经典 is the study of ancient Greek 和 Roman civilization, which laid the foundation of the western tradition in literature, 哲学, 历史, 艺术, science 和 mathematics. 经典 is thus not confined to one field or method, but has always been inherently interdisciplinary. 经典 students spend most of their time reading Greek 和 Latin texts in the original languages, but they can also take courses in 英语 translation in a variety of disciplines in order to get a broader, interdisciplinary perspective. 经典 makes a dynamic 和 rewarding st和 alone major, but it can be (和 often is) paired with a second major. Above: Photo of Lindos, Rhodes.
Dep艺术ment Update
Welcome students!
The Dep艺术ment of Classical Languages 和 Literatures sends a warm welcome to Smith students, both returning 和 new. Best wishes for a great spring semester!
Requirements & 课程
Goals for Majors in Classical Studies
The Dep艺术ment of Classical Languages 和 Literatures regards its principal mission as instruction of students in the languages 和 literatures of ancient Greece 和 Rome. We believe that the study of Greek 和 Latin provides students with a rigorous intellectual training that is transferable to other areas of learning 和 life. We practice the deep study of language on texts—literary, historical 和 philosophical—that we admire for the directness 和 vigor with which they confront central issues of the human condition: love 和 death, freedom 和 tyranny, justice 和 injustice. A sustained confrontation with classical texts not only heightens a student’s sensitivity to literature 和 involves her in a valuable cultural odyssey, but also prepares her for a life of thoughtful 和 engaged citizenship in the world of the 21st century.
学生 majoring in classics or classical studies should be able to:
Translate with accuracy 和 underst和ing Latin 和/or Greek texts from a variety of historical periods 和 genres.
Appreciate literary texts (epic, 悲剧, 挽歌, 演讲, 历史 or 哲学) in relation to their historical frameworks, both diachronic (texts in dialogue with one another across a literary tradition) 和 synchronic (texts responding to specific historical conditions).
Have a working knowledge of the basic tools 和 resources, both print 和 electronic, for conducting research about ancient Greek 和 Roman culture.
写清楚, cogent interpretive arguments that demonstrate an ability to evaluate 和 engage critically with both primary sources 和 secondary literature.
Communicate ideas clearly 和 effectively in oral argument.
Develop an historical awareness of the enduring influence of the classics in the 艺术s 和 culture of subsequent periods up to the present day.
At least two courses chosen from classics in translation in classics or First-Year Seminars
At least two courses chosen from 考古, 艺术 历史, world literatures, 政府, ancient 历史, 哲学 or religion, in accordance with the interests of the student 和 in consultation with the adviser. With the approval of the adviser, courses in other dep艺术ments 和 programs may count toward the major.
经典 Major
Requirements
Nine language courses
At least two courses in the Greek language at any level
At least two courses in the Latin language at any level
Six courses in Greek or Latin at or above the intermediate level
One classics in translation course in classics or First-Year Seminars may be substituted for one language course at the discretion of the student 和 with the approval of the adviser.
Greek Major
Requirements
Nine language courses
Three courses in the Greek language at any level
Six courses in the Greek language at or above the intermediate level
One classics in translation course in classics or First-Year Seminars may be substituted for one language course at the discretion of the student 和 with the approval of the adviser.
拉丁主要
Requirements
Nine language courses
Three courses in the Latin language at any level
Six courses in the Latin Language at or above the intermediate level
One classics in translation course in classics or First-Year Seminars may be substituted for one language course at the discretion of the student 和 with the approval of the adviser.
荣誉
Please consult the director of honors or the dep艺术mental website for specific requirements 和 application procedures.
学生 planning to major in classics are advised to take relevant courses in other dep艺术ments, such as 艺术, 英语, 历史, 哲学 和 modern foreign languages.
Credit is not granted for the first semester of an introductory language course unless the second semester is completed successfully. 课程 for the major may not be taken S/U.
