LJ401 Classical Mythology: Gods

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Irena Radová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Irena Radová, Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable of Seminar Groups
LJ401/01: Wed 10:00–11:40 C33, except Wed 15. 11., I. Radová
LJ401/02: Wed 14:00–15:40 B2.13, except Wed 15. 11., I. Radová
Prerequisites
There are no specific requirements for enrolling in this course.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 475 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 303/475, only registered: 0/475, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/475
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course provides a comprehensive overview of Greek and Roman mythology, especially of the myths about gods, and also of the reception of this part of the ancient mythology in the post-classical visual arts and literature. The course is supported by an electronic version of the course.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, students will have an understanding of the system of classical mythological pantheon and relevant secondary literature in order to present basic information about any of these ancient mythological characters. Moreover, students will also be able to reproduce different methods of interpretations of the myths in question and to interpret the characters inspired by antiquity in the modern visual arts and literature.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction, Greek cosmogonies.
  • 2.-5. Olympian gods (Zeus, Hera, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hephaistus, Aphrodite, Eros, Hermes, Ares, Hestia).
  • 6. Lower gods and the gods of fate (Themis, Horae, Muses, Charites, Hebe, Moirae, Ate, Nemesis, Tyche, Nice).
  • 7. The gods of the celestial phenomena (Helius, Selene, Eos, Iris, Hyades, Pleiades).
  • 8. The gods of the sea (Poseidon, Amphitrite, Pontus, Oceanus, Atlas, Ino, Triton, Proteus, Glaucus).
  • 9.-10. The earthly deities (Gaia, nymphs, Rheia, Cybele, Dionysus, Satyrs, Silenus, Pan, Priapus, Demeter, Centaurs).
  • 11.-12. The underworld deities (classical notions of the underworld, Hades, Persephone, Hypnus, Thanatus, Hecate, Erinyes, Keres).
  • 13. Roman mythology and relligion (Ianus, Saturnus, Lares, Penates, Genii, Vertumnus, Pomona, Flora, Bona Dea, Terminus, Pales).
Literature
    required literature
  • Vzhledem k existenci mnoha kvalitních publikací o mytologii v různých jazycích není pro kurz stanovena povinná literatura. Je lhostejno, z které z doporučených příruček bude student čerpat své znalosti.
    recommended literature
  • GRANT, Michael and John HAZEL. Who's who in classical mythology. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 2002, x, 367. ISBN 0415260418. info
  • KERÉNYI, Karl and Carl Gustav JUNG. Věda o mytologii. Vyd. 1. V Brně: Nakladatelství Tomáše Janečka, 1995, 229 s. ISBN 80-85880-06-7. info
  • REID, Jane Davidson. The Oxford guide to classical mythology in the arts, 1300-1990s. Edited by Chris Rohmann. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993, xxiii ;. ISBN 0195049985. info
  • MORFORD, Mark P. O. and Robert J. LENARDON. Classical mythology. 3rd ed. New York: Longman, 1985, xvi, 576. ISBN 0582285410. info
  • Classical mythology in twentieth-century thought and literature. Edited by Wendell M. Aycock - Theodore M. Klein. Lubbock: Texas Tech Press, 1980. ISBN 0-89672-079-9. info
  • SVOBODA, Ludvík. Encyklopedie antiky. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 1973, 741 s. URL info
  • SASKA, Leo František and František GROH. Mythologie Řeků a Římanů. Edited by Jaromíra Hüttlová. Deváté vydání. V Praze: I.L. Kober, 1948, 267 stran. URL info
  • SMITH, William. A classical dictionary of Greek and Roman biography, mythology and geography. Edited by Marindin. G. E. London: John Murray, 1919, vi, 1018 s. info
    not specified
  • BRISSON, Luc. How philosophers saved myths : allegorical interpretation and classical mythology. Translated by Catherine Tihanyi. Pbk. ed. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2008, xiv, 206. ISBN 0226075354. info
  • BOUZEK, Jan and Iva ONDŘEJOVÁ. Periklovo Řecko [3-2913]. Praha: Mladá fronta, 1989. ISBN 80-204-02083-4. info
  • HOŠEK, Radislav. Země bohů a lidí : pohledy do řeckého dávnověku. Vyd. 1. Praha: Svoboda, 1972, 290 s. URL info
  • BURIAN, Jan. Řím : světla a stíny antického velkoměsta. Vyd. 1. Praha: Svoboda, 1970, 285 s. URL info
Teaching methods
Lectures + e-learning.
Assessment methods
Requirements for credit: passing a written test consisting of 22 multiple-choice questions, minimum pass level 60%.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information about innovation of course.
This course has been innovated under the project "Faculty of Arts as Centre of Excellence in Education: Complex Innovation of Study Programmes and Fields at FF MU with Regard to the Requirements of the Knowledge Economy“ – Reg. No. CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0228, which is cofinanced by the European Social Fond and the national budget of the Czech Republic.

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Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
https://elf.phil.muni.cz/23-24/my/courses.php
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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