GREK 395 Hellenistic Literature

This course, making extensive use of resources available via the internet, focuses on the evolution of Greek literature during the Hellenistic period, which begins with the conquest of Alexander the Great and the founding of the Museum at Alexandria by Ptolemy I Soter. Students will read and study the works of the major authors of the period: Callimachus, Theocritus, and Apollonius of Rhodes as well as epigrams from other writers including Meleager, Philodemus, and Posidippus. Students will participate in a weekly webcast lecture, an on-line discussion moderated by faculty members from institutions that participate in Sunoikisis (www.sunoikisis.org), and weekly tutorials with faculty members at Rhodes. This course is specifically designed for advanced students and will include a rigorous study of the cultural and historical context of the Hellenistic Period. Students will also become familiar with current interpretative approaches to the material.