Courses

Course ID	Title	Offered
CLASS 1332	Elementary Sanskrit II An introduction to the essentials of Sanskrit grammar. Designed to enable the student to read classical and epic Sanskrit as soon as possible. Full details for CLASS 1332 - Elementary Sanskrit II
CLASS 1522	FWS: Subversive Myth and Politics in Imperial Rome This course traces increasing restrictions on freedom of speech from the late Roman Republic to the imperial era. It thus offers a select survey of the most influential period of Latin literature with a specific political agenda. Also, since early first century statuary and architecture played a vital role in imperial propaganda, students look at how Octavian portrayed himself in the guise of specific gods, and observe the not always flattering depictions of these gods in Augustan poetry. In sum, students gain an intimate familiarity with the political climate of the late Roman republic and early imperial age in a synthesis of literature, history and iconography organized around the dueling themes of freedom of speech and censorship. Full details for CLASS 1522 - FWS: Subversive Myth and Politics in Imperial Rome
CLASS 1531	FWS: Greek Myth This course will focus on the stories about the gods and heroes of the Greeks as they appear in ancient literature and art. We will examine the relationship between myths and the cultural, religious, and political conditions of the society in which they took shape. Beginning with theories of myth and proceeding to the analysis of individual stories and cycles, the material will serve as a vehicle for improving your written communication skills. Assignments include preparatory writing and essays focusing on readings and discussions in class. Full details for CLASS 1531 - FWS: Greek Myth
CLASS 1702	Great Discoveries in Greek and Roman Archaeology This introductory course surveys the archaeology of the ancient Greek and Roman world. Each week, we will explore a different archaeological discovery that transformed scholars' understanding of the ancient world. From early excavations at sites such as Pompeii and Troy, to modern field projects across the Mediterranean, we will discover the rich cultures of ancient Greece and Rome while also exploring the history, methods, and major intellectual goals of archaeology. Full details for CLASS 1702 - Great Discoveries in Greek and Roman Archaeology
CLASS 2352	Intermediate Sanskrit II Readings from Sanskrit dramas and literary commentary. Full details for CLASS 2352 - Intermediate Sanskrit II
CLASS 2613	New Testament-Early Christian Literatures This course provides a literary and historical introduction to the earliest Christian writings, especially those that eventually came to be included in the New Testament. Through the lens of the Gospel narratives and earliest Christian letters, especially those of Paul, we will explore the rich diversity of the early Christian movement from its Jewish roots in first-century Palestine through its development and spread to Asia Minor and beyond. We will give careful consideration to the political, economic, social, cultural, and religious circumstances that gave rise to the Jesus movement, as well as those that facilitated the emergence of various manifestations of Christian belief and practice. The course will address themes like identity and ethnicity, conversion and debate, race and slavery, gender and sexuality, and the connections between politics and religion. Full details for CLASS 2613 - New Testament-Early Christian Literatures
CLASS 2641	The Technology of Ancient Rome In this course we will study the technologies - aqueducts, automata, catapults, concrete and more - that allowed the Roman Empire to prosper and expand. Technical and historical background will accompany hands-on work and discussion of philosophy of technology. Full details for CLASS 2641 - The Technology of Ancient Rome
CLASS 2652	Ancient Greek Drama This course introduces students to ancient Greek drama, with a particular focus on the genre of tragedy and its relation to the cultural, political, and performance context of Athens in the 5th century BC. Students will read plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides in English translation and explore how they address key themes such as gender, racialization, slavery, war, mourning, trauma, empathy, and justice. Students will also study how contemporary artists, writers, and communities have adapted and restaged Greek drama, transforming and animating these ancient scripts across various media (theater, film, literature, etc.) to speak to complex and urgent social issues today (e.g., state/institutional violence; sexual violence; racism and xenophobia; queer bodies and desires; mental health; disability and caregiving). Full details for CLASS 2652 - Ancient Greek Drama
CLASS 2689	Roman History This course offers an introduction to the history of the Roman empire, from the prehistoric settlements on the site of Rome to the fall of the Western empire in the fifth century and its revival in the East with Byzantium. Lectures will provide a narrative and interpretations of major issues, including: empire building, cultural unity and diversity, religious transformations, changing relations between state and society. Discussion section will be the opportunity to engage with important texts, ancient and modern, about Rome. Full details for CLASS 2689 - Roman History
