CLAS/FA 145B: Topics in Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology DAILY LIFE IN ANCIENT ROME FROM SOUP TO SPECTACLES Course Syllabus (DRAFT 1-5-15) Brandeis University, Spring 2015 Class Meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:00 3:20 p.m., Block N Location: TBA (Mandel Center for the Humanities, Ground Floor, room G03 or G12?) Instructor: Ann Olga Koloski-Ostrow Professor and Chair, Department of Classical Studies and Co-Director of M.A. Graduate Program in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies Office: Mandel Center for the Humanities, room 213 (second floor) Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. and by appt. in my office, MCH 213. Email: aoko@brandeis.edu Phone: (781) 736-2183 (with voice mail) Teaching Fellows: Mary Pons and Jonathan Quiery, M.A. graduate students in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies Emails: mapons77@brandeis.edu and jquiery@brandeis.edu TA Office Hours: TBA in Rabb 359 This course satisfies requirements either in the School of Humanities (HUM) or in the School of Creative Arts (CA). If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and wish to have a reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please see me immediately with our documentation. Required Texts (available for purchase in our bookstore): 1. JoAnn Shelton, As the Romans Did (Oxford Univ. Press 1988 or latest) (ISBN: 019508974-X) (price: ca. $43.95), paperback; also in our library reserve (R): HN10.R7 S45 1988 2. Mary Beard, Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found (Harvard Univ. Press, 2008) (ISBN: 13 978 0674 02976 7), paperback 3. Alison Cooley and M. G. L. Cooley, Pompeii: A Sourcebook (Routledge, 2004) (ISBN: 0415 26212 7), paperback Other Texts (some to be posted as a whole or in part in LATTE): 1. Potter, D.S. and Mattingly, D.J. eds. Life, Death, and Entertainment in the Roman Empire (U. of Michigan 1998). 2. Etienne, Robert. Pompeii: The Day a City Died (Abrams 1992). ISBN 0-8109-2855-8 (pbk.) also in our library reserve (R): DG70.P7 E798 3. Horace, Satires (trans. N. Rudd) (Penguin) (pbk.) 4. Petronius, Satyricon (trans. J.P. Sullivan) (Penguin) (pbk.) 5. Juvenal, Satires (trans. P. Green) (Penguin) (pbk.) 6. Suetonius, Twelve Caesars (trans. R. Graves) (Penguin) (pbk.)
2 7. Apuleius, Golden Ass (trans. J. Relihan) (VHPS) (pbk.) 8. Your Notebook (for notes, observations, and for storage of various handouts you will receive in the course of the term). Note on Readings: Currently no textbook covers all the possible topics of Roman daily life. With help from Shelton, Beard and Cooley and Cooley, some essays from Potter/Mattingly, a variety of readings in translation (by Roman authors), and a close look at the wellpreserved archaeological remains, we shall gain an understanding of several representative aspects of the topic. I offer (sometimes optional and sometimes required) readings on reserve and in LATTE. You will receive a full list of the books on reserve in a separate post. Please keep checking this syllabus for the duration of the semester. It is an important document for success in the course. Course Description and Learning Goals: This is a course about everything everything in the daily life of the ancient Roman world, mainly in the first and second centuries CE. Because of their preservation, the ancient buried cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum will form the major part of the archaeological evidence in the course. We shall, however, not stop with archaeological evidence, but plumb the depths of ancient literary and epigraphic evidence as well. You will learn the geography of ancient Italy, the history of first and second century Rome, how to read and evaluate ancient evidence, how to make sensible and rational judgments about this evidence, how to confront your own prejudices about the Roman world, and how to overcome those prejudices in pursuit of historical, archaeological, artistic, and literary truth. We have a great adventure before us. I m delighted you ll join me as we attempt time-travel to another world and time. Course Requirements: 1. ATTENDANCE IN CLASS AND CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION: Daily attendance will be called on a fairly regular basis for the first few weeks in order to put names with faces. After that, students must sign in on an attendance sheet for every class. Students are expected (even required) to come to class for lectures, discussions, and writing assignments, to take notes on lectures, discussions, and readings, to attend class outings, and to participate actively in those parts of class time set aside for discussion. Every effort will be made to keep our often darkened lecture hall a place of intellectual stimulation rather than a place suggestive of sleep! The following outings are tentatively scheduled (subject to confirmation): *Thurs., Feb. 5 Goldfarb/Farber Library (Gardner-Jackson Room) *Sun., March 22 Boston Museum of Fine Arts 2. MAP QUIZ PLUS AND TAKE-HOME MIDTERM: Map Quiz Plus on Tues., Feb. 10 (sorry, no make-ups). The quiz involves map work on sites in Italy, especially around Bay of Naples and Rome, and some term identifications.
