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Departmental Notes
Subject Code for Classical Studies: CLST
Subject Code for Greek: GREK
Subject Code for Hebrew: HEBR
Subject Code for Latin: LATN
World Wide Web Address: http://queensu.ca/classics
Head of Department: Daryn Lehoux
Departmental Office: Watson Hall, Room 505
Departmental Telephone: 613-533-2745
Departmental Fax: 613-533-6739
Chair of Undergraduate Studies: Drew Griffith
Undergraduate Office E-Mail Address: classics.undergrad@queensu.ca
Coordinator of Graduate Studies: Fabio Colivicchi
General Information & Graduate Program E-Mail Address: classics@queensu.ca
Overview
Classics refers to the study of the Greek and Roman worlds. Multi-disciplinary in approach, it involves the studies of history, literature, archaeology, religion, mythology, drama, and philosophy, in addition to the ancient languages of Greek and Latin. Today our understanding of Greek and Roman culture is further enhanced by the latest digital techniques that increasingly pervade studies in archaeology, epigraphy, papyrology, and ancient science and medicine. At Queen’s, students have the opportunity to get hands-on experience in the latest techniques by participating in one of two archaeological excavations supervised by our own faculty, or through a variety of projects and assignments.
Advice to Students
A good place to begin is the Undergraduate Degree Programs and Plans section of the Classics website, which outlines the requirements for various Classics Degree Plans.
The movement through, and selection of, courses for your Classics degree are dependent on a prerequisite system. You can enrol in a course if the course is not full and if you have the correct prerequisite(s), which may include specific courses taken, a specific grade in previous courses, and a required Arts and Science year level. Prerequisites for a course cannot be taken concurrently with that course.
Other Planning Considerations
Not all Classics courses are offered every year, so it is important to check the Course Offerings for the upcoming academic year.
It is best to take first-year courses early in your program. As long as you meet the prerequisites, it is possible to take upper-year courses in your second year.
Special Study Opportunities
International opportunities (excavations, language schools, and Classics-related studies) are available, some of which can be found posted on our Classics Department bulletin boards on the 5th floor of Watson Hall.
The Department currently offers archaeological excavations, abroad in Italy (CLST 408 and CLST 409) and two in the Balkans (CLST 412 and CLST 413).
For other dig and study opportunities, check out the Archaeological Fieldwork Opportunities Bulletin (AFOB) and Archaeological Projects in the Near East and Egypt. You should also check out information at the International Programs Office (IPO) located in Mackintosh-Corry Hall, or by dropping by the Department and speaking with our Undergraduate Chair.
Students wishing to enrol in an approved course offered by another university related to Classical Studies or Archaeology for credit towards their Plan should consult the Faculty of Arts and Science office for information.
International Studies Certificate
For students wishing to enhance their degree program with an international perspective, the Faculty of Arts and Science offers a Senate-approved Certificate in International Studies, the requirements for which could be met by your Classics degree in combination with a study-abroad experience.
Courses
Classical Studies (CLST)
Ancient Greek and Roman literature in translation: Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and Greek drama; Vergil's Aeneid and selections from other Latin authors. Reference to ancient customs, history, mythology, thought.
An introduction to major themes in the development of Greek civilization using the evidence of literature, history and archaeology. Some attention will be given to those aspects of ancient cultural and intellectual growth that are of significance in the western tradition.
An introduction to major themes in the development of Roman civilization using the evidence of literature, history and archaeology. Some attention will be given to those aspects of ancient cultural and intellectual growth that are of significance in the western tradition.
Development of the discipline, methods of discovering and recovering materials through excavation, evaluation of such materials and reconstruction of original environments. Historic and prehistoric sites; contribution of archaeology to the knowledge of the past.
NOTE Also offered at the Bader International Studies Centre, Herstmonceux. Learning Hours may vary.
Development of the discipline and most important discoveries; analysis of historic and prehistoric cultures and sites with emphasis on the ancient Mediterranean.
