Classical Myth @ BGSU


Last updated: November 17, 2009	Classics Section Major/Minor Programs in Classics at BGSU Romance and Classical Studies Bowling Green State University

UPDATES: Shifted due-date for Final Paper (11/17/09)
Added link to Olympians handout (9/21/09)
Adjusted Readings in Weeks 15 & 16 (9/21/09)
Changed date of Quiz 2 (9/21/09)

Achilles and Hector
Achilles drags dead Hector behind his chariot.
(Mosaic from the Vatican Museums.)
(Photo ©2006 by JMP)

CLCV 3800: Classical Mythology
3:30-4:20 Mon/Wed/Fri
Olscamp 229

Instructor:

James M. Pfundstein, Ph.D.
Shatzel 222
Office Hours: Tues. & Wed., 12:30-1:20 or by appointment.
Office phone: 419-372-8278
e-mail: jmpfund@bgsu.edu
web-page: http://personal.bgsu.edu/~jmpfund/JMP.html

Texts (with Amazon links):

Powell, Barry B. Classical Myth (6th edition: Prentice Hall, 2009)

website: http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_powell_classical_5/0,12083,3357389--t,00.html

Lombardo (trans.), Hesiod: Theogony & Works and Days (Hackett)

Smith & Traszkoma (trans.), Apollodorus: Library & Hyginus: Fabulae (Hackett)

Online Resources:

The Ancient Library has put on-line a useful edition of Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/

Affiliated with the Ancient Library is the Theoi Project, a copiously illustrated and scholarly guide to Greek mythology.

Encyclopedia: http://www.theoi.com/Encyc_A.html

Galleries: http://www.theoi.com/Galleries.html

Tufts University's Perseus Project: Texts, Translations, Images.
www.perseus.tufts.edu/art&arch.html

Carlos Parada's Greek Mythology Link: Images and summaries.

http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/index.html

Archaeology Magazine has a few stories (in the May/June 2004 edition) in print and on the web, about the archaeology supporting the notion of a historical Trojan War, along with some links to stories about the recent movie Troy and the well-regarded graphic novel Age of Bronze.

http://www.archaeology.org/0405/etc/troy.html

The single best resource for urban legends (our modern myths) is Barbara and David Mikkelson's site, snopes.com.

http://www.snopes2.com/

Grading:


quizzes (Sept. 9, Sept. 21, Oct. 14, Oct. 26, Nov. 30) midterms (Mon. Sept 28, Fri. Nov. 6) review (Due: Fri. Oct. 23; see description at link above) short research paper (Due: Fri. Dec. 4); see description at link above) final exam last class period (Dec. 11) OR official final time: (Fri. Dec. 18, 3:30-5:30)	20% 22.5% ea. 5% 5% 25%

**THE FINE PRINT**:
No makeups given due to absence without prior arrangement with the instructor.
No one can pass the course without passing the final examination and turning in both papers.
No incompletes issued except for pressing reasons and by prior arrangement with the instructor.
"'It's my opinion,' replied the Tuna, 'and opinions deserve respect! That's what Tuna politicians say.'"--Carlo Collodi, Pinocchio
The instructor reserves the right to recognize significant improvement (or decline) in student performance when awarding the final grade.
The maximum amount of extra credit which may count towards the final grade = 5% of the total course points.
The syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor; changes will be announced in class and posted on-line.