作为 CLS 217 和 ARH 217. This course is a contextual examination of the 艺术 和 architecture of Ancient Greece, from the end of the Bronze Age through the domination of Greece by Rome (ca. 1100-168 BCE) 和 h和les an array of settlements, cemeteries 和 ritual sites. It tracks the development of the Greek city-state 和 the increasing power of the Greeks in the Mediterranean, culminating in the major diaspora of Greek culture accompanying the campaigns of Alex和er the Great 和 his followers. The course takes a broadly chronological approach, 和 the question of a unified Greek culture is stressed. Continuing archaeological work is considered. {A}{H}
秋天, 春天, Alternate Years
CLS 218 Hellenistic 艺术 和 Archaeology (4 Credits)
This course examines the 艺术, architecture 和 material culture of the Hellenistic period, spanning the years from 323 to 31 BCE 和 representing one of the most exciting 和 dynamic eras of Greek 历史. Beginning with the expansionist campaign of Alex和er the Great 和 ending with the conquests of the future emperor Augustus, it is a time of fast-paced change, experimentation 和 diversity. In addition to examining the 考古 of this period, the course explores ideas about the accessibility of archaeological material 和 how this may be facilitated through digital collections 和 virtual reconstructions. {A}{H}
秋天, 春天, Alternate Years
CLS 227 Classical Mythology (4 Credits)
The principal myths as they appear in Greek 和 Roman literature, seen against the background of ancient culture 和 religion. Focus on creation myths, the structure 和 function of the Olympian pantheon, the Troy cycle 和 艺术istic paradigms of the hero. Some attention to modern retellings 和 艺术istic representations of ancient myths. {A}{L}
秋天, 春天, Alternate Years
CLS 233 Gender 和 Sexuality in Greco-Roman Culture (4 Credits)
The construction of gender, 性, 和 erotic experience is one of the major sites of difference between Greco-Roman culture 和 our own. What constituted a proper man 和 a proper woman in these ancient societies? Which sexual practices 和 objects of desire were socially sanctioned 和 which considered deviant? What ancient modes of thinking about these issues have persisted into the modern world? Attention to the status of women; the role of social class; the ways in which genre 和 convention shaped representation; the relationship between representation 和 reality. {H}{L}
秋天, 春天, Alternate Years
CLS 237 艺术ifacts of Daily Life in the Ancient Mediterranean (4 Credits)
This course uses the 艺术ifacts of the Van Buren Antiquities Collection as a st艺术ing point for investigating the daily life of the Greek 和 Roman worlds. In p艺术icular, students select 和 research an object or objects for which to develop an "object biography," through which the people who produced, 使用, 和 re-使用 these objects might be accessed. Additional attention is given to the place of objects in archaeological practice 和 narratives. Enrollment limited to 10. {H}{S}
秋天, 春天, Alternate Years
CLS 238 The Age of Heroes: Archaeology of the Eastern Mediterranean Bronze Age (4 Credits)
The Mediterranean Bronze Age is often associated with mythological events like the Trojan War. But how did the people of the Bronze Age actually live? This course surveys the 考古 of the Eastern Mediterranean Bronze Age, including Egypt 和 the Aegean, among others, from 3000 to 1100 BCE. The course explores not only the pyramids 和 palaces of the period, but also the evidence for day-to-day living, from crafts production to religion. The class also examines how these cultures interacted 和 the Mediterranean networks that both allowed them to flourish 和 led to their collapse. {A}{H}
秋天, 春天, Alternate Years
CLS 400 Special Studies (1-4 Credits)
For majors, minors 和 advanced students. Prerequisites: Three classics or other courses on the ancient world 和 two intermediate courses in Greek or Latin. Instructor permission required.
秋天, 春天
CLS 430D 荣誉 Project (4 Credits)
Dep艺术ment permission required.
秋天, 春天
Greek 课程
GRK 100Y Elementary Greek (5 Credits)
A year-long course in the fundamentals of Attic Greek, the dialect of Greek spoken in antiquity in the region of Attica 和 its capital, 雅典, 和 使用 by canonical writers such as the tragedians Aeschylus, 索福克勒斯, 欧里庇得斯, the historian Thucydides 和 the philosopher Plato. This course prepares students to read the works of these authors 和 a wide range of others through a combination of grammatical study, composition 和 graded reading practice, while learning about the 历史 和 culture of classical Greece. It also prepares them to make the transition to both the early Greek of 首页ric epic 和 the later Greek (koine) of the New Testament. This course cannot be divided at midyear with credit for the first semester.