CLASS 2700	Introduction to the Classical World in 24 Objects The art of Ancient Greece and Rome has a complex legacy within western culture that is inseparable from ideas about power, beauty, identity, and knowledge. As such, 'Classical' art has been appropriated for all kinds of ends, many of them deeply problematic. But what did ancient statues, paintings, vessels, or buildings mean for the cultures that originally created, viewed, and lived alongside them? How were they embedded within political and social structures, religious practices, and public or domestic spaces? What can they tell us about practices of representation and story-telling? How might they help us access ancient attitudes to gender, ethnicity, or social status? And why is any of this still relevant today? This course on Greek and Roman art and archaeology will address all these questions. Covering the time span from the Bronze Age (3rd millennium BCE) to the late Roman Empire (4th century CE), we will focus on one object or monument each lecture, considering how it can be considered exemplary for its time. Where possible, we will engage with artefacts in our collections at Cornell, including the plaster-casts, as we develop skills in viewing, analyzing, and contextualizing material evidence. Full details for CLASS 2700 - Introduction to the Classical World in 24 Objects
CLASS 2806	Roman Law This course presents a cultural and historical perspective on ideas of agency, responsibility, and punishment through foundational texts of western law. We will primarily focus on three main areas of law: (1) slavery and (2) family (both governed by the Roman law of persons), and (3) civil wrongs (the law of delict or culpable harm). Through an examination of the legal sources (in translation) and the study of the reasoning of the Roman jurists, this course will examine the evolution of jurisprudence: the development of the laws concerning power over slaves and women, and changes in the laws concerning penalties for crimes. No specific prior knowledge needed. Full details for CLASS 2806 - Roman Law
CLASS 2812	Hieroglyphs to HTML: History of Writing An introduction to the history and theory of writing systems from cuneiform to the alphabet, historical and new writing media, and the complex relationship of writing technologies to human language and culture. Through hands-on activities and collaborative work, students will explore the shifting definitions of writing and the diverse ways in which cultures through time have developed and used writing systems. We will also investigate the traditional divisions of oral vs. written and consider how digital technologies have affected how we use and think about writing in encoding systems from Morse code to emoji. Full details for CLASS 2812 - Hieroglyphs to HTML: History of Writing
CLASS 3391	Independent Study in Sanskrit, Undergraduate Level To be taken only in exceptional circumstances. Must be arranged by the student with his or her advisor and the faculty member who has agreed to direct the study. To be approved by the DUS. Full details for CLASS 3391 - Independent Study in Sanskrit, Undergraduate Level
CLASS 3396	Advanced Sanskrit II Selected readings in Sanskrit literary and philosophical texts. Full details for CLASS 3396 - Advanced Sanskrit II
CLASS 3616	The Rise and Fall of Julius Caesar, and the Death of the Roman Republic Julius Caesar is one of the most influential and enigmatic figures in world history. His ruinous overreach forever changed the course of Roman history, and his reform of the calendar is still with us. In this course, students will chart Caesar's rise, fall, and contemporary artistic and philosophical responses to it. Authors include Julius Caesar himself, Cicero, Plutarch, Sallust, Nepos, Lucan, and Shakespeare. All readings are in English. Full details for CLASS 3616 - The Rise and Fall of Julius Caesar, and the Death of the Roman Republic
CLASS 3669	Plato We will study several of Plato's major dialogues, including the Apology, the Meno, Phaedo, and Republic. Topics include knowledge and reality, morality and happiness, and the nature of the soul. Full details for CLASS 3669 - Plato
CLASS 3674	Introduction to Indian Philosophy This course will survey the rich and sophisticated tradition of Indian philosophical thought from its beginnings in the speculations of Upanishads, surveying debates between Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and materialistic philosophers about the existence and nature of God and of the human soul, the nature of knowledge, and the theory of language. (RL) Full details for CLASS 3674 - Introduction to Indian Philosophy
CLASS 3686	Independent Study in Classical Civilization, Undergraduate Level May be taken upon completion of one semester of work at the 3000-level. To be taken only in exceptional circumstances. Must be arranged by the student with their advisor and the faculty member who has agreed to direct the study. To be approved by the DUS. Full details for CLASS 3686 - Independent Study in Classical Civilization, Undergraduate Level
CLASS 4645	Ancient Empires: From Persia to Rome, 550 BCE to 14 CE This seminar explores how ancient empires developed and were administered as well as how the experience of empire in the modern world and the writing of its history in the ancient world are intertwined. Which ancient empires receive scholarly attention? How are those empires’ histories told—and do those histories change when we reflect on lessons from modern colonialism? In this course, we look at the Achaemenids and the Seleucids in Western and Central Asia as well as Carthage in Northern Africa and Western Europe to situate Classical Athens and the Roman empire within the history of ancient empires in the latter half of the first millennium BCE. Major themes will include ethnicity and identity among imperial elites, citizenship as power, and economic institutions as means of territorial control. Full details for CLASS 4645 - Ancient Empires: From Persia to Rome, 550 BCE to 14 CE
CLASS 4662	Topics in Ancient Philosophy Advanced discussion of topics in ancient philosophy. Topics vary by instructors. Full details for CLASS 4662 - Topics in Ancient Philosophy
CLASS 4722	Honors: Senior Essay II Full details for CLASS 4722 - Honors: Senior Essay II