**SCHEDULE**
CLASS DATES	READING ASSIGNMENT	OTHER
Week 1 Aug. 24, 26, 28	Powell Chs.1-3: Nature of Myth, Cultural Contexts of Myth, Development of Myth; Hesiod: Theogony Hyginus: 238-246, 253, 255-256
Week 2 Aug. 31, Sept. 2, 4	Powell Chs. 4-5: Myths of Creation; Hesiod: Works and Days; Hyginus: 138, 141-144, 150-152, 153, 176, 220 Apollodorus: 1.1, 1.2, 1.5.34-45, 1.7
Week 3 ---, Sept. 9, 11	Powell Chs. 6-7: Zeus & Hera, Male Olympians Hyginus: "Theogony", 28, 52-55, 140, 152a, 154-161, 179, 183, 194, 196, 202-203, 205 Apollodorus: 1.3, 1.4, 2.1.5-9, 3.8.100-102, 3.10.110-122	Mon. Sept. 7: Labor Day (no classes) Wed. Sept. 9: Quiz 1 (lectures & readings weeks 1-2)
Week 4 Sept. 14, 16, 18	Powell Ch. 8, 9: Female Olympians, Demeter Hyginus: 58, 94, 146-148, 164-166, 177, 180-182, 192, 195, 197, 204, 259 Apollodorus: 1.5.29-33, 3.4.30-32, 3.14.183-185 12 (or so) Olympians (PDF file)
Week 5 Sept. 21, 23, 25	Powell Ch. 10: Dionysus Hyginus: 129-134, 167, 184, 191 Apollodorus: 3.4.26-29, 3.5.33-39	Wed. Sept. 23: Quiz 2 (lectures/readings weeks 3-4)
Week 6 Sept 28, 30, Oct. 2	Powell Ch. 11: Myths of Death ; Hyginus: 60-62, 82-83, 168-170 Apollodorus: 1.9.85-89, Epitome 2.1-2.2	Mon. Sept. 28: Midterm 1 (lectures/readings weeks 1-5)
Week 7 Oct. 5, 7, 9	Powell Chs. 12-13: Heroic Myth, Perseus etc Hyginus: 56-57, 63-65, 136-137, 149, 163, 185, 189-190, 193, 200-201, 206, 219, 221, 224, 275, 277 Apollodorus: 2.1.10-53, 3.8.103-109
Week 8 ---, Oct. 14, 16	Powell Ch. 17, Oedipus & Theban Cycle; Hyginus: 66-75, 178 Apollodorus: 1.8.76-79, 3.4.21-25, 3.5.40-94	Oct. 12-13: Fall Break (no classes) Wed. Oct. 14: Quiz 3 (lectures/readings weeks 6-7)
Week 9 Oct. 19, 21, 23	Powell Ch. 14: Heracles Hyginus: 29-36, 49-51, 162 Apollodorus: 1.9.104-106, 2.4.49-2.7.160	Fri. Oct. 23: Review due
Week 10 Oct 26, 28, 30	Powell Chs. 16-15 Athens & Theseus, Theseus & Crete Hyginus: 37-48, 187, 198 Apollodorus: 3.1.1-3.3.21, 3.14.177-182, 3.14.186-218, Epitome 1.1-1.24	Mon. Oct. 26: Quiz 4 (lectures/readings weeks 8-9)
Week 11 Nov. 2, 4, 6	Powell Ch. 18: Jason & the Argonauts; Calydonian Boar Hunt Hyginus: 1-27, 171-175, 188 Apollodorus: 1.8.64-74, 1.9.80-84, 1.9.90-103, 1.9.107-147	Fri. Nov. 6: Midterm 2 (lectures/readings weeks 6-10)
Week 12 Nov. 9, ---, Nov. 13	Powell Ch. 19: The Trojan War Hyginus: 77-81, 89-106, 121, 261 Apollodorus: 3.10.126-176 Epitome 3.1-4.8	Wed. November 11: Veterans Day (no classes)
Week 13 Nov. 16, 18, 20	Powell Ch. 20: The Fall of Troy Hyginus: 107-116, 135 Apollodorus: Epitome 5.1-5.25
Week 14 Nov. 23, ---, ---	Powell Ch. 21: Odyssey Hyginus: 84-88, 117-128, 199, 258 Apollodorus: Epitome 2.1-3.1, Epitome 6.1-7.40	Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving Break (no classes)
Week 15 Nov. 30, Dec. 2, 4	Powell Chs. 22-23: Aeneas, Early Rome	Mon. Nov. 30: Quiz 5 (lectures/readings weeks 11-14) Fri. Dec. 4: Final Paper due
Week 16 Dec. 7, 9, 11	Powell Ch. 24: Theories of Myth	Optional Early Final : Fri. Dec. 11, 3:30-4:20
Finals Week Dec. 14-18	--------------------	Final Final: Fri. Dec. 18 3:30-5:30


Return to JMP home page	Go to BGSU Main Page