CLAS 445 A: Greek and Roman Religion

Spring 2021 M W10.30-12.20 pm (remote, via zoom)

Prof. Hollmann (hollmann@u.washington.edu).

Office hours: W 1-2 or by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND AIMS

A theme-based introduction to the religions of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Using primary texts and images and some secondary literature we will explore how each of the religions approaches the following: polytheism, gods and heroes, the dead and the underworld, animal sacrifice, offerings and libations, prayer, priesthood, sanctuaries and place, festivals and calendars, mystery cult, divination, magic. By the end of the course students should have a good sense of these categories and the structure of the religions, how we know what we know about them, and how to approach and interpret primary sources.

CLASS STRUCTURE

Each class will be structured around a theme and will generally involve a formal presentation from me for part of the time, but with plenty of opportunity for questions from students and discussion before, during, and after. I ask students to submit questions or observations they have about the material and readings for that session, or I will pose questions for students to think about individually or in groups during class. Readings are drawn from the four prescribed books, with extra readings assigned from time to time. These additional readings will always be posted electronically on the course's website, along with any images and texts presented in class (these will appear as PowerPoint presentations). Students will submit brief responses to prompts and complete two assessments (midterm and final), which will be take-home and open-book and cover material discussed in class from beginning of the course to the end.

PRESCRIBED TEXTBOOKS

RECOMMENDED FOR FURTHER READING

Parker, Robert. On Greek Religion. Cornell UP, 2011

Burkert, Walter. Greek Religion. Harvard UP

Rüpke, Jörg. Religion of the Romans. Polity Press,Malden, MA 2007

Beard, North, Price. Religions of Rome. vol 1 and 2. Cambridge UP 1998

COURSE COMPONENTS:

Responses to prompts (40%): Short responses to specific questions about material assigned for a class as well as questions or comments you have about the topic or material. These are due before class (9.30am), so that I can draw on them in class.

Midterm assessment (30%): brief definitions of terms or names, identification and discussion of short passages from primary sources or images. "Open book" format: students can consult all course materials and class notes.

Final assessment (30%): similar to midterm assessment, covers material after the midterm (i.e. not cumulative).

LATE WORK

Please consult me if you are not able to meet a due date. In many cases I am amenable to late submissions.   

EXTRA CREDIT

Please note I do not offer assignments for extra credit.

SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND READINGS

SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITH NOTICE

Latest version: 5/10/2021

WEEK ONE

M March 29: Introduction

Powerpoints shown: 1 and 1b

W March 31: Polytheism and Pantheon (Greek)

Powerpoint shown: 02

Response prompt due: Polytheism (Greek)

Warrior, Greek Religion: A Sourcebook, "The Gods in Hesiod's Theogony and Homer's Iliad", pp. 13-33. PDF 

[Optional reading: Price, Religions of the Ancient Greeks, "Gods, myths and festivals", pp. 11-25. PDF] 

[Optional reading: Parker, On Greek Religion, "Analyzing Greek gods", pp. 64-102. PDF] 

WEEK TWO

M April 5: Polytheism and Pantheon (Roman)

Response prompt due

Powerpoint shown: 03

[and here's the same powerpoint with more annotations made during the W April 7 class: 03 more annotated]

Scheid, Intro. to Roman Religion, "The double life of the Roman gods", pp. 147-170 PDF

Warrior, Roman Religion: A Sourcebook, "Accepting new gods, cults and rituals", pp. 83-97 PDF

Warrior, Roman Religion: A Sourcebook, "Becoming a god", pp. 127-138 PDF

[Optional reading: Rüpke, “Gods and Men.” pp. 65-85 in Religion of the Romans PDF]

W April 7: Heroes and hero cult (Greek).

Response prompt due

Collection of hero biographies (word doc.)

