman culture and society in the first century A.D.

Prerequisite: LAT 3, or 21or 22, or placement.

 PHILLIPS A3+ (TUTH 3:50-5:05)
 
 

LATIN 103: TACITUS

The Roman senator and historian Tacitus claimed to write sine ira et studio, yet his historical works paint a dark pessimistic picture of imperial tyranny and senatorial failure under the Julio-Claudian and Flavian emperors. Latin readings drawn from the Agricola and the Annals , supplemented by other works in translation, will allow us to assess the reasons for and the validity of Tacitus' grim vision of the Roman world of Augustus' successors. Additionally by examining Tacitus' preoccupations with psychology and morality in combination with his recognized skills as a literary artist, we will study the varied ways in which Tacitus subtly, yet relentlessly, pursued the ancient historian's craft.

Midterm, final, oral reports, and paper.

Prerequisite : LAT 91 or higher.

 TROUT B3 (TUTH 1:05-2:20)

GREEK

GREEK 001: ELEMENTARY GREEK

The course offers the student an opportunity to read the original text of one of the most influential poems ever written, and enhance the text with new electronic tools specifically designed for this course. Through reading the Iliad of Homer, the student will master a preliminary knowledge of the grammar and structure of ancient Greek. Flexibly organized with emphasis on self-paced learning, the course also offers students access to the Perseus multimedia database on Ancient Greece. Using Perseus and similar resources, students will be encouraged to pursue related topics as they learn the fundamentals of Greek.

 CRANE 87+ (MWTH 2:30-3:45)
 
 

GREEK 007: GREEK CLASSICS

A review of grammar in accord with student needs will be followed by selected readings from Plato. Brief selections from a variety of authors of both poetry and prose will be used to reaffirm the students' knowledge of Greek grammar and syntax.

Prerequisite: Greek 2 or placement.

 REID D3 (TUTH 2:30-3:45)
 
 

GREEK 103: GREEK HISTORIANS

An examination of the work and thought of Herodotus and Thucydides, who should be appreciated not only for their pivotal role in the creation of Greek historical writing but also as important intellectual and literary figures. Besides reading selections from each author, we will discuss their (often starkly contrasting) aims, methods, values, central themes, and styles.

Prerequisite : GRK 7

 HIRSCH 76+ (WF 1:05-2:20)