Fall 1997 Courses

CLASSICS

CLASSICS 29: ARCHAEOLOGY OF PALESTINE IN THE CLASSICAL PERIODS

(Cross-listed FAH 018/JS 077))

 This course surveys the archaeology of Palestine (modern-day Israel and Jordan) from the Persian period (ca. 586 B.C.) to the Muslim conquest (640 A.D.). The slide-illustrated lectures will introduce students to the relevant historical background, the major archaeological sites, and the material culture (pottery, coins, etc.). The topics that will be covered include the Dead Sea Scrolls, Jerusalem in the time of Jesus, and the development of ancient synagogues and churches.

 Course grades will be based on two mid-term examinations; one final examination; and a short research paper.

Prerequisites: none

 TBA 63+ (M 1:05-2:20, W 11:30-12:45)

CLASSICS 31A: CLASSICS OF GREECE

The literature and history of ancient Greece have profoundly marked the western consciousness. The achievements of classical Athens readily provided many subsequent states and societies in the West with a measure of greatness to be emulated or disdained, for Greek ways of thinking and acting bequeathed a legacy that few could ignore. That legacy continues to shape subtly our own attitudes toward politics, war, ethics, and other areas of human endeavor and thought; but at the same time we have become increasingly suspicious of the "glory that was Greece." Greek ideas and practice regarding slavery, sexuality, and gender roles, for example, may both intrigue and offend us, while even Athenian "democracy" itself now elicits critical reappraisal. This course explores the Greek world of Achilles and Pericles, of Alcibiades and Socrates, through the literature of the Greeks themselves. Emphasis is upon critical reading and assessment of works by Homer, Herodotus, Thucydides, Euripides, Plato, and others. Discussion will be encouraged, as we attempt both to understand the Greek world on its own terms and to assess its value for us today. We will approach that world as historians, anthropologists, and literary critics.

Prerequisite: none

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

CLASSICS 31WW: CLASSICS OF GREECE WRITING WORKSHOP

The optional Writing Workshop section of CLS 31 offers an excellent opportunity to reflect more deeply upon the texts and the issues that they raise. The journal and the writing-based exercises are valuable means for establishing a dialogue with the material that is otherwise difficult to fashion. Moreover, the weekly meeting provides a more informal venue for conversations and discussion. In the workshop, as we consider how to "read" the text of others, we will also explore the elements of our own writing.

 TROUT 64 (TH 1:30-2:20)

CLASSICS 31B: CLASSICS OF GREECE

A study of major Greek literary works in translation. 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.

Prerequisite: none

 TBA 27 (TUWF 9:30-10:20)
 
 

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's 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.

Prerequisite: none

 MERZLAK 37 (M 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.

Prerequisite: none

 HIRSCH 47 (MWF 10:30-11:20)

CLASSICS 45: WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT

(Cross-listed PS 45/PHIL 45)

 Central concepts of ancient, medieval, and early modern political thought. Ideas of Thucydides, Aristophanes, Plato, and Aristotle during the rise and fall of Athens, Greece. Subsequent transformations of political philosophy, related to the decline of the Roman empire and the origins and development of Christian political doctrine, and the new political outlook of those who challenge the hegemony of Christianity. Analysis of how premodern thought helped structure future political debate.

 DEVIGNE B3 (TUTH 1:05-2:20 PM)
 
 

CLASSICS 91/187: THE ROMAN CITY: ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

(Cross-listed FAH 92B/192B)

 NEW COURSE The development of Imperial architecture in Roman cities based on the convergence of the Greek and Etruscan past; the environment and the materials available; and the growth of technology. Concrete and the creation of a new architectural aesthetic. The internal and external treatment of space; the spatial definition of a city.

Prerequisite: FAH 01 or CLS 27/FAH 9

 BALMUTH ARR (M 3:30-6:20)
 
 

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?

Prerequisite: none

 SULLIVAN 83+ (MW 2:30-3:45)

CLASSICS 136: CLASSICAL BIOGRAPHY: THE AGE OF AUGUSTUS

We shall try to discover the person named Caius Julius Caesar Octavianus [Augustus], as well as the achievements of his age, by reading his own Res Gestae and Suetonius' Life. To learn how Augustus shaped his age, there will be readings from Horace, Vergil, Ovid, Livy, Tibullus, and Propertius. There will be considerable emphasis on the history of the period, Augustus' use of propaganda, his organization of the provinces, and his building program in the city of Rome itself.

