Classics

402 Phelps Hall, 432.0977
M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.

Chair
John Matthews

Director of Graduate Studies
Victor Bers (404 PH, 432.0980, victor.bers@yale.edu)

Professors
Robert Babcock (Beinecke Library), Victor Bers, Susanna Morton Braund, Donald Kagan, Diana Kleiner, John Matthews

Associate Professor
Elizabeth Tylawsky

Assistant Professors
Michael Anderson, Stephen Colvin, Björn Ewald, Corinne Pache, Shilpa Raval, Celia Schultz

Lecturers
Judith Barringer, Veronika Grimm, Carlos Noreña

Senior Research Scholar/Lecturer
Ann Ellis Hanson

Affiliated Faculty
Tad Brennan (Philosophy), Maria Georgopoulou (History of Art), Dimitri Gutas (Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations), Bentley Layton (Religious Studies), David Quint (Comparative Literature)

Fields of Study
The degree program in Classics seeks to provide an overall knowledge of Greek and Roman civilization, combined with specialized work in a number of fields or disciplines within the total area.

Special Admissions Requirements
A minimum of three years of college training in one of the classical languages and two years in the other.

Special Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree
(1) Passing sight translation examinations in Greek and Latin by the end of the first year in residence; (2) passing departmental reading examinations in French and German by the beginning of the second year in residence; (3) completing fourteen term courses which must include two outside the strict limits of classics, one being either in ancient history or in classical art and archaeology; three seminars (two in one language and one in the other); four courses in the history of Greek and Latin literature, or a reasonable equivalent; and one course in historical or comparative linguistics; (4) satisfaction of the departmental composition requirement in Greek and Latin; (5) translation examinations in Greek and Latin, and general oral examinations in Greek and Latin literature by the end of the fifth term; (6) a special examination, to be taken by the end of the sixth term of residence, consisting of two areas of special concentration in each language to be selected by the candidate with the approval of the director of graduate studies; (7) a dissertation prospectus to be submitted and approved by the end of the seventh term of residence; (8) a dissertation.

In addition to the Graduate School's requirement of Honors grades in at least one year course or two term courses, students must have a High Pass average in the remaining courses. Admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. is granted upon completion of all predissertation requirements, including the prospectus, not later than the end of the seventh term of study.

Combined Programs

Ancient History
The Ph.D. program in Ancient History is offered in collaboration with the Department of History and may be pursued in either department. In the Classics department the course of study follows the program in languages and literature (omitting the history of either Greek or Latin literature and linguistic courses), either the Greek or Latin portion of the translation and general oral examinations and oral qualifying examinations in Greek and Roman history. Further details should be obtained from Professors Kagan or Matthews or from the director of graduate studies.

Classical Art and Archaeology
The program is offered in collaboration with the Department of the History of Art and is designed to give a general knowledge of the development of art in Greece and Italy from the Bronze Age to late antiquity, combining this with a detailed study of one particular period and area; and an acquaintance with the contribution made by field archaeology to our understanding of the classical world. It is expected that each student will be given the opportunity to visit the major sites and monuments. The required fourteen courses will roughly be divided between the two departments, but distribution may be adjusted to suit the interests of individual students. Students are admitted to candidacy by passing a written and oral comprehensive examination in classical art and archaeology and securing acceptance of their dissertation prospectus. Students must pass departmental reading examinations in German and one other modern language, usually French or Italian. Further details should be obtained from Professor D. Kleiner or the director of graduate studies.

Classics and Comparative Literature
Students may be admitted to this joint program after consultation with the director of graduate studies of each department, normally during the first term. Fourteen courses are to be taken, not fewer than seven in the Classics department (including two seminars, two terms of the history of Greek or Latin literature, and a term course in historical or comparative linguistics. In Comparative Literature students must take at least four courses on postclassical European literature and two on literary theory or methodology. Students must pass entrance examinations in both classical languages and either the Greek or Latin translation and literature examinations. In addition, an oral examination should be taken during the third year on eight topics appropriate to both disciplines, selected in consultation with the directors of graduate studies. The modern language requirements (French or German) are the same as for students in Comparative Literature.

