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Another Side of the Ancients NEW!

“Ancient science fiction, paleontology, free-thinkers, and eats” sums it up well. The course covers four distinct topics, knitted together by a common background in the Greco-Roman world. Did the Greeks and Romans have memes and stories that echo down into modern science fiction? What did they make of the giant bones that were cropping up all over the Mediterranean? Is it true that philosophical atheism in the West dates back not to the Enlightenment, but to the 5th century BCE? How did the ancients eat, drink, and party? These topics have been chosen not because they are important to the grand sweep of history, but because they are intrinsically interesting and lead us down byways of ancient history that we normally miss. Although they are not taught in “classic” Classics courses, they reveal a great deal about the depth and sophistication of ancient thought. This PowerPoint-assisted lecture course includes short videos, Q and A, and discussion. No previous experience or study is required.

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