Classics is the study of ancient cultures; their art, literature, thought and history. The focus of Classics is the ancient Mediterranean – Greece, Rome, Egypt and the Near East – but our courses also include modules on ancient Africa, India and China. Classics courses are designed to stimulate, inform, and encourage reflection. We want to uncover the connections between cultures, and between the deep past and the present.
Classical Studies at Rhodes offers three distinct subjects: Classics and the two ancient languages, Greek and Latin. A student can take one, two or all three of these. Classics, Greek and Latin can all be taken from first year through to Honours, Masters and PhD level.
Classics (CLA) requires no knowledge of the ancient languages, all literature is read in translation. Each year is semesterised and can be taken as a full credit (e.g. CLA 101 and 102) or as a half credit (101 in the first semester or 102 in the second). The entry requirement for CLA 201/202 is any first-year subject, so CLA 2 and 3 can be taken as a 2-year major, beginning in the second year of study. As a student in your second year, you
need not have done CLA 101/102 in order to take up CLA 2.
Classics 101 and 102 are our most popular courses, and are often taken as an independent credit. Modules include Homer’s Odyssey, Egypt, Bronze Age Greece, the thought of Greece, India and China, and mythology. CLA 2 and 3 share lectures on a rotating syllabus: in even years the focus is Greece, in odd years Rome. The lectures for CLA 2 and CLA 3 are in held common, but assessment is graded. CLA 3 students additionally have a member of staff assigned to them as a tutor and are encouraged to explore their own interests in a research essay.
Latin (LAT) and Greek (GRE) are both three-year majors which may be taken separately,
together, or in conjunction with Classics. The focus in these courses is on gaining direct
access to Greek and Roman literature in the original languages. No prior language
knowledge is necessary, Latin 1 and Greek 1 are beginner’s courses. LAT 101 and GRE 101
can also be taken as half-credits in the first semester. The first year of each course
concentrates on language acquisition: subsequent study is aimed at reading actual ancient
texts.
