This course is intended as an introduction to the themes, characters and images of Greek and Roman myth. We will create the universe, gods, and humans, and then focus on particular heroes as opportunities to consider the scope and interpretations of the mythology. We will consider how these ancient cultures conceived of deity, what it meant to be human and how they dealt with the mysterious and the inexplicable. Primary evidence (literary references, physical remains such as temples and monuments, and iconography in sculpture and vase painting) will be used to identify and interpret the myths, study their origins, and analyze their importance for our understanding of ancient belief systems. Particular attention will be paid to the role of mythology in ancient religious ritual and its influence on culture. Lectures will be illustrated with images of ancient and more recent art, as one goal of the course is to provide the tools to recognize myths and characters in art.

Course requirements: three exams (short answers, essays, and slide identification), several projects and one paper, attendance and participation in weekly discussion sections.