3 Midterm Take-Home Exam on Tues., March. 3 (sorry, no extensions without a valid excuse). The midterm exam involves analyzing a piece of primary source material for its evidence of Roman daily life. 3. WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS: Occasionally I will ask you to complete a short writing assignment, to be completed in class, or to be completed between classes. These papers include reactions to images and ideas, summaries of class lectures, and perhaps reviews (of articles or films). Final term paper (6-8 typed, computer-generated, double-spaced pages, not including the cover page, any images, bibliography, or appendices). Graduate students are required to write 8-10 page final papers. Details to follow. 4. WEEKLY HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS AND CLASS NOTEBOOK: Weekly (not per class) reading assignments are included in this syllabus. When the readings come from required texts, they are marked with an asterisk*. Please keep up with these readings (also readings posted in LATTE or from books on reserve in Goldfarb), as much as possible, so that lectures will be more meaningful to you. NOTA BENE: Some readings from the reserve list are recommended, but, obviously, the more you read, the more you will learn. Your class notebook should be for lecture notes, notes on your readings, and for a collection of all handouts that you receive in the course. Handouts are generally very important material for enhancing your appreciation of Roman daily life, and, not least, for information helpful to you on the Map Quiz Plus and Midterm Take-Home Exam. 5. GRADE CALCULATION: Class Participation/ Discussion 10% Map/Term Quiz Plus 10% Writing Assignments, Including Prospectus for Final Paper 20% Midterm Take-Home Exam 30% Final Research Paper 30% TOTAL 100% 6. ACADEMIC HONESTY: You are expected to be honest in all of your academic work. Brandeis University policy on academic honesty is contained in your Student Handbook in section 5 under Rights and Responsibilities. Instances of cheating, plagiarism, or other alleged dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Campus Life for possible referral to the Student Judicial System. The adjudication process is also outlined your Handbook. Potential consequences of academic dishonesty include (in addition to an E on the assignment) failure in the course, disciplinary probation, and suspension from the University. A record of any offense will remain in a student s disciplinary file in the Office of Student Affairs throughout his or her career at Brandeis. Please know that I take this code very seriously. If you have any questions about my expectations, please ask me.) Topics and readings for term (Please understand, changes may be necessary.):
4 DUE DATES JANUARY Jan. 13, Tues. Introduction to the course: Why study Roman daily life? What is the principle evidence for it? What is its significance for us? Pompeii and Herculaneum: Windows on 1 st c. Roman Daily Life Beard, Introduction, 1-25; Ch. 1, Living in an Old City, 26-52. Shelton, The Roman Ideal, 3-5. Deiss, Herculaneum, chapters I, Life of a Roman Town, II, Origins and Jan. 15, Thurs. Legends, and III, Death of a Roman Town, pp. 1-23 (R); Etienne, Pompeii, chapter II, Life in Pompeii, 43-62 (LATTE); end week 1 Jan. 20, Tues. Jan. 22, Thurs. City of Rome, the Emperors, and The Structure of Roman Society Families and Marriage Shelton, The Structure of Roman Society, 6-17; Families, 18-36; and Marriage, 37-58. Grant, Cities, chapter 1, pp. 15-23 (R); end week 2 Jan. 27, Tues. Town and Country/ Urban and Rural Living Jan. 29, Thurs. What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?