Classical Civilisation

The World of the Hero: You will study Homer's Iliad as well as Virgil's Aeneid. You will develop an increasingly sophisticated level of knowledge and understanding of the epics themselves, the way in which they were composed, and the religious, cultural and social values and beliefs of its society. The poems of Homer were considered by the Greeks themselves to be a foundation of Greek culture, standing as they do at the beginning of the Western literary canon. Virgil explored what it was to be a hero in the Roman world and created a work which has proven enduringly popular.

Greek Theatre: The drama produced in the ancient Greek theatre forms some of the most powerful literature of the ancient world and has had a profound and wide-reaching influence on modern culture. In this module, you will study not only the texts of Aristophanes' Frogs and Sophocles, Oedipus the King and Euripides, Bacchae, but also their social, political and religious context. You will also study the representation of theatre in the visual and material culture of Greece.

Politics of the Late Republic: The Late Roman Republic was a period of upheaval and conflicting views on how the Roman state should function. In this component, you will study the political thought of the period of conflicts which eventually led to the downfall of the Roman Republic. Through examining Cato, Caesar and Cicero you will explore the very different lives of three contemporary political figures.