CLASS 4744	Globalism and Collapse in the Late Bronze Age World Several Bronze Age kingdoms situated around the Eastern Mediterranean underwent a violent collapse around 1175 BCE. Archaeological and textual evidence suggest that two major socioeconomic processes played a part: the creation of the first known international system, and climate change. In our class we explore how ancient leaders reacted (or not) to these processes and what their reactions teach us about more current events. Charismatic leaders, fascism, colonialism, sexism, racism, capitalism, globalism, climate change, famine, migration, militarism, and collapse—all have correlates or origins in the Bronze Age that we study through a variety of textual sources, including the Amarna Letters, Ramesside papyri and cuneiform documents from Syria and Turkey. We also become familiar with several archaeological sites, including the Uluburun shipwreck and Ugarit, offering unique windows onto the transformative times at the end of the Bronze Age. Full details for CLASS 4744 - Globalism and Collapse in the Late Bronze Age World
CLASS 4746	Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology Topics Rotate: Spring 2026 topic: Olympia. Few sites of Greek antiquity enjoy a global resonance as large as that of Olympia, origin of the Olympic games. And yet, with its monumental archaeological traces reaching from the Bronze Age to late Antiquity, Olympia was more than a venue for athletic competitions. Besides those, the seminar focuses on the development of the site from an early hero cult to panhellenic sanctuary, its embeddedness in the landscape, its various political affiliations and mediterranean networks, its artistic productions, but also on Olympia as tourist destination in antiquity and today. Moreover, the site has been a laboratory of archaeological methods and negotiations of cultural heritage which we will revisit, beginning with the French and German excavations in the 19th century and continuing to this day with the involvement of a larger international community. Nazi Germany (Berlin 1936), Western Germany (Munich 1972), Greece (Athens 2004), and Cornell (Temple of Zeus Café) will serve as case studies on the modern reception of Olympia. Full details for CLASS 4746 - Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology
CLASS 4754	Themes in Mediterranean Archaeology This seminar provides a higher-level general introduction to, and survey of, contemporary theories, methods, and approaches in the archaeology of the Mediterranean world. Rather than focusing on a specific geographical sub-region or chronological period, this course examines and critically assesses the practice and distinctive character of Mediterranean archaeology more broadly. Full details for CLASS 4754 - Themes in Mediterranean Archaeology
CLASS 7173	Topics in Ancient Philosophy Advanced discussion of topics in ancient philosophy. Topics vary by instructors. Full details for CLASS 7173 - Topics in Ancient Philosophy
CLASS 7345	Graduate TA Training Pedagogical instruction and course coordination. Requirement for all graduate student teachers of LATIN 1201-LATIN 1202 and first-year writing seminars. Full details for CLASS 7345 - Graduate TA Training
CLASS 7346	Classics Graduate Preparation Seminar A course to prepare Classics graduate students for exams and for professionalization. Full details for CLASS 7346 - Classics Graduate Preparation Seminar
CLASS 7634	Topics in Ancient Society Course will introduce graduate students to different aspects of ancient society including slavery, economics, law, and citizenship among other topics. Topics for this course vary by instructor. Full details for CLASS 7634 - Topics in Ancient Society
CLASS 7744	Globalism and Collapse in the Late Bronze Age World Several Bronze Age kingdoms situated around the Eastern Mediterranean underwent a violent collapse around 1175 BCE. Archaeological and textual evidence suggest that two major socioeconomic processes played a part: the creation of the first known international system, and climate change. In our class we explore how ancient leaders reacted (or not) to these processes and what their reactions teach us about more current events. Charismatic leaders, fascism, colonialism, sexism, racism, capitalism, globalism, climate change, famine, migration, militarism, and collapse—all have correlates or origins in the Bronze Age that we study through a variety of textual sources, including the Amarna Letters, Ramesside papyri and cuneiform documents from Syria and Turkey. We also become familiar with several archaeological sites, including the Uluburun shipwreck and Ugarit, offering unique windows onto the transformative times at the end of the Bronze Age. Full details for CLASS 7744 - Globalism and Collapse in the Late Bronze Age World
CLASS 7746	Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology Topics Rotate: Spring 2026 topic: Olympia. Full details for CLASS 7746 - Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology
CLASS 7754	Themes in Mediterranean Archaeology This seminar provides a higher-level general introduction to, and survey of, contemporary theories, methods, and approaches in the archaeology of the Mediterranean world. Rather than focusing on a specific geographical sub-region or chronological period, this course examines and critically assesses the practice and distinctive character of Mediterranean archaeology more broadly. Full details for CLASS 7754 - Themes in Mediterranean Archaeology
CLASS 7960	Independent Study in Classical Studies Independent course in topics not covered in regularly scheduled courses. Students select a topic in consultation with the faculty member who has agreed to supervise the course work. Full details for CLASS 7960 - Independent Study in Classical Studies
GREEK 1102	Elementary Ancient Greek II Continuation of GREEK 1101, prepares students for GREEK 2101. Full details for GREEK 1102 - Elementary Ancient Greek II