秋天, 春天, Annually
GRK 215 Greek Prose 和 Poetry of the Classical Age (4 Credits)
An introduction to different genres of prose 和 poetry in the Classical period with attention to linguistic differences over time 和 region. Readings are from works such as Herodotus' 历史 of the Persian War, the poetry of Solon the wise Athenian lawmaker, the philosophical dialogues of Plato, the Athenian courtroom speeches of Lysias, the tragedies of 欧里庇得斯. Prerequisite: three semesters of Greek or equivalent. {F}{L}
秋天
GRK 216 Greek Poetry of the Archaic Age (4 Credits)
(Formerly GRK 214.) An exploration of the poetic masterpieces of the Archaic period. 学生 study some of the songs bards performed to the accompaniment of the lyre, stories of war, exile 和 homecoming, monsters 和 divinities, love 和 lust. Readings are chosen from works such as 首页r's Iliad 和 Odyssey, Hesiod's Theogony 和 Works 和 Days, the 首页ric Hymns. Prerequisite: GRK 110Y or equivalent. {F}{L}
春天
GRK 400 Special Studies (1-4 Credits)
For majors 和 honors students. Prerequisites: Four advanced courses in Greek. Instructor permission required.
秋天, 春天
GRK 430D 荣誉 Project (4 Credits)
Dep艺术ment permission required.
秋天, 春天
Latin 课程
LAT 100Y Elementary Latin (5 Credits)
The Latin language has had an extraordinarily long life, from ancient Rome through the Middle Ages to nineteenth-century Europe, where it remained the language of scholarship 和 science. Even today it survives in the Romance languages that grew out of it 和 in the countless 英语 words derived from Latin roots. This course prepares students to read Latin texts in any period or area of interest through a study of the fundamentals of classical Latin grammar 和 through practice in reading from a range of Latin authors. Some attention is also given to Roman culture 和 Latin literary 历史. This is a full-year course 和 cannot be divided at midyear with credit for the first semester. Enrollment limited to 30.
秋天, 春天, Annually
LAT 212 Introduction to Latin Prose 和 Poetry (4 Credits)
Practice 和 improvement of reading skills through the study of a selection of texts in prose 和 verse. Systematic review of fundamentals of grammar. Prerequisite: LAT 100 y or equivalent. {F}{L}
秋天
LAT 214 Introduction to Latin Literature in the Augustan Age (4 Credits)
An introduction to the "Golden Age" of Latin literature which flourished under Rome's first emperor. Reading 和 discussion of authors exemplifying a range of genres 和 perspectives such as Virgil, Ovid 和 Horace, with attention to the political 和 cultural context of their work 和 to the relationship between literary production 和 the Augustan regime 和 its program. Practice in research skills 和 in reading, evaluating 和 producing critical essays. Prerequisite: LAT 212 or equivalent. {F}{L}
春天
LAT 330ve Topics: Advanced Readings in Latin Literature-Vergil, Eclogues 和 Georgics (4 Credits)
Before he produced ancient Rome’s greatest work of literature, 《澳门葡京博彩软件》, the young poet Vergil began his career with two very different works: the Eclogues, a collection of ten short pastoral poems, 和 the Georgics, a learned instructional poem ostensibly about agriculture. Through close readings of the Latin, translations 和 modern scholarship, the course explores major stylistic 和 thematic elements of each work, such as: how they depict the natural world, how they interact with Greek 和 Latin poetic models, 和 how they speak to the shifting cultural 和 political l和scape of Rome as it transitions into the Augustan Age. Prerequisites: One intermediate Latin course. {F}{L}
秋天, 春天, Variable
LAT 400 Special Studies (1-4 Credits)
For majors 和 honors students. Prerequisites: Four advanced courses in Latin. Instructor permission required.
秋天, 春天
LAT 430D 荣誉 Project (4 Credits)
Dep艺术ment permission required.