Current theoretical issues; excavation and field research; analysis of material evidence for the study of ancient societies; heritage conservation and cultural property.
Warfare of all kinds, from large scale conflict between states to raids of pirates and brigands. The course will seek a wider cultural understanding of war exploring a range of perspectives and topics, from the social ideology of war to the role of women, children and other non-combatants.
Survey of the Greek World from the Late Bronze Age to the death of Cleopatra. Social, religious and political developments among the major powers, Athens, Sparta and Hellenistic kingdoms.
Survey of the basic social and political developments in Rome from kingdom to republic to empire.
Greek concepts of the supernatural and humanity's relationship to it. The basic myths, official and secret creeds, meaning and social function of myth and ritual.
This course will introduce students to the vocabulary, building blocks, and structural quirks of Greek and Latin scientific terminology to provide them with a strong foundation for understanding technical vocabulary as they encounter it in their educational and professional lives. Students will also complete the course with a stronger understanding of the etymology and linguistic structures of English more generally.
The techniques by which humour was created in literature and the visual arts in antiquity; social and psychological aspects of humour.
NOTE Also offered online. Consult Arts and Science Online. Learning Hours may vary.
An exploration of the history and archaeology of Roman Britain from the expeditions of Julius Caesar in 55 B.C. to the Roman withdrawal in 411 A.D. On-site instruction in excavation and archaeological practice, and visits to major Roman sites about the United Kingdom.
NOTE This course includes a five-day field trip component.
NOTE Offered only at Bader College, Herstmonceux.
LEARNING HOURS 105 (18L;15S;12Lb;35G;25P).
Introduction to the civilizations of Mesopotamia, Syro-Palestine, Egypt and Anatolia from the Bronze Age to the Greek conquest. Artistic, intellectual, social and political history.
NOTE Also offered online. Consult Arts and Science Online. Learning Hours may vary.
Social, cultural, and political history of the eastern Mediterranean littoral from the 15th to the 1st centuries BCE; particular emphasis on the problems of the early Jewish state.
NOTE Offered also as a Cognate course in the Program in Jewish Studies.
Ancient concepts of nature and of natural phenomena: what did the ancients (e.g. Babylonians and Greeks) know about the natural world and how did they come to know it?
Study of the remains from the Bronze Age to the end of the Archaic period. Emphasis on the revival of architecture, painting and sculpture.
Intensive study of the achievements in architecture, painting and sculpture, and town planning from 480 B.C. to 31 B.C.
This survey of the material remains of early Italy will focus on the early Iron Age, Etruscan, and Roman (Regal and Republican) cultures. Each culture's art, architecture, urban patterns, and burial practices will be investigated in terms of the changing political and social conditions affecting those societies.
A survey of Roman material culture (art, architecture and artifacts) from the reign of Augustus to that of Constantine. An emphasis will be placed on analyzing Roman architecture, sculpture, urban patterns, and objects of daily life in order to better understand the political messages and social experiences of Romans during the Imperial period.
Caravan cities were multicultural communities that bridged ancient empires and are an important part of the world's heritage. Through an exploration of the archaeological remains and the cultural character of four Near Eastern caravan cities students will evaluate how these communities inform and impact on concepts of cultural and global identity.
Intensive study (in translation) of the major epics of classical antiquity: Homer, Hesiod, Apollonios, Vergil and Lucan in the context of the oral and literate heroic traditions. Comparative study of English heroic poetry encouraged.
Intensive study (in translation) of representative works from the ancient theatre, both tragic (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Seneca) and comic (Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus, Terence). Comparative study of English drama of the classical tradition encouraged.
A study of how the human body is viewed in ancient medical theory and practice. Readings of ancient medical texts will explore how the human body is constituted, how it relates to the world, what the role of the physician was seen to be in prevention and treatment of disease, and how illness and healing were understood in ancient Greece and Rome.