Reports, mid-term and final, and term paper.

Prerequisite: CLS 32 or 38 or consent.

 REID B3 (TUTH 1:05-2:20)

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.

Prerequisite: Sophomore Standing

 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.

Prerequisites: PHIL 1 or consent.

 CARTWRIGHT 47 (MWF10:30-11:20)

CLASSICS 167 TYRRHENIAN [ETRUSCAN] ARCHAEOLOGY

(Cross-listed FAH 115)

 The Etruscans are a mysterious people who inhabited the area of modern-day Tuscany, and whose history is closely intertwined with that of Rome and Greece. This course examines the material evidence for their culture from prehistoric times up through the period of the Roman Republic.

Course grades will be based on one mid-term examination; one final examination; oral reports in class on assigned readings; and reports on objects displayed at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts ( the course includes museum visits).

Prerequisites: none

 TBA H3+ (M 6:30-7:45, W 4:45-6:20)
 
 

CLASSICS 191: LITERARY TEXTS ON THE WEB

(Cross-listed CIS 191)

 NEW COURSE While some literary texts have continued to attract readers thousands of years after their initial production, all texts - whether the Iliad, Hamlet or even a popular film such as Star Wars - assume a given set of cultural knowledge in their audience. Traditional publication, which inscribes texts in stand-alone media such as books (or VHS tapes and LaserDisc), make it difficult to connect the text with its cultural context. The rise of hypertextual electronic media such as the World Wide Web completely revolutionizes the ways in which we can connect text with context. This course, by focusing on the problems of representing the ancient world in later literature, will explore these possibilities. Course projects may include (1) an edition of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar with extensive links to on-line versions of Shakespeare's main source, North's translation of Plutarch or (2) an on-line commentary on the new Odyssey miniseries (due from NBC in May), connecting the epic as represented for television with translations of, and information about, the original.

 This course will perform three basic tasks: 1) It will survey the interaction between literary form and the characteristics of a particular media. An overview of non-electronic media such as cuneiform, alphabetic writing, the codex, and print technologies will provide an introduction to readings on the theory and practice of hypertext, beginning with Vannevar Bush's classic 1945 essay, "As we may think." 2) It will introduce students to the practical issues involved in engineering hypertextual documents that can be published not only on the World Wide Web but also sufficiently well-designed to migrate into other environments that may emerge in the future. The focus will be upon the theory and practice of Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), which allows us to encode much more information about a text than is possible in HTML. 3) Students will apply the theory and practice acquired in the course to projects of their own. They will create hypertextual editions of literary texts and publish these on a World Wide Web site.

Prerequisite: Survey course in English, Classics or Drama

 CRANE W2 (TU 6:30-9:00)

LATIN

LATIN 1: ELEMENTARY LATIN

A course 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. Authenic Latin selections in simplified form will reflect many of the ancient myths, ideas, and questions that intrigue us today. Great stress also will be placed on cultural enrichment and vocabulary building, through a study of English derivatives from Latin words.

Prerequisite: none

 SETNIK 47 (MWF 10:30-11:20)
 
 

LATIN 003: INTERMEDIATE LATIN

This class will use a lengthy excerpt from Petronius' Satyricon, the Cena Trimalchionis, to review grammar and syntax, and enhance fluency. Additionally, Petronius' work provides a highly entertaining introduction to the world of the Julio/Claudian Empire.

Prerequisite: Latin 1 + 2 or placement

 HALPERN B3 (TUTH 1:05- 2:20)
 
 

LATIN 091 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 21 or 22, or placement

 PHILLIPS 53+ (TUTH 11:30-12:45)

LATIN 191 AUGUSTINE'S CONFESSIONS

NEW COURSE Reading and discussion of one of the most important works of the Latin literary and intellectual tradition. The Confessions tells the story of Augustine's life as a youth in Roman north Africa, a teacher of rhetoric in Carthage and Rome, and a convert to Christianity at the imperial capital of Milan. As an historical text, the Confessions offers a vivid picture of the christianization of classical society in late antiquity. As autobiography, the Confessions provokes debate about the methods of self-representation in the late Roman world and the interplay of literary models and historical reality. Augustine's status as both an eminent representative of late classical culture and perhaps the most important figure in the articulation of late ancient Christianity ensured the Confessions a central place in the subsequent western tradition.

Prerequisites: LAT 91 or Higher.

