Micah Myers

This course introduces students to the masterpieces of the ancient Greek world in English translation and to the extraordinary civilization that produced them. We explore the development of Greek civilization through celebrated texts -- for example, Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey"; the poetry of Sappho; plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides; and Plato's philosophical dialogues -- as well as through lesser-known but still fascinating works. We work toward a better understanding of the texts themselves, the people and the culture that produced them, and the enduring relevance they hold for us today. This counts toward the core requirement for the major. No prerequisite. Offered every other year.

This course introduces students to the masterpieces of the ancient Roman world in English translation and to the extraordinary civilization that produced them. We explore the development of Roman civilization through celebrated texts -- for example, the plays of Plautus, Terence and Seneca; Cicero's speeches; the poetry of Catullus, Horace, Vergil and Ovid; and the novels of Petronius and Apuleius -- as well as through lesser-known but still fascinating works. We work toward a better understanding of the texts themselves, the people and the culture that produced them, and the enduring relevance they hold for us today. This counts toward the major. No prerequisite. Offered every other year.

What did the ancient Greeks and Romans imagine faraway places and peoples were like? What were the social, religious, military and economic factors that led them to contemplate and travel to distant locales? How did ancient notions of the periphery and the "Other" shape post-Classical perceptions of the world's fringes during, for example, the Age of Discovery? In this course, we study ancient descriptions of journeys to far-off places, ethnographic texts, the causes of human movement in the classical world and the development of views on the structure and dimensions of the Earth that led to the achievements of early geographers. We investigate Greek and Roman travel through archaeological and historical evidence, as well as through seminal texts ranging from Homer's "Odyssey" and Herodotus' "Histories" to Tacitus' descriptions of Britain and Germany. The course consists mainly of discussion. This counts toward the classical civilization for the major. No prerequisite. Offered occasionally.

In this capstone course, the content of which changes on a regular basis, students study closely a particular topic in classics that benefits from an investigation based on a wide range of approaches (e.g., literary, historical, archaeological). The course seeks to further students' skills in written and verbal communication. Each student writes a major research paper on a subject related to the topic of the seminar and outlines the results of the inquiry in an oral presentation. This counts toward the major. Restricted to classics majors and minors. Senior standing. Offered every year.

This course offers independent study for senior candidates for honors. Students enrolled in this course are automatically added to CLAS 498Y for the spring semester. Permission of instructor and department chair required.

This course offers independent study for senior candidates for honors. Permission of instructor and department chair required.

This yearlong course prepares students to read ancient Greek literature in its original form. The majority of the course consists of readings and exercises from a textbook designed to help students build a working vocabulary and learn the extensive and subtle grammar of this language. In the final part of the spring semester, the hard work of the preceding months is rewarded with the opportunity to read Plato's dialogue the Crito or another text written in Attic prose. The course does not presuppose any knowledge either of ancient Greek or of grammatical terminology. This course may count towards a Greek and Latin, Greek, Latin, or Classical Civilization major or towards a Classics minor. Students enrolled in this course are automatically added to GREK 102Y for the spring semester. No prerequisite. Offered every year.

This yearlong course prepares students to read ancient Greek literature in its original form. The majority of the course consists of readings and exercises from a textbook designed to help students build a working vocabulary and learn the extensive and subtle grammar of this language. In the final part of the spring semester, the hard work of the preceding months is rewarded with the opportunity to read Plato's dialogue the Crito or another text written in Attic prose. The course does not presuppose any knowledge either of ancient Greek or of grammatical terminology. This course may count towards a Greek and Latin, Greek, Latin, or Classical Civilization major or towards a Classics minor. Prerequisite: GREK 101Y. Offered every year.

Students improve their skills in reading Greek and discuss scholarship on the author or authors being read that semester. Each semester the readings change, so that GREK 301 and 302 can be taken, to the student's advantage, several times. Students are encouraged to inform the instructor in advance if there is a particular genre, author or theme they would especially like to study. The list of authors taught in this course includes the lyric poets; the playwrights Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes; and great prose stylists such as Plato and Thucydides, to name just a few. Offered every fall.

Students improve their skills in reading Greek and discuss scholarship on the author or authors being read that semester. Each semester the readings change, so that GREK 301 and 302 can be taken, to the student's advantage, several times. Students are encouraged to inform the instructor in advance if there is a particular genre, author or theme they would especially like to study. The list of authors taught in this course includes the lyric poets; the playwrights Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes; and great prose stylists such as Plato and Thucydides, to name just a few. Offered every spring.

Knowledge of Latin opens the door to direct engagement with some of the greatest and most influential writings in Western culture without the obscuring filter of translation. The study of Latin also enhances students' ability to think analytically and to use the English language with greater understanding and sophistication. The benefit of these skills extends far beyond the study of Latin to all areas of life that demand critical thinking or effective oral and written communication. The aim of this yearlong course is twofold: (1) to give students a thorough knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary employed by Roman writers of the second century B.C.E. through the second century C.E., and (2) to have students read increasingly unadapted passages from those writers. After completing this course, students are prepared to read with good comprehension the works of great Roman writers such as Cicero and Vergil. Faithful attendance and timely completion of all work are essential to success in this course. There are daily assignments to prepare and frequent written homework, including translations from English to Latin. Classroom work focuses on understanding and practicing grammar and on reading Latin. Students also are introduced to the literary and cultural context of the readings. Progress is assessed by regular tests and frequent quizzes. There is a three-hour final examination in May. This course presumes no prior study of Latin. Students enrolled in this course are automatically added to LATN 102Y for the spring semester. No prerequisite. Offered every year.

Emphasis is placed on improving reading efficiency through careful reading and translation of passages from Vergil's poetry. In addition, students develop an appreciation of the often-subtle intricacies of Vergil's poetic language and the untranslatable music of his verse. Attention is given to both understanding Vergil in his cultural and historical context and exploring his continuing significance. Offered every spring.

In this course, students improve their skills in reading Latin and discuss scholarship on the author or authors being read during the semester. Each semester the readings change, so that LATN 301 and 302 can be taken, to the student's advantage, several times. Students are encouraged to inform the instructor if there is a particular genre, author or theme they would especially like to study. The list of authors regularly taught in this course includes Horace and Ovid; the comic poet Plautus; and great prose stylists such as Livy, Tacitus, Petronius and Augustine, to name just a few. Offered every fall.

In this course, students improve their skills in reading Latin and discuss scholarship on the author or authors being read during the semester. Each semester the readings change, so that LATN 301 and 302 can be taken, to the student's advantage, several times. Students are encouraged to inform the instructor if there is a particular genre, author or theme they would especially like to study. The list of authors regularly taught in this course includes Horace and Ovid; the comic poet Plautus; and great prose stylists such as Livy, Tacitus, Petronius and Augustine, to name just a few. Offered every spring.