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RELS388 The Pagan Religions of Ancient Greece and Rome

Updated: 12 October 2012
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Off Campus
Armidale Trimester 1 On Campus
Intensive School(s) None
Supervised Exam There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites 12cp in ANCH or ASST or ECON (units with a 4 or 5 as a second digit [denoting ECON HIST] only) or HIST or RELS or candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions HIST388 or HIST488 or HIST588 or RELS207 or RELS307 or RELS407 or RELS588
Notes None
Combined Units RELS588 - 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. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.

Religions of Rome. Vol. 1. A History
ISBN: 9780521316828
Beard, M., North, J. and Price, S., CUP 1998
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
Greek Religion
ISBN: 9780631156246
Burkert, W., Blackwell 1987
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , 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% 2000
Assessment Notes
Essay
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 6, 7
Assignment 2 40% 2000
Assessment Notes
Essay
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 6, 7
Online Test 1 10%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 6, 7
Online Test 2 10%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 6, 7

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; and
  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 the written and online assessments. 		True True
2 Communication Skills
In this unit, students learn to communicate their ideas through their assignment work. In their essays, students will communicate in well-organised and logical arguments the ideas they have developed in studying particular topics. Students who also participate in the online discussion board practise communicating their ideas with other students. 		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
4 Information Literacy
Students will read a variety of literary material - both ancient and modern - and learn how to 'process' this information. Students in their essays learn how to recognise relevant material and how to apply it to a particular problem as required in their essays. 		True
5 Life-Long Learning
The skills which students begin to acquire in this unit are ones which can be applied in a variety of contexts. The academic skills of research and learning which are taught in the unit will be relevant in many situations. Students should learn how to study and learn independently, and also how to learn in a group situation. 		True
6 Problem Solving
Every 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 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 assessments and discussions in tutorials or online postings. 		True True True
8 Team Work
Students will practise their teamwork skills through participating in seminars, or online discussion postings. They will be required to discuss the weekly topics with their fellow students in a thoughtful and respectful manner. 		True
   

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