This course explores the vibrant world of Greco-Roman myth and its relationship to ancient literature, culture, and art.  It covers the some of the foundational myths of the ancient world from the origins of the universe through the rise of the Olympians, the Theban and Trojan cycles, to the traditions of early Rome. It examines the contexts in which these stories were told in antiquity, and the ways in which they could be manipulated to suit new uses. Students will engage with literary versions and visual representations of myths, study the role of myth in history, philosophy, and religion, and explore the enduring popularity of this material in more recent times. While the primary focus is on the classical sources and contexts, the various interests and disciplinary backgrounds that members of the class may bring to the subject will be integral to the course.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Display knowledge of many of the most prominent of stories from the Greco-Roman tradition.
2. Demonstrate familiarity with ancient literary and iconographical sources for Greek and Roman myth.
3. Analyse and persuasively demonstrate how different literary and material contexts influenced the variety of Greek and Roman myth.
4. Persuasively demonstrate how storytelling and approaches to myth are products of specific cultural contexts in ways which display advanced skills in close reading and academic argumentation.

Examination Material or equipment

No supplementary materials permitted in mid-semester test.

Required Resources

L. Maurizio, Classical mythology in context. OUP, 2016.

Recommended Resources

No prior knowledge is expected, however, if you do not have a background in classical history and culture, you may also wish to consult:

S.B. Pomeroy, S.M. Burstein, W. Donlan and J.T. Roberts, Ancient Greece: a political, social, and cultural history (3rd ed.: New York, Oxford University Press, 2011).

Other suggestions for reading will be made via the Wattle page. The Classics Centre (downstairs in AD Hope) has a good collection of books on classical topics, and is a hub for student activities.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lecture: What is myth, and why does it matter? Introduction to the ancient contexts of mythology Tutorial Topic: The story of Pandora and the problem of comparison
2	Lecture: The origins of the universe, and the birth of the gods Tutorial Topic: Variant cosmologies
3	Lecture: The Olympian gods Tutorial Topic: Session on library-based research tools
4	Lecture: The Trojan War (1): gods and men at war Tutorial Topic: Godlike Achilles
5	Lecture: The Trojan War (2): aftermaths Tutorial Topic: Heroines	1st Tutorial paper topic draft due Monday 22 Mar 11:59 pm
6	Lecture: No Lecture due to Midsemester Exercise Tutorial Topic: Myth and ritual	Mid-semester take home exercise, To be made available Tuesday 30 Mar, due within 48 hours.
7	Lecture: Deus ex Machina: Mythology and Greek Drama Tutorial Topic: Comparative Mythology 1: Comparative Religion
8	Lecture: Roman myth: an introduction Tutorial Topic: Mythological Money: The gods on Roman Coins
9	Lecture: Roman history and Roman myth Tutorial Topic: Comparative Mythology 2: Modern Mythmaking
10	Lecture: Roman mythology: Roman versions of Greek stories? Tutorial Topic: Academic writing workshops	500 Word Coin Analysis, due Monday 10th May, 11:59 PM
11	Lecture: Myth on the Roman Periphery: Judaism, Christianity, and Mystery Religions Tutorial Topic: Myth and the Abrahamic Traditions
12	Lecture: Myth and Empire Tutorial Topic: What is myth? A course reflection	Final date for tutorial paper, due Monday 24th May 11:59 P.M.
13	No lectures or tutorials	Final Essay, due Monday 31st May 11:59 P.M.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Unmarked Tutorial Topic 1 Draft	0 %	1,2,3,4
2000-word tutorial paper	15 %	1,2,3,4
500-word Coin Analysis	15 %	2,3
2000-word Research Essay	25 %	1,2,3,4
Mid-semester Take Home Exercise	20 %	1,2,3,4
Tutorial Participation	10 %	1,2,3,4
Tutorial Discussion Leadership (20 Minutes)	15 %	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Participation in Tutorial sections is required and will be marked.

Examination(s)

There is a mid-semester take home exercise, but no final examination.

Assessment Task 1

Unmarked Tutorial Topic 1 Draft

As part of the process of writing the 1500 word tutorial paper (3 topics x 500 words), students will be required to submit a first draft of their first topic in Week 3. This draft will not be marked, however students will receive detailed feedback and will be permitted to revise their topic for their final submission, and apply feedback to the remaining topics and other written assessments. Students who fail to submit a draft will have 10 marks deducted from their final paper.

Assessment Task 2

2000-word tutorial paper

Students will choose four topics drawn from four different readings related to four different tutorials and write brief responses. The total word length will be 1500 words. Students are expected to carefully and precisely reference primary and secondary sources, and to display an accurate understanding these. They are also expected to clearly communicate a critical response to what they have read.

Students will be required to submit a first draft of their first topic (see Assessment Task 1).

Assessment Task 3

500-word Coin Analysis

In Week 8, students analyse high resolution photos of Roman coins. Students should choose three Roman coins to analyse in detail and consider the purpose of the moneyer’s use of mythological iconography on coinage. Using assigned tutorial readings as resources and other suggested readings, students will write a 500-word analysis on their chosen coins. Further instructions will be provided on Wattle.

Assessment Task 4

2000-word Research Essay

Students will research and write an essay chosen from a list of topics. Students may devise their own topic with the prior consent of the course convenor. Instructions for this exercise will be circulated via Wattle.

Assessment Task 5

Mid-semester Take Home Exercise

A take home exercise will be provided on Wattle on week 6. This will test students’ knowledge of ancient myth and its contexts as covered in weeks 1-5, and their ability to apply analytical skills learned so far in the course. 

Assessment Task 6

Tutorial Participation

Active engagement with the material of this course is crucial to successful learning. Students will be given a mark in accordance with their participation in tutorials.

Assessment Task 7

Tutorial Discussion Leadership (20 Minutes)

Students will assist their tutor by leading one discussion of their choice during the semester. Students will prepare a 10 minute oral presentation of the material assigned for their chosen tutorial, followed by a 10 minute question and answer period.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

No submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date will be permitted. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded. OR Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Assessments will be returned via Wattle. 

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

No recycling of material is permitted in this course.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students