CLAS 110 - Ancient Epic: The Art of War

Unit(s): 4

The genius of the epic poets Homer and Vergil in ancient Greece and Rome. Central is the idea of war from which emerge essentially different characteristics of the warrior and the heroic value system in Homer and Vergil. By studying the special place of Homer in the ancient Greek world we will arrive at Homer’s view of society and morality. This will illustrate the way in which Vergil transforms Homer’s material and infuses it with a uniquely Roman way of thinking to create Roman epic, which holds continuing supremacy in Roman writings. In particular, we shall become keenly aware how classical values and thinking enrich the modern world.

College of Arts and Sciences