Powerpoint shown: 04

[Optional reading: Parker, “The Nature and Power of Heroes.” pp. 103–123 in On Greek Religion. PDF]

WEEK THREE

M April 12: NO CLASS (instructor out of town)

W April 14: Sacrifice (Greek)

Response prompt due

Powerpoint shown: 05

Warrior, Greek Religion. A Sourcebook, pp. 55-74 ("Prayer and Sacrifice")

[Optional reading: Parker, “Killing, Dining, Communicating.” pp. 124–170 in On Greek Religion. PDF]

WEEK FOUR

M April 19: Sacrifice (Roman)

Response prompt due

Powerpoint shown: 06

Scheid, An introduction to Roman religion, pp. 79-110 ("Sacrifice") PDF

Warrior, Roman Religion. A Sourcebook, pp. 40-45 ("Sacrifice")

[Optional reading: Rüpke, “Social Rules: Sacrificing and Feasting.” pp. 137-153 in Religion of the Romans. PDF]

W April 21: Other offerings. Prayer and Hymn (Greek and Roman)

NO RESPONSE PROMPT assigned today

Powerpoint shown: 07

Warrior, Roman Religion. A Sourcebook, pp. 37-40

Scheid, An introduction to Roman religion, pp. 97-106 ("3.1 Prayer") PDF (contained in "Sacrifice" PDF)

WEEK FIVE

M April 26: Priests and priesthood (Greek)

NO RESPONSE PROMPT assigned today

Powerpoint shown: 08

Price, Religions of the ancient Greeks, pp. 67-73, 76-88

[Optional reading: Parker, “Religion without a church: Religious Authority in Greece.” pp. 40-63 in On Greek Religion PDF]

W April 28: Priests and priesthood (Roman)

Response prompt due

Powerpoints shown: 09 and 10

Scheid, An introduction to Roman religion, pp. 129-146 ("Priestly figures") PDF

Warrior, Roman Religion. A Sourcebook, pp. 47-58 ("Priests and Religious Authority")

[Optional reading: Rüpke, “Specialists and Professionals. pp. 215–235 in Religion of the Romans PDF]

F April 30 MIDTERM ASSESSMENT released 10 am

WEEK SIX

M May 3: Sanctuary (Greek and Roman)

Powerpoint shown today: 11

Price, Religions of the Ancient Greeks, pp. 47-66

Warrior, Greek Religion: Sourcebook, pp. 95-112

Scheid, Intro. to Roman Religion, pp. 60-76 PDF

W May 5: Festival (Greek)

Powerpoints shown today:  12 and 13

Price, Religions of the Ancient Greeks, pp. 25-46

 Warrior, Greek Religion: A Sourcebook, pp. 113-134

[Optional reading: Parker, “The Experience of Festivals.” pp. 171-223 in On Greek Religion PDF]

F May 7: MIDTERM ASSESSMENT due 5pm

WEEK SEVEN

M May 10: Festival (Greek) continued.

Powerpoint shown: 14

W May 12:

Festival (Greek) cont'd, Festival (Roman)

Powerpoints shown: 14 and 15

Scheid, Intro. to Roman Religion, pp. 41-59 PDF

Warrior, Roman Religion: A Sourcebook, pp. 59-69

[Optional reading: Rüpke, “Co-ordination: Time and the Calendar.” in Religion of the Romans, pp. 186–201 PDF]

[Optional reading: Beard, "A complex of times: no more sheep on Romulus' birthday" PDF]

WEEK EIGHT

M May 17: Divination

Powerpoint shown: 16

Read Maurizio “Anthropology and spirit possession: a reconsideration of the Pythia’s role at Delphi” and submit response to this prompt

Optional reading:

Price, 73–76 (oracles)

Warrior, Greek religion: sourcebook, 73–94

Scheid 111–126 [instructor to provide PDF]

W May 19: Mystery Cult

Powerpoint shown: 17

Price, Religions of the Ancient Greeks, pp. 108-125

Warrior, Greek Religion: A Sourcebook, pp. 187-203

Warrior, Roman Religion: A Sourcebook, pp. 99-113

WEEK NINE

M May 24: Mystery cult cont'd

Powerpoint shown: 18

W May 26: Magic

Response prompt due

Warrior, Greek Religion: A Sourcebook, pp. 229-238

Warrior, Roman Religion: A Sourcebook, pp. 139-150

[Optional reading: Graf PDF]

WEEK TEN

M May 31: Memorial Day. No class.

W June 2:  Magic cont'd

Powerpoint shown: 20

F June 4: FINAL ASSESSMENT released 10am

WEEK ELEVEN

W June 9 FINAL ASSESSMENT due 10 pm

GRADING SCALE

I use the following scale for converting percentage points to GPA