Course Catalogue

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This course surveys ideas about the heavens in the ancient Mediterranean (e.g. Greece, Rome, Egypt, Babylon) and explores the development of the disciplines of astronomy, astrology and meteorology in both theory and practice. It offers the chance to read some of the foundational Roman texts in the Latin original.

20x1 hr seminars as scheduled in MyCampus over 10 weeks.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry in Classics, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who quality under the University's 25% regulation.

Stargazing: Astronomy, Astrology and Meteorology in Antiquity (Hons)

None

Essay (2,500 words) - 50%

Annotated commentary on a selected passage of Latin literature (2,500 words) - 50%

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course aims to:

■ Enable students to become acquainted with Greek and Roman technical writing in respect of the disciplines of astronomy, astrology, and meteorology, and of individual texts in particular;

■ Engage closely with the literary, cultural and social contexts of Greek and Roman technical writing in respect of these disciplines, and of individual texts in particular;

■ Translate a selection of ancient texts on astronomy, astrology, and meteorology.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Enable students to identify Greek and Roman technical writing and individual texts;

■ Place these works in their literary, cultural and social contexts;

■ Translate fluently and accurately from the prescribed texts into clear, appropriate English and comment intelligently on notable matters of form, style, and content;

■ Formulate their own interpretations of the sources and evidence, and present and argue them in a lucid and scholarly manner;

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.