秋天, 春天
Crosslisted 课程
ENG 202/ WLT 202 Western 经典 in Translation I: 首页r to Dante (4 Credits)
作为 202年英格 和 电缆测试202. Considers works of literature, mostly from the ancient world, that have had a significant influence over time. May include: epics by 首页r 和 Virgil; tragedies by Aeschylus, 索福克勒斯 和 欧里庇得斯; Plato’s Symposium; Dante’s Divine Comedy." Enrollment limited to 20. L WI {}
秋天
FYS 147 Power Lunch: The Archaeology of Feasting (4 Credits)
Throughout 历史, food 和 dining have formed some of the most fundamental expressions of cultural identity--in a very real sense, people are what they eat, 和 how they eat. This cross-cultural examination of the topic begins by exploring the various roles that feasting played in the world of the ancient Mediterranean, p艺术icularly the cultures of Greece 和 Rome. The class examines comparative material from contemporary societies. How does food define 和 create culture? In what ways does dining express or reinforce inequalities? These 和 other questions are tackled through the use of primary literature, anthropological studies 和 archaeological material, along with h和s-on approaches. Restrictions: First years only; students are limited to one first-year seminar. Enrollment limited to 16. WI {H}{年代}
秋天, 春天, Variable
Additional Programmatic Information
荣誉 Director: Nancy 家住
Requirements: A 3.7 average for courses within the major through the junior year. 荣誉 c和idates will complete a yearlong, 8-credit thesis 和 will take an examination in the general area of the thesis.
评价: In determining the final honors evaluation the dep艺术ment weights the thesis at 60%, grades at 30%, 和 the examination at 10%.
The 经典 Dep艺术ment does not have a designated placement exam for Latin. We urge you to chat with members of the Dep艺术ment during Orientation, who will help you determine what course would be most suitable for you.
Thalia Alex和ra P和iri Professor Emerita of Classical Languages & Literatures 和 of World Literatures
Why Study 经典?
If you love classical mythology, why not read those myths in their original languages?
经典 combines in-depth study of languages 和 literatures with exposure to many other fields, including 艺术, 考古, 历史, 哲学, political theory 和 religion.
Ancient Greece 和 Rome have had an enduring influence on later 艺术ists 和 thinkers, thus to learn about the ancient world is to underst和 the modern world better.
经典 offers wonderful opportunities for study abroad in Greece, Italy or the United Kingdom.
If you care about words—their nuances 和 precise use, their origins 和 development over time—you will love Latin 和 Greek. They change your experience of language!
The classics dep艺术ment is a close-knit community with lots of student-faculty interaction 和 many events throughout the year.
经典 provides a lasting foundation for a broad range of professional fields 和 career choices, such as business 和 law, teaching 和 social work, law enforcement 和 intelligence analysis. Some students pair a classics major with a science major 和 pursue careers in medicine or scientific research.
资源
The Van Buren Antiquities Collection
This archeological collection of 艺术ifacts from Ancient Greece 和 Italy was originally the personal study collection of Albert William Van Buren (1878–1968), whose career as professor of 考古 和 curator of the Archaeological Study Collection at the American Academy in Rome spanned more than five decades. He introduced generations of American students to the monuments of Rome, Latium 和 Etruria. The collection was sold to the Smith College Latin dep艺术ment in 1925.
Smith students also study abroad in Florence, Paris 和 the United Kingdom.
John Everett Brady Prize
The John Everett Brady Prize is open to all classes 和 is awarded for excellence in the translation of Latin at sight; a second prize is awarded for the best performance in the beginning Latin course.
Julia Harwood Caverno Prize
The Julia Harwood Caverno Prize is awarded for the best performance in the beginning Greek course.
Alice Hubbard Derby Prize
The Alice Hubbard Derby Prize is awarded to a member of the junior or senior class for excellence in the translation of Greek at sight; a second prize is awarded to a member of the junior or senior class for excellence in the study of Greek literature in the year in which the award is made.
乔治·E. Dimock Memorial Prize
The 乔治·E. Dimock Memorial Prize is awarded for the best essay on a classical subject submitted by a Smith College undergraduate.
The Rhorer Fund
The Dep艺术ment of Classical Languages 和 Literatures has limited funds available from the Catherine Campbell Rhorer Fund, to be awarded:
For travel 和 enrichment purposes to classics or classical studies majors who have been accepted to study classics abroad during their junior year.
In support of summer course work taken at another college or university, after approval by the classics dep艺术ment, by classics or classical studies majors sufficiently advanced in the field, or by graduating seniors.
正常情况下, successful applicants will have a record of A- or better in Greek 和/or Latin courses taken at Smith. Financial need will be taken into consideration in determining awards. Application may be made at any point during the academic year. To compete for an award from the Rhorer Fund, a student should submit a letter of application to the chair of the dep艺术ment consisting of (a) one or two paragraphs describing her projected plan of study 和/or travel 和 explaining how it would enhance her education in classics 和 (b) a budget.
