RLB238 Greek Religion

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2020
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Iva Doležalová (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Ivona Vrzalová
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable of Seminar Groups
RLB238/Kombi: Fri 30. 10. 12:00–13:40 J22, Fri 27. 11. 12:00–13:40 J22, Fri 8. 1. 12:00–13:40 J22, I. Doležalová
RLB238/Prez: Wed 8:00–9:40 K21, I. Doležalová
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 80 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/80, only registered: 0/80
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The main objectives of the course are as follows:
- characteristics of the religion of Ancient Greece
- understanding of place and role of religion in life of ancient Greeks and Greek poleis/states
- study of historical sources and their critical analysis
- acquainting with the structure of pantheon, mythological system and ritual practices
Learning outcomes
Based on acquired knowledge students should be able:
  • to present and interpret particular aspects of Greek polyteistic systém
  • to read with understanding the historical sources and use academic terminology and methodolocical approaches of academic study of religion for interpretation in their contexts as well as understand the system itself
  • to understand the religion and culture of Ancient Greece as a complex developing in particular historical and social context
    • Syllabus
    • Greek religion. Introduction to the study. Role of religion in the life of Greek Ancient polis
    • Sources to the study of Greek religion. Epic as a source to the study of Greek religion and the problem of canon
    • Concept of gods, structure of pantheon, relationship of gods to people and vice versa
    • Many of gods - polytheism as the system of representaion
    • Greek cosmological myth. Problem of myth - ritual relationship
    • Concept of "hybris": Tantalos, Atreus and his kin. Misdeeds against order, punishment and its forms in myths
    • Prometheus
    • Heroic myths: common Greek, local. Example: Heracles, Théseus
    • Underworld. Concept of death
    • Organisation of religious life, religion and polis, problem of authority and control, system of festivals
    • Mysteries in the Ancient Greece: Dionysos, Eleusinian mysteries. Mysteries and their history, myth, cult, mystery piety. Tragedy as the source for the reconstruction of myth
    • Ritual in Greek religion: sacrifice, prayer, purity, sacred places and architecture, priests and priestesses. Divination and oracles
    • Greek religion as a challenge for the academic study of religion
    Literature
      required literature
    • Řecký člověk a jeho svět. Edited by Jean-Pierre Vernant, Translated by Lucie Fialková. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2005, 268 s. ISBN 8070217316. info
    • VERNANT, Jean-Pierre. Vesmír, bohové, lidé : nejstarší řecké mýty. Translated by Zuzana Dlabalová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Paseka, 2001, 183 s. ISBN 8071853445. info
    • PRICE, S. R. F. Religions of the ancient Greeks. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999, xii, 217. ISBN 9780521388672. info
      recommended literature
    • HOŠEK, Radislav. Náboženství antického Řecka. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2004, 239 s. ISBN 807021516X. info
    • DOSTÁLOVÁ, Růžena and Radislav HOŠEK. Antická mystéria. Vydání první. Praha: Vyšehrad, 1997, 365 stran. ISBN 8070212179. info
    • BURKERT, Walter. Griechische Religion : der archaischen und klassischen Epoche. 1. Aufl. Stuttgart: W. Kohlhammer, 1977, 508 s. ISBN 3170043455. info
      not specified
    • Mytologie Řeků I :příběhy bohů a lidí. Edited by Karl Kerényi - Jan Binder. 1. vyd. Praha: OIKOYMENH, 1996, 245 s. ISBN 80-86005-14-3. info
    • Mytologie Řeků II :příběhy héróů. Edited by Karl Kerényi - Jan Binder. 1. vyd. Praha: OIKOYMENH, 1998, 349 s. ISBN 80-86005-00-3. info
    • VEYNE, Paul. Věřili Řekové svým mýtům? : esej o konstitutivní imaginaci : Les Grecs ont-ils cru a leurs mythes? (Orig.). Translated by Milena Šubrtová - Jiří Šubrt. 1. vyd. Praha: Oikoymenh, 1999, 166 s. ISBN 80-86005-78-X. info
    Teaching methods
  • Lecture, seminar discussion based on reading and written comments on given texts
  • seminar presentation upon particular text of historical source (two presentation during semestr based on writen comments of historical source and reading)
  • preparation of writen comments for colloqium
    • Assessment methods
    Colloquim
    Requests for colloquim:
  • Written test based on the required reading, lectures, and presentations (100 points each, the minimum of 60 points is required to pass the test, which is a prerequisite for the oral colloquim)
  • Two submissions of abstracts of source texts - for seminar discussions (see Study materials), evaluated 100 points each, the minimum of 60 points is required. This task is a prerequisite for the oral colloquim)
  • Active participation in seminar discussions based on reading and written comments on given texts
  • Before the colloqium term published in the IS MU, participants of the course submit an analytical comment on elected text of historical source and reading.
    See Study materials for detailed information.
    • Language of instruction
    Czech
    Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
    Study Materials
    The course is taught once in two years.
    Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučující.
    Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
    The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2013, Autumn 2014, Spring 2016, Autumn 2017, Spring 2019.
    • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2020/RLB238