 TROUT D3 (TUTH 2:30-3:45)

GREEK

GREEK 001: ELEMENTARY GREEK: NEW TESTAMENT

NEW COURSE Greek 1 will introduce students to the language of the New Testament through reading texts such as the gospels. The student will master a preliminary knowledge of the grammar and structure of ancient Greek. Flexibility 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 fundamental of Greek.

Prerequisites: None

 CRANE 27 (TUWF 9:30-10:20)
 
 

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: GRK 2 or placaement

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

GREEK 104: PLATO'S SYMPOSIUM

In this class, we will read Plato's Symposium in order to develop and/or refine an acquaintance with Platonic style. We will also use this dialogue, one of Plato's more accessible works, to identify key philosophical issues within a vivid historical present.

Prerequisite: GRK 7 or consent

 HALPERN 53+ (TUTH 11:30-12:45)

SUMMER 1997 COURSES

FIRST SESSION May 21 - June 27

CLASSICS 91/191 COMEDY: ARISTOPHANES AND ATHENS

Aristophanes' comedies will be used as a base from which to explore the social, political, and intellectual climate in Athens in the latter part of the Fifth Century B.C. Clouds will introduce us to Socrates and the Sophists, Frogs to Aeschylus and Euripides, Wasps to the working of the Athenian democracy and law-courts, Birds to the exuberance of Athenian imperialism and the Periclean building program, The Congresswomen to gender issues, and Lysistrata to the war with Sparta. Plays of Aeschylus and Euripides, excerpts from dialogues of Plato, including Protagoras and Socrates' Defence, and selections from Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War will supplement our study of Athens' greatest comic playwright. Some in-class dramatic readings of scenes from Aristophanes' other comedies.

No prerequisites. All works will be read in English. Students wishing upper-level credit (CLS 191s) will be required to write a paper.

 REID MW 1:00 - 4:30
 
 

CLASSICS 91FT FRANCE BEFORE FRANCE: HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF CELTIC AND ROMAN GAUL

A six-week hands-on experience for students interested in archaeological techniques and French history and culture. Students concentrate on the history of Celtic and Roman Gaul, and participate in the excavation of an ancient Roman fort. Field trips to various archaeological sites and museums in Lyon, Vienne, and Annecy. Two course credits. Conducted in English on the Talloires, France campus.

 HIRSCH May 18 - June 30

SECOND SESSION July 1 - August 8

CLASSICS 92/192 THE RISE OF THE GREEKS

Exploration of the origins of Greek civilization in the turbulent, creative and enigmatic Archaic Period (ca. 800-480 B.C.), using literary texts, archaeological remains (through slides and a field trip), and cultural practices, such as religious rituals and festivals. Topics include: How and why did the Greeks create such novel conceptions as personal poetry, historical inquiry and scientific speculation? What were the social and political impacts of new technologies such as diversified agriculture, hoplite warfare and alphabetic writing? What do the evolution of the city-state, athletic competition and democracy tell us about changing conceptions of the individual and community?

No prerequisites. All works will be read in English. Students wishing upper-level credit (CLS 192) will be required to write a paper.

 HIRSCH TUTH 1:00 - 4:30
 
 

SPECIAL SESSION: THE 1997 TUFTS UNIVERSITY EXCAVATIONS AT NAHAL YATTIR

JULY 6 - AUGUST 1

 Tufts University students are being offered the opportunity of participating on excavations at the site of Nahal Yattir (ancient Iethira) in Israel. Nahal Yattir is the site of a large ancient village, located high in the Judean Mountains to the south of Hebron and west of Masada, within Israel's pre-1967 borders. The village was inhabited during the Iron Age, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods, and during the Middle Ages. Excavations in the summer of 1996 revealed the remains of a large Byzantine (6th century) church with mosaic floor. In the summer of 1997, Professor Jodi Magness will co-direct excavations at Nahal Yattir, with Dr. Hanan Eshel of Bar-Ilan University and Dr. Eli Shenhav of the Jewish National Fund.

All Tufts students, with or without previous archaeological experience, are invited to join. Together with archaeology students from Bar-Ilan

University, we will excavate in the mornings, and after lunch and a rest, will have field trips in the afternoons and lectures in the evenings. Students have the option of receiving academic credit through the Tufts Summer School for their participation on the excavation. Academic credit can be arranged through the Classics Department, the Art History Department, or the Program in Judaic Studies. Interested students should contact Jodi Magness NO LATER THAN APRIL 15th at the Classics Department, 321 Eaton Hall, tel. Ext. 2680