GREEK 1104	Beginning Homeric Greek This course offers a ground up introduction to the vocabulary and grammar of Homeric Greek with the goal of reading Homer's Iliad and Odyssey as soon as possible. Once students learn the language of the Iliad and Odyssey, they can move on to other works written in roughly the same formulaic diction, ranging from Hesiod's Theogony to the early philosophical verses of Empedocles and Parmenides. Teaching Beginning Homeric Greek at Cornell, affectionately known as 'baby' Greek, harkens back almost 100 years to the influential and popular courses of Professor Harry Caplan. In fact, this course uses an updated version of the same textbook used in Caplan's beginning Greek courses. Full details for GREEK 1104 - Beginning Homeric Greek
GREEK 2103	Homer The study of selections from the Iliad and/or Odyssey in Greek, with a focus on Homeric grammar, dialect, meter, poetics and composition. Full details for GREEK 2103 - Homer
GREEK 3120	Seminar in Greek Undergraduate seminar in Greek. Fall 2024 topic: Family intrigue in Herodotus and Lysias. Spring 2025 topic: Euripides' Herakles, Plato's Euthyphro. Full details for GREEK 3120 - Seminar in Greek
GREEK 3185	Independent Study in Greek, Undergraduate Level May be taken upon completion of one semester of work at the 3000-level. To be taken only in exceptional circumstances. Must be arranged by the student with their advisor and the faculty member who has agreed to direct the study. To be approved by the DUS. Full details for GREEK 3185 - Independent Study in Greek, Undergraduate Level
GREEK 5112	Elementary Ancient Greek II Continuation of GREEK 5111, prepares students for GREEK 5121. Full details for GREEK 5112 - Elementary Ancient Greek II
GREEK 5114	Beginning Homeric Greek This course offers a ground up introduction to the vocabulary and grammar of Homeric Greek with the goal of reading Homer's Iliad and Odyssey as soon as possible. Once students learn the language of the Iliad and Odyssey, they can move on to other works written in roughly the same formulaic diction, ranging from Hesiod's Theogony to the early philosophical verses of Empedocles and Parmenides. Teaching Beginning Homeric Greek at Cornell, affectionately known as 'baby' Greek, harkens back almost 100 years to the influential and popular courses of Professor Harry Caplan. In fact, this course uses an updated version of the same textbook used in Caplan's beginning Greek courses. Full details for GREEK 5114 - Beginning Homeric Greek
GREEK 5123	Homer The study of selections from the Iliad and/or Odyssey in Greek, with a focus on Homeric grammar, dialect, meter, poetics and composition. Full details for GREEK 5123 - Homer
GREEK 5130	Seminar in Greek Fall 2024 topic: Family intrigue in Herodotus and Lysias. Spring 2025 topic: Euripides' Herakles, Plato's Euthyphro. Full details for GREEK 5130 - Seminar in Greek
GREEK 7161	Greek Philosophical Texts Reading and translation of Greek Philosophical texts. Full details for GREEK 7161 - Greek Philosophical Texts
GREEK 7171	Graduate Seminar in Greek Topic: Plutarch on women. Full details for GREEK 7171 - Graduate Seminar in Greek
GREEK 7910	Independent Study in Greek Independent study in Greek for graduate students. Full details for GREEK 7910 - Independent Study in Greek
LATIN 1202	Elementary Latin II This course is a continuation of LATIN 1201, using readings from various authors and prepares students for LATIN 1205. Full details for LATIN 1202 - Elementary Latin II
LATIN 1205	Intermediate Latin I Introduces students to reading original Latin text. Covers complex syntax and reviews the grammar presented in LATIN 1202, LATIN 1204. Full details for LATIN 1205 - Intermediate Latin I
LATIN 2209	Latin Poetry Intermediate readings of Latin poetry. Topics change by instructor. Full details for LATIN 2209 - Latin Poetry
LATIN 3220	Rapid Reading in Latin Topics vary by instructor. Full details for LATIN 3220 - Rapid Reading in Latin
LATIN 3286	Independent Study in Latin, Undergraduate Level May be taken upon completion of one semester of work at the 3000-level. To be taken only in exceptional circumstances. Must be arranged by the student with their advisor and the faculty member who has agreed to direct the study. To be approved by the DUS. Full details for LATIN 3286 - Independent Study in Latin, Undergraduate Level
LATIN 5212	Elementary Latin II Continuation of LATIN 5211, using readings from various authors; prepares students for LATIN 5215. Full details for LATIN 5212 - Elementary Latin II
LATIN 5215	Intermediate Latin I Introduces students to reading original Latin text. Covers complex syntax and reviews the grammar presented in LATIN 5212, LATIN 5214. Full details for LATIN 5215 - Intermediate Latin I
LATIN 5229	Latin Poetry Intermediate readings of Latin poetry. Topics change by instructor. Full details for LATIN 5229 - Latin Poetry
LATIN 5230	Rapid Reading in Latin Topics vary by instructor. Full details for LATIN 5230 - Rapid Reading in Latin
LATIN 7222	Latin Paleography This course is an introduction to and survey of Latin scripts from Roman antiquity through the early Renaissance, with an emphasis on the identification, localization, and reading of scripts. Class meetings will combine practical study of Latin scripts through medieval manuscripts in the Kroch library, facsimiles, and online digital reproductions with instruction in the cultural-historical background to manuscript production, library practices, and bibliographical resources. Students will also be introduced to basic techniques for codicological description and the principles of textual criticism. Full details for LATIN 7222 - Latin Paleography
LATIN 7262	Latin Philosophical Texts Reading and translation of Latin philosophical texts. Full details for LATIN 7262 - Latin Philosophical Texts
LATIN 7920	Independent Study in Latin Independent study for graduate students only. Full details for LATIN 7920 - Independent Study in Latin

