Unit information: Religions in Greece from the Bronze Age to the Classical Period in 2008/09

Unit name	Religions in Greece from the Bronze Age to the Classical Period
Unit code	CLAS30092
Credit points	40
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Emeritus Professor. Buxton
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Classics & Ancient History
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

Religion, which could be defined as the belief in and worship of superhuman powers, is one of the most complex and intriguing aspects of the ancient Greek world. This unit provides an opportunity for students to investigate religious cults and beliefs attested in Greece from the Bronze Age to the Classical period (ca. 3000-400 BC), by means of a thematic approach. Topics examined will include: interpretative approaches to religion in the Greek world; sources for the study of religions in Greece; iconography; cult places; texts; ritual performances; and issues of continuity or discontinuity from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age.

Aims:

To provide an opportunity for students to investigate religious cults and beliefs attested in Greece from the Bronze Age to the Classical period (ca. 3000-400 BC).

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit students should have acquired a good knowledge and understanding of: a variety of interpretative approaches to religion in the Greek world; the main sources for the study of religions in Greece (ca. 3000-400 BC); the physical contexts of religion (main types of cult places in Greece); some relevant ancient texts and visual images; and aspects of ritual performance (sacrifices, processions, festivals, etc.).They should also have had the opportunity to develop further their oral, written, and analytical skills.

Teaching Information

Lectures by the unit Directors, student presentations, seminar discussions.

Assessment Information

One student presentation (25%); one essay of 3000 words in length (25%); one 3-hour exam (50%).

Reading and References

• J.N. Bremmer, Greek Religion (Oxford 1994; revised with Addenda 1999)

• L. Bruit Zaidman and P. Schmitt Pantel, Religion in the Ancient Greek City (Cambridge 1992, translated by Paul Cartledge).

• W. Burkert, Greek Religion: Archaic and Classical (Oxford 1985)

• R. Buxton, Oxford Readings in Greek Religion (Oxford 2000)

• R. Laffineur and R. H�gg, Potnia: Deities and Religion in the Aegean Bronze Age (Li�ge, 2001) N. Marinatos, Minoan Religion: Ritual, Image and Symbol (Columbia, South Carolina, 1993).