Classical Mythology

Code:

LLC109

Acronym:

MITC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Cultural Studies

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Portuguese and Romance Studies
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LEI	29	Study plan	2	-	6	41	162
LLC	8	study plan	3	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Present and discuss the nature and functions of myth in ancient Greece. Know the mythical stories of the classical Greek and Latin tradition, as they were reflected in literary works.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of the semester students will be able to:Understand the nature and function of myths in ancient Greece; understand the mythical stories of the classical Greek and Latin tradition, as they were reflected differently in literary works; understand and discern the relationships between myth and poetry, myth and religion, myth and philosophy; identify mythical characters and their fortunes in various areas of knowledge ;recognise the ancient myths as a means of consolidating our collective memory.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Introduction: in search of a definition of myth; 1.1. myth and logos; 1.2. myth and religion; 1.3. Social and educational function of myth in Ancient Greece;


2. Greek mythic tradition: literary and iconographical sources; 2.1. Myths of origins: from chaos to cosmos; 2.2. Olympic pantheon and its stories; 2.3. figurations of Eros; 2.4. (Quasi) aeternal punishments: Prometeus, Tantalus, Sisyphus; 2.5.  Poetry and wisdom: the Muses, Orpheus, Sirens 2.6. Death and wisdom: katabaseis; 2.7. Metamorphoses: Dafnis, Adonis; 2.8. Fatal looks: Medusa, Narcissus, Acteon; 2.9. Heroic adventures: Hercules, Theseus, Jason; 2.10. Troian legends; 2.11. Mythical families: the house of the Atreids; the royal house of Thebes.


3. Greek myths in Rome: literature and erudition.


4. Rewriting and modernity of ancient myths.

Mandatory literature

BURKERT, W.; Mito e Mitologia, ed. 70, 1991
BURKERT, W.; Structure and History in Greek Mythology and Ritual, 1979
BUXTON, R.; From Myth to Reason? Studies in the Development of Greek Thought, Oxford, 1999
DETIENNE, M.; L' invention de la mythologie, Paris,, 1992
GRAVES, R.; Os mitos gregos, Dom Quixote, 2005
GRIMAL, P.; Dicionário da Mitologia grega e romana , Difel, 1992
Gual, Carlos Garcia; La mitologia: Interpretaciones del pensamiento mítico, Montesinos, 1997
GARCÍA GUAL, C.; Introducción a la mitología griega, Madrid, 1992
JABOUILLE, V.; Iniciação à ciência dos mitos, Lisboa, 1994
KIRK, G.S.; The Nature of Greek Myths, Penguin Books, 1974
KIRK, G.S.; Myth: its Meaning and Function in Ancient and Other Cultures, Berkeley, 1970
Barry B Powell; Classical myth. ISBN: 0-13-182590-9
ROCHA PEREIRA, M.H. ; Estudos de História da Cultura Clássica. vol. I: Cultura Grega, FCG, 2006
VEYNE, P.; Acreditaram os Gregos nos seus mitos? , Lisboa, 1987
WOODARD, R.D. (ed.); The Cambridge Companion to Greek Mythology, Cambridge University Press, 2007
HOMERO; Ilíada, Livros Cotovia, 2006
HOMERO; Odisseia, Livros Cotovia, 2005
HESÍODO; Teogonia e Trabalhos e Dias, INCM, 2005
ÉSQUILO; Prometeu Agrilhoado, Ed. 70
SÓFOCLES; Tragédias, Minerva, 2005
OVÍDIO; Metamorfoses, Livros Cotovia, 2007

Complementary Bibliography

BUXTON, R. ; Imaginary Greece. The Contexts of Mythology, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1994.
BERMEJO BARRERA, J.C.; Introducción a la sociología del mito griego., 1994

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical-practical classes with presentation of content and reading and analysis of texts

keywords

Humanities

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	50,00
Teste	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	121,00
Frequência das aulas	41,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Attending 75% of classes, unless established otherwise by law.

Calculation formula of final grade

Test - 50% Exam - 50%

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

"Students with a special status, namely those covered by the status of Association Manager, Student Athlete, Student Firefighter, Military Student, National Team Athlete, High Performance Sports Practitioner or Student Worker" (Art. 14, point 1 of the Assessment Regulations), who are unable to take the two  written tests, may take a final exam at the times set aside for this purpose.

Classification improvement

In order to improve the marks obtained in the two tests, the exam in the appeal period will focus on the subject of the test in which the student obtained the lowest mark.