Spring 2021 - HUM 232 D100

The Religions of Ancient Greece and Rome (3)

Class Number: 7119

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 11 – Apr 16, 2021: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduces the religions of ancient Greece and Rome. Archaeological materials, ancient texts (in translation) and art are used to examine Graeco-Roman religions within their historical framework and understand how ancient peoples experienced religion. Examines the extent to which specific social, political and cultural developments impacted the religious landscape. Students with credit for HS 232 or HUM 216 may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

On December 25, 354 CE, a series of festivities took place in the Roman Empire for two very different reasons: one of these festivals celebrated the birth of Sun the Invincible and were commenced by the followers of his cult; the other festival commemorated the coming of Jesus Christ to this world and was organized by the Christians. Since both the cult of Sun the Invincible and Christianity represent one of the last major products of Antiquity in the Mediterranean, it should not surprise us that the two divinities shared the same birthday. How did we end up with two popular but mutually exclusive religions within the Roman Empire sharing such a major holiday? We embark on our journey by attempting to answer this question.

This course offers a survey of the religions which thrived in Ancient Greece and Rome by situating them in the political, social, and cultural realities of the Mediterranean. In doing so, the course addresses the often-conflicting roles of tradition and innovation in Greco-Roman religious beliefs from around 1500 BCE to 500 CE. By learning about the evolution of religion in the Greco-Roman world, students are exposed to ideas of socio-cultural transformation that allow us to approach the pre-modern Mediterranean as a vibrant and dynamic space in history. While the lion’s share of material covered is dedicated to mythology that created the world of Greek gods such as Zeus, Aphrodite, and Athena as well as their Roman counterparts Jupiter, Venus, and Minerva, attention will be given to other religions that were established and grew in Greco-Roman societies: mystic cults of Ancient Greece, hybrid religions of the Hellenistic times, Roman folk religion, and finally Christianity.

In order to best explore the ways in which the Ancient Greeks and Romans perceived religion, students are exposed to a number of primary sources of different provenance: textual, archaeological, artistic, numismatic, etc. By critically engaging with these first-hand accounts of religious experiences, students are familiarized with the terminology widely used in studies of religion.

Lectures: Recorded, available every Monday at 7:00am

Grading

  • Online Discussions 20%
  • Quizzes 30%
  • Primary Source Analyses 20%
  • Museum Curation 30%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

All course materials will be provided via Canvas in accessible URL and PDF formats.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2021

Teaching at SFU in spring 2021 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).