CLASS 1332

Elementary Sanskrit II

An introduction to the essentials of Sanskrit grammar. Designed to enable the student to read classical and epic Sanskrit as soon as possible.

Full details for CLASS 1332 - Elementary Sanskrit II

CLASS 1522

FWS: Subversive Myth and Politics in Imperial Rome

This course traces increasing restrictions on freedom of speech from the late Roman Republic to the imperial era. It thus offers a select survey of the most influential period of Latin literature with a specific political agenda. Also, since early first century statuary and architecture played a vital role in imperial propaganda, students look at how Octavian portrayed himself in the guise of specific gods, and observe the not always flattering depictions of these gods in Augustan poetry. In sum, students gain an intimate familiarity with the political climate of the late Roman republic and early imperial age in a synthesis of literature, history and iconography organized around the dueling themes of freedom of speech and censorship.

Full details for CLASS 1522 - FWS: Subversive Myth and Politics in Imperial Rome

CLASS 1531

FWS: Greek Myth

This course will focus on the stories about the gods and heroes of the Greeks as they appear in ancient literature and art. We will examine the relationship between myths and the cultural, religious, and political conditions of the society in which they took shape. Beginning with theories of myth and proceeding to the analysis of individual stories and cycles, the material will serve as a vehicle for improving your written communication skills. Assignments include preparatory writing and essays focusing on readings and discussions in class.

Full details for CLASS 1531 - FWS: Greek Myth

CLASS 1702

Great Discoveries in Greek and Roman Archaeology

This introductory course surveys the archaeology of the ancient Greek and Roman world. Each week, we will explore a different archaeological discovery that transformed scholars' understanding of the ancient world. From early excavations at sites such as Pompeii and Troy, to modern field projects across the Mediterranean, we will discover the rich cultures of ancient Greece and Rome while also exploring the history, methods, and major intellectual goals of archaeology.

