Classical Civilisation

Assessment

The World of the Hero The Odyssey and The Aeneid You will study Homer's Odyssey as well as Virgil's Aeneid. Students will develop a 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. This is a chance to read about the heroes Odysseus and Aeneas: their adventures, their battles and their love stories. Culture and the Arts Greek theatre (Comedy and Tragedy) 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. This study of the production of Greek Drama is coupled with an in-depth study of three plays: Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Euripides’ Bacchae and Aristophanes’ Frogs. Beliefs and Ideas Greek Religion Religion was an essential part of Ancient Greek identity, permeating all of society and all aspects of an individual’s daily life. Religion could be connected to the household, to life in the city or the countryside; politics and religion were intertwined to the extent that political decisions were sometimes made on this basis. You will study the Olympian gods, initiation rites and hero cults, festivals, sanctuaries, rituals and sacrifices and the tension caused by the rise of philosophical thinking.