/ Film Clip Infrastructure, Sewers, Toilets, Roads, and Aqueducts Shelton, Housing and City Life, 59-80. Beard, Ch. 2, Street Life, 53-80. Brion, Glory and Grief, History of Pompeii, pp. 11-20 (R). end week 3 FEBRUARY: Feb. 3, Tues. Feb. 5, Thurs. 248. Roman Public Religion (Temples) and Private Worship Visit to Goldfarb Library / Book/Technology Workshop The Roman Forum Model: Roman and Pompeian Politics Shelton, Religion and Philosophy, 360-437; Government and Politics, 206- Beard, Ch. 9, A City Full of Gods, 276-308; Ch. 6, Who Ran the City? 188-215. Cooley and Cooley, Ch. 5, Religion, 83-110; Ch. 6, Politics and Public Life, 111-136. Pompeian Programmata (LATTE). D Arms, John. Romans on the Bay of Naples (Harvard Univ. Press 1970) (R). end week 4 *Feb. 10, Tues. Map Quiz Plus
5 Roman Domestic Life (and Architecture) Feb. 12, Thurs. Domestic Life Cont., Slaves and Freedmen Shelton, Slaves, 168-189; Freedmen, 190-205; review Housing and City Life, 59-80. Beard, Ch., 3 House and Home, 81-119. Richardson, Pompeii: An Architectural History, Pt. I, sections 1-3, pp. 3-43 (R). end week 5 February 14-22, 2015 WINTER MIDTERM RECESS, no classes end week 6 Feb. 24, Tues. Women in Roman Society Feb. 26, Thurs. Roman Clothes, Hair Styles, Gestures, and Personal Habits Shelton, Women in Roman Society, 290-307; Domestic and Personal Concerns, 81-102. Beard, Ch. 7, The Pleasures of the Body: Food, Wine, Sex, and Baths, 216-250. TBA end week 7 MARCH: *Mar. 3, Tues. Mar. 5, Thurs. Take-Home Midterm Exam due/ Class Film Leisure and Entertainments Shelton, Leisure and Entertainment, 308-359. Beard, Ch. 8, Fun and Games, 251-275. Cooley and Cooley, Ch. 4 Leisure, 44-82. TBA end week 8 Mar. 10, Tues. Mar. 12, Thurs. Baths, Bathing, and Hygiene Roman Theaters and Circuses: High Culture and the Art of Racing Shelton, review section on baths and theater events in Leisure and Entertainment, 311-315, 339-341. Beard, review Ch. 7, The Pleasures of the Body: Food, Wine, Sex, and Baths, 216-250. Review Cooley and Cooley, Ch. 4, Leisure, 44-82, relevant section. TBA end week 9 Mar. 17, Tues. Mar. 19, Thurs. Amphitheaters, Gladiators, and Mock Hunts The Roman Army/ Violence in Roman Society Shelton, review sections on hunting, spectacles, amphitheater, and circus events in Leisure and Entertainment, 308-359; The Roman Army, 249-269. Beard, review Ch. 8, Fun and Games, 251-275. Review Cooley and Cooley, Ch. 4, Leisure, 44-82, relevant sections.
6 TBA end week 10 Mar. 22, Sun. Boston Museum of Fine Arts, afternoon visit (required) Mar. 24, Tues. Roman Occupations, Activities, and Farming *Mar. 26, Thurs. Roman Art and Art Production Research Proposals (Prospectuses) Due Shelton, Occupations, 127-167. Beard, Ch. 5, Earning a Living: Baker, Baker, and Garum Maker, 152-187; Ch. 4, Painting and Decorating 120-151. Cooley and Cooley, Ch. 8, Commercial Life, 157-191. Mau/Kelsey, chapter I, The Situation of Pompeii, and II. Before 79, pp. 1-18 (R). end week 11 Mar. 31, Tues. Apr. 2, Thurs. Travel and Education/ Lindsey Davis and Roman Daily Life Death and Burial in Campania and Roman Italy Lindsey Davis, selections (posted in LATTE) Shelton, Education, 104-126; review sections on travel in Leisure and Entertainment, 325-330; review sections on funerary laws and funerals in Domestic and Personal Concerns, 97-101. Beard, Ch. 9, Epilogue: City of the Dead, 309-316. Cooley and Cooley, Ch. 7, Tombs, 137-176. Review Deiss, Herculaneum, chapter III, Death of a Roman Town, pp. 1-23 (R). end week 12 APRIL 3-12, 2015 SPRING BREAK/ PASSOVER, no classes (Prof. Koloski-Ostrow away in Great Britain.) end week 13 Apr. 14, Tues. Problems in Studies on Daily Life/ What remains to be done? Student Presentations Apr. 16, Thurs. Student Presentations end week 14 Apr. 21, Tues. Student Presentations *Apr. 23, Thurs. Student Presentations Wrap-up/ Final Research Paper due end week 15