FF:RLBcA009 Ancient Religions - Course Information

RLBcA009 Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean and Near East

Extent and Intensity

2/0/0. 4 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching

Teacher(s)

PhDr. Dalibor Papoušek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PhDr. Iva Doležalová (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Aleš Chalupa, Ph.D. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

PhDr. Dalibor Papoušek, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Kristýna Čižmářová
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts

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 90 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/90, only registered: 0/90, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/90

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• Study of Religions (programme FF, B-RL_) (3)

Course objectives

The course outlines the main religious traditions which took part in the civilizational development of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East. Based on the chronological order, it provides the fundamental characteristics covering their broader socio-cultural context, mythological background, and ritual practices. Finally, it offers the cross-cutting topics devoted to the comparative study of cosmogonic myths, transformations of ritual practices and to the concept of axial age.

Learning outcomes

After the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

demonstrate the basic factual knowledge of the most representative religions of the ancient Mediterranean;

apply the basic terminology used in the study of the ancient religions;

interprete selected literary sources connected with the topic;

compare main cosmogonic myths of the ancient Mediterranean;

characterize the typological category of ancient religions and distinguish specific features in religious development of the ancient Mediterranean.

Syllabus

• Introduction to the course. General characterization of ancient religions (Dalibor Papoušek)
• Religions of the ancient Mesopotamia: The order of the world in the particularity of local centers (Dalibor Papoušek)
• Ancient Egyptian Religion: Mythical establishment of the state (Dalibor Papoušek)
• Religions of the ancient Syria-Palestine: A way toward monotheism (Dalibor Papoušek)
• Religion of the Ancient Iran: Zoroastrism (Aleš Chalupa)
• Greek religion: Archaic and Classical Periods (Iva Doležalová)
• Roman religion: From the republic to the empire (Aleš Chalupa)
• Hellenistic Religions: A quest for unity in the alienated world (Iva Doležalová)
• The comparative study of ancient cosmogonies (Dalibor Papoušek)
• Transformations of ritual practice within the ancient societies: Sacrifice, mysterium, magic (Iva Doležalová)
• The axial age (Aleš Chalupa)
• Final test

Literature

recommended literature
• HELLER, Jan. Starověká náboženství : náboženské systémy starého Egypta, Mezopotámie a Kenaanu. 3. vyd. Neratovice: Verbum, 2010, 413 s. ISBN 9788090392021. info
• HRŮŠA, Ivan. Bohové, chrámy, obřady a lidé : náboženství staré Mezopotámie. Vydání první. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2015, 286 stran. ISBN 9788074295386. info
• BAINES, John, Leonard H. LESKO and David P. SILVERMAN. Náboženství ve starověkém Egyptě : bohové, mýty a náboženská praxe. Edited by Byron E. Shafer. 1. vyd. Neratovice: Verbum, 2009, 237 s. ISBN 9788090392014. info
• HOŠEK, Radislav. Náboženství antického Řecka. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2004, 239 s. ISBN 807021516X. info
• RÜPKE, Jörg. Náboženství Římanů. Translated by David Sanetrník. Vydání první. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2007, 341 stran. ISBN 9788070218075. info
• Helénistická náboženství. Edited by Luther H. Martin, Translated by Iva Doležalová - Dalibor Papoušek. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 1997, xx, 161 s. ISBN 80-210-1702-3. info
• ČERNÁ, Zlata. Duchovní prameny života : stvoření světa ve starých mýtech a náboženstvích. Vyd. 2., rozš. Praha: Vyšehrad, 1997, 543 s. ISBN 8070212233. info

Teaching methods

Lectures; home readings examined electronically in semestral minitests; class discussions; final written test.

Assessment methods

Requirements for the colloquium (recommended for students in the fields other than religion)

four electronic mini-tests in the assigned texts;

final written test in the basic knowledge of the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern religions.
The final assessment includes: four mini-tests and final test (200 points = 100%, limit 120 points), participation in the classes (extra points added to the total of tests).

Requirements for the oral examination (compulsory for students of religion)
Prerequisites for the examination:

four electronic mini-tests in the assigned texts;

two written commentaries on the assigned texts;

final written test in the basic factual knowledge of the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern religions.
Requirements for the oral examination:

to prove the knowledge of the ancient Mediterranean religions according to the given list of topics;

to prove the interpretative ability in a given field.
The final grade includes: four mini-tests and final test (200 points = 40%, limit 120 points), two written commentaries discussed in seminaries (100 points = 20%, limit 60 points), oral examination (200 points = 40%, limit 120 points), participation in the classes (extra points added to the total of tests).

Detailed schedule of the course and topics for the examination with recommended reading are available in the ELF (e-learning environment of the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University).

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

Information on completion of the course: Posluchači religionistiky povinně ukončují zkouškou.
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.

• Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  
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