Study of the rise of Christianity and the Christian reception of classical culture.
Study of the period from the formation of Greek civilization following the collapse of the Bronze Age Palace Culture until the end of the Persian Wars (479 BCE). Topics may include the development of the polis and its institutions, Greek colonization, the tyrants and the beginning of Athenian democracy, and conflict with the Persian Empire.
Study of the rise of Athenian power from the end of the Persian Wars in 479 BCE, and the conflict between Athens and Sparta along with their allies during the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE). Topics may include the Delian League and Athenian imperialism, development of radical democracy in Athens, and causes and effects of the Peloponnesian War.
Study of Greek history in the century following the end of the Peloponnesian War in 404 BCE. Topics may include the crisis and renewal of the Greek polis; the Spartan hegemony, the rise of Thebes, the Second Athenian League, and the failure of hegemonic policies; the end of the Achaemenid Empire; the rise of Macedon; and the campaigns of Alexander.
Study of the Successor Kingdoms (Antigonids, Ptolomies, and Seleucids) during the period from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE until the end of the Ptolemaic Dynasty in Egypt with the Death of Cleopatra in 30 BCE. Topics may include the role of Greece in the new Mediterranean order, structures of Hellenistic kingdoms, Romans in the East.
Emergence of Early Rome and the social and political growth of the Republic.
Intensive study of the Empire to the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Politics of the imperial courts: administration and Romanization of the provinces.
Intensive study of the Later Roman Empire from the reign of Septimius Severus to the death of Theodosius I (395 CE). Topics include the Severan dynasty, the crisis of the Third Century, the Tetrarchy, and the christianization of the Roman empire.
This course explores how the ancient Greeks conceptualised their own identity and perceived other cultures around them. Learning about how the ancient Greeks understood kinship, difference, ethnicity and indigeneity, we will also continually reflect on the relevance of this study to contemporary issues (race, colonialism, gender, slavery).
An introduction to the diverse research methods deployed in Classics, Archaeology and Ancient History. Weekly seminars will feature the research interests of members of the Classics Department, cross-appointed faculty, and visiting researchers.
The growth of Athens from the Neolithic period to Late Antiquity. Emphasis on social and political developments and personal aspirations which determine the cityscape.
The growth of Rome from the foundation to Late Antiquity based on archaeological evidence. Emphasis on developments during its classical period.
An intensive six-week introduction to archaeological methods and interpretation during participation in a fieldwork project run by a member of the Classics Department.
NOTE Offered in Summer Term.
NOTE Fieldwork (Nora, Italy): estimated cost $2,600.
An intensive six-week introduction to archaeological methods and interpretation at a fieldwork project in Italy under the supervision of a member of the Classics Department.
NOTE Offered in Summer Term.
NOTE Fieldwork (Cerveteri, Italy): estimated cost $2,500.
Intensive study of a special topic, period, or author(s) in the Greek world.
Intensive study of a special topic, period, or author(s) in the Greek world.
An intensive two-week introduction to archaeological and architectural recording using photography, surveying, and 3D measurement on a site of historical importance for the Classical and Byzantine period in the Balkans under the supervision of a member of the Classics Department.
NOTE Offered in Summer Term
NOTE Fieldwork (Stobi, Republic of Macedonia): estimated cost $1865. CLST 412 must be taken with CLST 413.
An intensive two-week introduction to archaeological and architectural recording using photography, surveying, and 3D measurement on a site of historical importance for the Classical and Byzantine period in the Balkans under the supervision of a member of the Classics Department.
NOTE Offered in Summer Term
NOTE Fieldwork (Stobi, Republic of Macedonia): estimated cost $1865. CLST 413 must be taken with CLST 412.
Intensive study of a special topic, period, or author(s) in the world of Rome. For information contact the Department.
Intensive study of a special topic, period, or author(s) in the world of Rome. For information contact the Department.
