Ancient Studies
Ombretta Frau, Chair
Denise Falk, Academic Department Coordinator
112 Ciruti Center
413-538-2581
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/ancient
Overview and Contact Information
The major in ancient studies encourages the study of ancient Greek, Roman, and Indian civilizations, as they relate to one another, from an interdisciplinary and inclusive perspective. Currently, majors may choose from among three concentrations: a) art historical/archaeological, b) historical, c) literary / mythological. On consultation with her advisor, a student may select her courses from among those offered in classics, art history, history, Asian studies, philosophy, politics, and religion. Through this major students will attain a deeper and more sophisticated knowledge of the ancient world.
See Also
Faculty
This area of study is administered by the Department of Classics and Italian. Advisors in Ancient Studies:
Bettina Bergmann, Helene Phillips Herzig '49 Professor of Art History
Paula Debnar, Professor of Classics
Geoffrey Sumi, Professor of Classics
Bruce Arnold, Associate Professor of Classics, Teaching Spring Only
Mark Landon, Visiting Lecturer in Classics
Requirements for the Major
A minimum of 32 credits:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| At least one 4 credit course at or above the level of GREEK-102, LATIN-102, or ASIAN-142 (First-Year Sanskrit II) | 4 | |
| At least one 4 credit art historical or archaeological course focusing on the ancient Mediterranean | 4 | |
| At least one 4 credit literary or mythical course focusing on the ancient Mediterranean or India | 4 | |
| At least two 4 credit historical courses: | 8 | |
One course on the ancient Greek world | ||
One course on the ancient Roman world | ||
| At least two 4 credit 300-level courses: | 8 | |
One of which is a designated capstone/research seminar | ||
One of which is in the chosen concentration | ||
| One additional 4 credit course at the 200 level or above | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
Additional Specifications
- At least three (4 credit) courses (12 credits total) must be within the chosen concentration
- Students intending to pursue graduate studies are encouraged to minor in a related area (e.g., art history, classics, history, one of the ancient languages, philosophy, or religion)
Requirements for the Minor
A minimum of 20 credits:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Two 4 credit courses, each from different areas of concentration | 8 | |
| At least one 4 credit course at the 300 level | 4 | |
| 8 credits from relevant 4 credit courses in art history, classics, history, Asian studies, philosophy, religion, or politics | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 20 | |
Related Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Art History | ||
| ARTH-215 | From Alexander to Cleopatra: The Hellenistic World | 4 |
| ARTH-216 | The Visual World of Ancient Rome | 4 |
| ARTH-290PM | Issues in Art History: 'Pompeii' | 4 |
| ARTH-310CA | Seminar in Ancient Art: 'The Lure of the Past: Collecting Antiquity' | 4 |
| ARTH-310LM | Seminar in Ancient Art: 'Love and Metamorphosis' | 4 |
| ARTH-310RL | Seminar in Ancient Art: 'Roman Luxury' | 4 |
| Asian Studies | ||
| ASIAN-254 | India's Epics: Ramayana and Mahabharata | 4 |
| Classics | ||
| CLASS-205 | Cleopatra: "The Not Humble Woman | 4 |
| CLASS-211 | Gods and Mortals: Myth in Ancient Art and Literature | 4 |
| CLASS-212 | Greek Tragedy, American Drama, and Film | 4 |
| CLASS-215 | Classical Political Thought | 4 |
| CLASS-225 | Athenian Democracy and Its Foes | 4 |
| CLASS-226 | Bread and Circuses: The Politics of Public Entertainment in Ancient Rome | 4 |
| CLASS-227 | Ancient Greece | 4 |
| CLASS-228 | Ancient Rome | 4 |
| CLASS-229 | The Tyrant and Gladiator: Bad Roman Emperors from Caligula to Commodus | 4 |
| CLASS-260 | Knowing God | 4 |
| CLASS-295 | Independent Study | 1-4 |
| CLASS-329 | Politics and Greek Tragedy | 4 |
| CLASS-349 | Socrates Against the Sophists | 4 |
| CLASS-395 | Independent Study | 1-8 |
| Greek | ||
| GREEK-101 | Elementary Greek: Homer's Iliad | 4 |
| GREEK-102 | Elementary Greek: Homer's Iliad | 4 |
| GREEK-222 | Classical Greek Prose and Poetry | 4 |
| GREEK-250 | Intermediate Greek Tutorial | 2-4 |
| GREEK-295 | Independent Study | 1-4 |
| GREEK-322 | Classical Greek Prose and Poetry | 4 |
| GREEK-350 | Advanced Tutorial | 2-4 |
| GREEK-395 | Independent Study | 1-8 |
| History | ||
| HIST-128 | Ancient Rome | 4 |
| HIST-226 | Bread and Circuses: The Politics of Public Entertainment in Ancient Rome | 4 |
| HIST-227 | Ancient Greece | 4 |
| HIST-228 | Ancient Rome | 4 |
| HIST-229 | The Tyrant and the Gladiator: Bad Roman Emperors from Caligula to Commodus | 4 |
| Jewish Studies | ||
| JWST-103 | Introduction to the Hebrew Bible | 4 |
| JWST-256 | What Didn't Make It in the Bible | 4 |
| Latin | ||
| LATIN-101 | Elementary Latin I | 4 |
| LATIN-102 | Elementary Latin II | 4 |
| LATIN-201 | Intermediate Latin I | 4 |
| LATIN-209 | Vergil: Aeneid | 4 |
| LATIN-210 | Ovid: Metamorphoses | 4 |
| LATIN-225 | The Dido/Aeneas Story | 4 |
| LATIN-295 | Independent Study | 1-4 |
| LATIN-302 | Cicero and the Enemies of the Roman Republic | 4 |
| LATIN-307 | The Slender Muse | 4 |
| LATIN-309 | Vergil: Aeneid | 4 |
| LATIN-310 | Ovid: Metamorphoses | 4 |
| LATIN-312 | Roma Ludens: Comedy and Satire in Ancient Rome | 4 |
| LATIN-319 | Power, Politics, and Scandal: Roman Imperial Biography and Historiography | 4 |
| LATIN-350 | Junior/Senior Tutorial | 2-4 |
| LATIN-395 | Independent Study | 1-8 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PHIL-201 | Philosophical Foundations of Western Thought: 'Ancient History of Philosophy' | 4 |
| Politics | ||
| POLIT-211 | Classical Political Thought | 4 |
| POLIT-329 | Politics and Greek Tragedy | 4 |
| Religion | ||
| RELIG-103 | Introduction to the Hebrew Bible | 4 |
| RELIG-256 | What Didn't Make It in the Bible | 4 |
| RELIG-306 | Sex and the Early Church | 4 |
| Theatre Arts | ||
| THEAT-234GT | Topics in Theatre Studies: 'Greek Tragedy and Film' | 4 |
