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RELS588 The Pagan Religions of Ancient Greece and Rome

Updated: 16 April 2010
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 2 Off Campus D - Comp/internet essential
Armidale Semester 2 On Campus D - Comp/internet essential
Intensive School(s) None
Supervised Exam There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions HIST388 or HIST488 or HIST588 or RELS207 or RELS307 or RELS407 or RELS388
Notes None
Combined Units RELS388 - The Pagan Religions of Ancient Greece and Rome
Coordinator(s) Matthew Dillon (mdillon@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

This unit examines various features of the religious practices of the ancient Greeks and Romans, from c.800 BC-AD 330. Topics include: magical practices; sacrificial systems; priesthoods; the role of women in religion; old versus new cults; private and public cults; religious architecture; the interplay between religion and politics; minority religious groups and mythology. The aim is to introduce the main themes of Greek and Roman religion, and to consider the religious priorities of the Greeks and Romans. Students will write assignments on both cultures with the emphasis on understanding what motivated the religious practices of the Greeks and Romans.
Prescribed Material
Mandatory 		Text(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material

Religions of Rome. Vol. 1. A History
ISBN: 9780521316828
Beard, M., North, J. and Price, S., CUP 1998
Text refers to: Semester 2 , On and Off Campus
Greek Religion
ISBN: 9780631156246
Burkert, W., Blackwell 1987
Text refers to: Semester 2 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 1 40% 3000-3500
Assessment Notes
Essay
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 5, 6
Online Assessment 1 15%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 5, 6
Online Assessment 2 15%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 5, 6
Online Quiz 1 10%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 5, 6
Online Quiz 2 10%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 5, 6
Online Quiz 3 10%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 5, 6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. analyse the ancient literary texts relevant to ancient Greek and Roman religion and understand how these are the basis of knowledge concerning ancient Greek and Roman religious practice;
  2. learn how to 'read' iconographic material with the aim of providing knowledge concerning and gaining an understanding of ancient Greek and Roman religious practice;
  3. understand the main religious concerns of the Greeks and Romans and the motivation behind their religious practices;
  4. reflect on the importance of religion in the everyday lives of the ancient Greeks and Romans and how religion was an intrinsic part of these civilisations.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Knowledge of the studies in religion discipline will be taught in a seminar atmosphere. It will be assessed in all of the assessments. 		True True
2 Communication Skills
Students will be taught communication skills through written and oral feedback on the essay and participation component of the unit. Students studying on-campus will learn valuable communication skills through participation in the seminar session (this will include debates and small group work). Students will be assessed on the style of writing, clarity of writing, expression and development of ideas, and referencing. Students will practice their communication skills through completing the assessment tasks (written through essays). 		True True True
3 Global Perspectives
A study of the pagan religions of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds should broaden the world perspective of a student by coming to an understanding of the belief systems of the two major ancient cultural influences on the western world. 		True True
4 Information Literacy
Students will be taught, and directed, to relevant literature and how to assess its validity. Students will be assessed (through the essay) on their ability to identify relevant literature, and on their ability to critically analyse the literature. 		True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Through completing the assessments, students will be provided with the necessary lifelong skills to be able to research, write and discuss social issues. These skills can be transferred to any discipline, and will be useful in any research positions. These attributes will be assessed in all of the assessments (written skills; analytical skills). In addition, students who attend tutorials will be provided with the skills to debate contentious topics and develop their understanding of a topic through group activities. 		True True
6 Problem Solving
Every RELS588 essay revolves around a particular problem. Students apply their skills of information literacy to develop a written argument about a particular issue. As individual essays elicit the student's own responses to a particular problem, students develop critical and creative thinking. 		True
7 Social Responsibility
Students will be taught about their professional responsibilities as a researcher to provide balanced and accurate research. In addition, students will be taught that they have a social responsibility to question and challenge some 'facts'. This will be assessed and taught through their responses to the essay, exam questions and discussions in tutorials or online postings. 		True True
8 Team Work
Team work applies in general to discussions between students on Blackboard about problems they encounter or interesting questions for discussion. 		True
   

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