Classics and Philosophy
Students who have had at least three years of college Greek and two of philosophy may be admitted to a joint program offered in collaboration with the Department of Philosophy. Further details should be obtained from the director of graduate studies of either department.

Classics and Renaissance Studies
The Department of Classics also offers, in conjunction with the Renaissance Studies program, a combined Ph.D. in Classics and Renaissance Studies. For further details, see Renaissance Studies.

Master's Degrees
M.Phil. See Graduate School requirements.

M.A. (en route to the Ph.D.). Students enrolled in the Ph.D. program qualify for the M.A. degree upon completion of seven courses, ordinarily with a High Pass average in two successive terms.

Program materials are available upon request to the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Classics, Yale University, PO Box 208266, New Haven CT 06520-8266.

Courses
GREK 726au, Greek Religious Texts. Corinne Pache. Mon/Wed 2.30-3.45
Close reading of selected Greek texts dealing with religious issues including the gods, heroes, death, burial, and oracles.

GREK 732au, Greek Philosophical Texts: Aristotle's De Anima. Tad Brennan, Gabriel Richardson. Friday 1.30-3.20
An introduction to the techniques of philosophical exegesis used in the study of ancient Greek texts. Students acquire and practice interpretive skills by applying them to the philosophical analysis of the text selected for this year, Aristotle's De Anima. Some reading knowledge of Greek required. Also PHIL 612au.

GREK 741au, Aeschylus: The Oresteia. Victor Bers. Tues/Thurs 1-2.15
A close study of the trilogy: poetry, staging, religion, politics.

GREK 742bu, Homer's Odyssey. Corinne Pache. Tues/Thurs 1-2.15
Reading of the complete Odyssey in translation, with close reading and translation of selected passages of the poem in Greek. Special emphasis on narrative techniques and oral poetics.

GREK 745bu, Mycenaean Greek: Linear B Text. Stephen Colvin. Mon/Wed/Fri 9.30-10.20
An introduction to the script, language, and context of the Linear B tablets of Mycenaean (Bronze Age) Greece, including a basic introduction to Greek historical phonology and morphology.

GREK 790au, Syntax and Stylistics. Victor Bers. Tues/Thurs 9-10.15
A review of accidence and syntax, stylistic analysis of Greek prose of the fifth and fourth centuries B.C., including a comparison of "prosaic" and "poetic" syntax, and composition in various styles.

GREK 798au and 799bu, Survey for the Major in Classics: History of Greek Literature. Stephen Colvin [F], Victor Bers [Sp]. Mon/Wed/Fri 1.30-2.20 [F], Tues/Thurs 9-10.15 [Sp]
A comprehensive treatment of Greek literature from Homer to the Imperial period. The student is expected to read extensively in the original language, working toward familiarity with the range and variety of the literature.

LATN 710bu, Livy. Celia Schultz. Mon/Wed/Fri 10.30-11.20
Focuses on the first decade of Livy's Ab Urbe Condita.

LATN 721au, Vergil's Aeneid. Celia Schultz. Mon/Wed/Fri 10.30-11.20
An in-depth study of Vergil's Aeneid within its political context.

LATN 744au, The Roman Empire: History in Latin Inscriptions. John Matthews. Wednesday 2.30-4.20
Issues in Roman political, social, religious, and legal history, from the first century B.C. to the fifth century A.D., as seen through Latin inscriptions selected for their inherent interest and variety of content as well as for the explicitly epigraphic questions that they may raise. Also HIST 522au.

LATN 764bu, Ovid's Metamorphoses. Shilpa Raval. Mon/Wed/Fri 1.30-2.20
An intensive introduction to the Metamorphoses with particular attention to questions of narrative, gender, politics, and literary history.

LATN 790au, Advanced Latin Prose Composition. Ann Ellis Hanson. Tues/Thurs 11.30-12.45
An augmented version of LATN 390 (see Yale College Programs of Study for description). A systematic review of syntax and an introduction to Latin style. Selections from Latin prose authors are read and analyzed, and students compose short pieces of Latin prose.

