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Teaching Delivery: This module is taught in 10 weekly classes.

Content: An introduction to the study of Greek mythology in its literary, social, historical and philosophical context. The aim of this module is to introduce students to leading concepts and persons of Greek mythology, which form an important foundation of Greek art, literature and ideas. Everyone is fascinated by Greek myths: but how did these extraordinary stories arise? What was their purpose? Did the Greeks really believe them and what are our sources for them? What is the connection between myth, society and politics? What is the relationship between mythical texts and myth in art? This module looks at a range of Greek myths and suggests some answers to these questions. Backed up by slides and copies of relevant texts, and focusing in particular on how myth functioned in the archaic and classical Greek polis, the module will survey the subject broadly, evaluating some modern interpretations of myth as well as the Classical Greek sources.

Skills: By the end of the module, students should be trained in close reading, analysis of form, content and context with respect to a variety of different forms of evidence (text and image), and in presenting oral and written conclusions about a complex body of data in a coherent fashion. They will have a better understanding of the place of Greek myth in the study of Greek religion, society, history and culture, and of the various comparative and interdisciplinary approaches to myth as a cultural phenomenon.

Module texts: Morford, M. P. O. and Lenardon, R. J. and Sham, M. 2015. Classical Mythology, Oxford: OUP (the 10th edition is available on Amazon.co.uk, but the earlier editions, which are available much cheaper used are actually better).

Other recommended preparatory readings:

J. Bremmer (Routledge, 1987) Interpretations of Greek Mythology.

W. Burkert (Blackwell, 1985) Greek Religion.

R. Buxton (CUP, 1994) Imaginary Greece.

E. Csapo (Blackwell, 2004) Theories of Mythology.

P. Veyne (UCP, 1988) Did the Greeks Believe in their Myths?.