Classical Civilisation

Course summary

If you are inspired by the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome, you will love Following the OCR syllabus, Classical Civilisation at DLD begins with the study of epic; either Homer’s “Odyssey” or “Iliad” and Virgil’s “Aeneid”. Supported by two additional units: Greek Theatre: Aristophanes’ comedy “Frogs”, Sophocles “King Oedipus”, Euripides “Bacchae” Beliefs and Ideas: Seneca, Plato, Ovid and Sappho Literary analysis of these works is reinforced by the study of the history & politics of the period and includes secondary literary sources such as Livy’s “History”, Plutarch’s “Lives”, and Thucydides' “History of the Peloponnesian War”. The Theatre Unit has in addition elements of ancient material culture, pots, archaeological sites, funeral inscriptions and grave stele. All texts (including material texts) are looked at in detail in the classroom and considered in their contemporary context. Seneca and Plato are discussed for philosophical merit and within the history of ideas, and the drama of Imperial Rome or 5 Century Athens. Sappho and Ovid are explored for poetic merit and as an insight into the emotional life of the ancient world. Classics students are constantly involved in lively debate analysis and scholarly research. Classical Civilisation. In this course you will be introduced to the social, political and literary contexts of the classical period, studying texts and material from a variety of literary sources including Homeric epic, the genesis of theatre and democracy in 5th century Athens represented in great Greek tragic plays, and ending with the political and cultural Principate of Rome under Augustus, mediated through Virgil, Ovid and Seneca. Newly accredited literary and visual sources support a new specification introducing innovative components such as the “Invention of the barbarian” and “Love and Relationships”. Now you can consider supporting material culture in the form of Attic pottery and sculpture, the Frieze of the temple of Apollo at Bassae or the ancient site of Persepolis, in your understanding of ancient civilisation.