The course will look at Greek religion from three main perspectives. First, we will look at some of the main categories through which Greek religion structured the world (mortals, immortals, animals, landscape). Second, we will look at the main forms of religious experience and how it dealt with major human emotional concerns (i.e. death, disease, love). Finally, we will discuss Greek religion within particular societies and in the context of other contemporary systems of thought.

2x1hr sessions per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in Classics and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available in MyCampus.

The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Essay (2000 words) - (50%)

■ Exam (90 minute duration) (50%)

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the assessments, but flexible deadlines/ extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

This course will provide an opportunity to:

■ Examine the core material for the study of ancient Greek religion, including literary texts and epigraphic and material evidence

■ Engage critically with important secondary scholarship on the subject

■ Consider how 'the Greeks' thought and practice was shaped by their religious beliefs

■ Become exposed to an alternative worldview

■ Reflect on the different ways in which people from different societies try to deal with similar fundamental questions.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ describe the main institutions and rituals of Greek religion

■ analyse key concepts in the scholarship of Greek religion using a variety of primary sources

■ identify and evaluate different scholarly approaches to Greek religion

■ produce sustained arguments that compare and criticize modern interpretations of particular phenomena in Greek religion