Detailed study of certain aspects of Greek and Roman literature, history or philosophy through directed readings and essay assignments. A short thesis may be required.
Greek (GREK)
Fundamentals of grammar, syntax and etymology, for students with no or little knowledge of Ancient Greek; provides sufficient background to read Plato, Euripides as well as the New Testament.
Review of grammar, and developing facility in translation, study of literary content and background of authors.
Selected passages of Greek prose, usually drawn from oratory, history, and philosophy, read in the original Greek and commented upon for their linguistic, literary, and historical significance.
NOTE This course is normally co-taught with GREK 421.
Selected passages of Greek verse, usually drawn from works of epic, lyric, elegy, and drama, read in the original Greek and commented upon for their linguistic, literary, and historical significance.
NOTE This course is normally co-taught with GREK 422.
Selected works of Greek prose, usually drawn from oratory, history, and philosophy, read in the original Greek and commented upon for their linguistic, literary, and historical significance.
NOTE This course is normally co-taught with GREK 321.
Selected works of Greek verse, usually drawn from works of epic, lyric, elegy, and drama, read in the original Greek and commented upon for their linguistic, literary, and historical significance.
NOTE This course is normally co-taught with GREK 322.
Detailed study of certain aspects of Greek Literature and history through directed readings and essay assignments.
See the section B.A.(Honours) earlier in this chapter.
Hebrew (HEBR)
For students with no (or a minimal) background in Hebrew. Introduces elements of grammar and vocabulary of modern Hebrew.
Provides a basic introduction to reading and understanding biblical Hebrew prose. No prior knowledge of Hebrew assumed.
NOTE This course replaces the first semester of HEBR 191.
Focus is on reading prose portions with comprehension in biblical texts. Certain extra-biblical second Temple literature may also be read (e.g., texts from the Dead Sea Scrolls).
NOTE This course replaces the second semester of HEBR 191.
Readings in biblical Hebrew prose and poetry.
An extensive grammar review with practice in speaking, writing and translation, based on the reading of texts by modern Hebrew writers. HEBR 295, when offered, is a direct continuation of HEBR 294.
For a complete description, see HEBR 294.
Specialized study, as circumstances permit, of a particular author, genre, theme, movement, literary form or some combination of these elements. Course details to be announced on website.
Selections from current Israeli media including music, newspapers and television, as well as from modern Hebrew prose and poetry (e.g., Ahad Haam, Bialik, Tchernichowski, Agnon, Amichai, Oz, Yehoshua). The selections are studied in Hebrew; written assignments may be submitted in English.
Directed Hebrew reading of material not covered in other courses, appropriate to the student's level.
Latin (LATN)
Fundamentals of grammar, syntax and etymology for students with no or little knowledge of Latin; provides sufficient background to read Latin prose and poetry.
Review of grammar followed by a study of representative works of Ovid and other authors. In addition to developing facility in translation, study of literary content and background of authors.
Selected passages of Latin prose, usually drawn from oratory, history, and philosophy, read in the original Latin and commented upon for their linguistic, literary, and historical significance.
NOTE This course is normally co-taught with LATN 421.
Selected passages of Latin verse, usually drawn from epic, lyric, elegy, and drama, read in the original Latin and commented upon for their linguistic, literary, and historical significance.
NOTE This course is normally co-taught with LATN 422.
Representative works of prose and poetry to illustrate various aspects of the history and culture of the period.
Selected works of Latin prose, usually drawn from oratory, history, and philosophy, read in the original Latin and commented upon for their linguistic, literary, and historical significance.
NOTE This course is normally co-taught with LATN 321.
Selected works of Latin verse, usually drawn from epic, lyric, elegy, and drama, read in the original Latin and commented upon for their linguistic, literary, and historical significance.
NOTE This course is normally co-taught with LATN 322.
Detailed study of certain aspects of Latin Literature and Roman history through directed readings and essay assignments.