LATN 798au and 799bu, History of Latin Literature. Susanna Braund. Tues/Thurs 2.30-3.45 [F], Tues/Thurs 11.30-12.45 [Sp]
A full survey of Latin literature ranging from the earliest texts to the sixth century C.E., with the main focus on the period of second-century B.C.E. to second century C.E. In the fall term we look at the "public" voices of Latin literature (epic, historiography, oratory) and in the spring some alternative voices, including the exile, the lover, the philosopher, the satirist, and the poetic inventor. The course oscillates between diachronic, synchronic, generic, and topical models of organization.

CLSS 605b, Greek Papyrology. Ann Ellis Hanson. Monday 2.30-4.20
The course surveys literary and documentary papyri of Greek and Roman Egypt, concentrating on documents housed in the Beinecke Library from the late Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Major thrusts include learning to make use of the manifold research aids papyrologists have provided for dealing with the only extensive body of highly diverse texts to survive from the ancient world; manipulation of the papyri as sources for social and other histories; gaining familiarity with the language of the papyri and the reading of literary and documentary hands. Evaluation through a number of short reports and the preparation for publication of previously unpublished papyri in the Beinecke collection.

CLSS 608a, The City of Rome: Topography and History. Carlos Noreña. Tuesday 2.30-4.20
A broad examination of the city of Rome to c. 400 A.D. The first part of the seminar surveys the topography of the city with emphasis on the principal monuments and the articulation of public space. The second part explores various aspects of Rome as a pre-industrial megalopolis, including city administration, provisioning, commerce, population, housing, and daily life.

CLSS 650b, Topics in Roman History and Culture. John Matthews, Susanna Braund. Friday 4-6
A weekly program of research papers on various topics, given by faculty members, graduate students, and visitors to Yale, followed by formal and informal discussion. Graduate students may acquire a course credit by presenting a paper to the seminar or by writing a term paper on one of the topics chosen, together with regular participation and contributions to discussion. Suggestions for and offers of papers are welcome. Also HIST 525b.

CLSS 806b, Greek Vase Painting. Judith Barringer. Wednesday 2.30-4.20
A detailed study of Greek vases from Attica and elsewhere in the Greek world-their fabric, ornament, artisans, market, function, and social context-from the Geometric through the late Classical period, c. 750-340 B.C., using both traditional and more theoretical methods (e.g., iconology, semiotics, gender studies, sociohistorical issues). Readings to include both ancient authors and modern scholarship. The course draws heavily on the Yale University Art Gallery's collection, and field trips are scheduled to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.Also HSAR 574b.

CLSS 835a, Death in Rome: Myths and Monuments, Rituals and Viewers. Björn Ewald. Monday 3.30-5.20
An introduction to Roman funerary art from Republican times to c. 300 A.D., in a broad cultural and anthropological context. Topics include burial customs and grave rituals, funerary speeches and inscriptions, as well as the spatial contexts in which the monuments were seen. Special emphasis on Roman sarcophagi, perhaps the most significant body of images from the Roman world. Also HSAR 578a.

CLSS 837b, Ancient Literary Criticism. Michael Anderson. Monday 2.30-4.20
Greek attitudes toward the nature and functions of literature, mainly poetry, as witnessed in both critical and poetic texts. Principal readings are drawn from Homer, Hesiod, Pindar, Aristophanes, Callimachus, Plato, Aristotle, Philodemus, Longinus, and ancient scholia. Topics for discussion include inspiration, poetry as memorial, epinician poetry, literature and education, fiction and falsehood, catharsis, stylistic criticism, textual criticism, and the differing concerns of ancient and modern criticism.

CLSS 864b, Latin Prose Fiction.ÊÊSusanna Morton Braund.ÊÊ Wednesday 2.30Ð4.20
A detailed study of the three surviving texts of classical Latin that can be viewed as prose fiction: Satyrica of Petronius, Apocolocyntosis of Seneca, and Metamorphoses of Apuleius. These early imperial texs, all of which raise thorny questions concerning title and genre, provoke inquiry about the nature of narrative. Topics include naïve and omniscient narrators; the appropriation of epic narrative structures; other manifestations of intertextuality and parody; the symbolism of food, sex, and excretion; performance and theatricality; and the relationship of knowledge and redemption.

CLSS 900a or b, Directed Reading.
By arrangement with faculty.

CLSS 910a or b, Directed Research.
By arrangement with faculty.

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