The Classical Studies course answers questions.

Questions like: What is a Greek Hero? Who was Zeus and how is his rule of the universe different from that of God? Why was Julius Caesar assassinated? What is so special about Homer and his epic poem, The Iliad? What did a Greek man see when he went to the theatre? How did the Greeks paint their beautiful vases? And, what is the role of all this in contemporary society?

In essence, this course is concerned with ancient civilisations of the Greeks and the Romans, from the intricacies of their political and military history and the vast landscape of their mythology to the very languages they used.

This course provides students with a knowledge of the major aspects that made the world of Greece and Rome. It is conveniently divided into five modules in order to give students a broad perception of some of the most important features of the Classical age that have had a lasting influence on subsequent ages, including modern times.

• Module 1 – History will focus on particular episodes of Greek and Roman history, highlighting the main important political and theoretical elements in each period.
• Module 2 – Language will focus on the elementary grammar of Latin and Classical Greek.
• Module 3 – Mythology will focus on the major myths and sagas of Greek mythology, and their main protagonists, as well as the use of mythology in modern popular culture.
• Module 4 – Literature ¬will focus mainly on classical epic, tragedy and poetry.
• Module 5 – Art and Architecture will focus on art and architecture in the classical period, particularly Greek vase-painting, Greek and Roman sculpture, and Roman architecture.

No textbook is required for this course. However, a suggested reading list will be provided. Refer to the syllabus on the MATSEC website.