Full details for CLASS 1702 - Great Discoveries in Greek and Roman Archaeology

CLASS 2352

Intermediate Sanskrit II

Readings from Sanskrit dramas and literary commentary.

Full details for CLASS 2352 - Intermediate Sanskrit II

CLASS 2613

New Testament-Early Christian Literatures

This course provides a literary and historical introduction to the earliest Christian writings, especially those that eventually came to be included in the New Testament. Through the lens of the Gospel narratives and earliest Christian letters, especially those of Paul, we will explore the rich diversity of the early Christian movement from its Jewish roots in first-century Palestine through its development and spread to Asia Minor and beyond. We will give careful consideration to the political, economic, social, cultural, and religious circumstances that gave rise to the Jesus movement, as well as those that facilitated the emergence of various manifestations of Christian belief and practice. The course will address themes like identity and ethnicity, conversion and debate, race and slavery, gender and sexuality, and the connections between politics and religion.

Full details for CLASS 2613 - New Testament-Early Christian Literatures

CLASS 2641

The Technology of Ancient Rome

In this course we will study the technologies - aqueducts, automata, catapults, concrete and more - that allowed the Roman Empire to prosper and expand. Technical and historical background will accompany hands-on work and discussion of philosophy of technology.

Full details for CLASS 2641 - The Technology of Ancient Rome

CLASS 2652

Ancient Greek Drama

This course introduces students to ancient Greek drama, with a particular focus on the genre of tragedy and its relation to the cultural, political, and performance context of Athens in the 5th century BC. Students will read plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides in English translation and explore how they address key themes such as gender, racialization, slavery, war, mourning, trauma, empathy, and justice. Students will also study how contemporary artists, writers, and communities have adapted and restaged Greek drama, transforming and animating these ancient scripts across various media (theater, film, literature, etc.) to speak to complex and urgent social issues today (e.g., state/institutional violence; sexual violence; racism and xenophobia; queer bodies and desires; mental health; disability and caregiving).

Full details for CLASS 2652 - Ancient Greek Drama

CLASS 2689

Roman History

This course offers an introduction to the history of the Roman empire, from the prehistoric settlements on the site of Rome to the fall of the Western empire in the fifth century and its revival in the East with Byzantium. Lectures will provide a narrative and interpretations of major issues, including: empire building, cultural unity and diversity, religious transformations, changing relations between state and society. Discussion section will be the opportunity to engage with important texts, ancient and modern, about Rome.

Full details for CLASS 2689 - Roman History

CLASS 2700

Introduction to the Classical World in 24 Objects

The art of Ancient Greece and Rome has a complex legacy within western culture that is inseparable from ideas about power, beauty, identity, and knowledge. As such, 'Classical' art has been appropriated for all kinds of ends, many of them deeply problematic. But what did ancient statues, paintings, vessels, or buildings mean for the cultures that originally created, viewed, and lived alongside them? How were they embedded within political and social structures, religious practices, and public or domestic spaces? What can they tell us about practices of representation and story-telling? How might they help us access ancient attitudes to gender, ethnicity, or social status? And why is any of this still relevant today? This course on Greek and Roman art and archaeology will address all these questions. Covering the time span from the Bronze Age (3rd millennium BCE) to the late Roman Empire (4th century CE), we will focus on one object or monument each lecture, considering how it can be considered exemplary for its time. Where possible, we will engage with artefacts in our collections at Cornell, including the plaster-casts, as we develop skills in viewing, analyzing, and contextualizing material evidence.

Full details for CLASS 2700 - Introduction to the Classical World in 24 Objects

CLASS 2806

Roman Law

This course presents a cultural and historical perspective on ideas of agency, responsibility, and punishment through foundational texts of western law. We will primarily focus on three main areas of law: (1) slavery and (2) family (both governed by the Roman law of persons), and (3) civil wrongs (the law of delict or culpable harm). Through an examination of the legal sources (in translation) and the study of the reasoning of the Roman jurists, this course will examine the evolution of jurisprudence: the development of the laws concerning power over slaves and women, and changes in the laws concerning penalties for crimes. No specific prior knowledge needed.

Full details for CLASS 2806 - Roman Law

CLASS 2812

Hieroglyphs to HTML: History of Writing

An introduction to the history and theory of writing systems from cuneiform to the alphabet, historical and new writing media, and the complex relationship of writing technologies to human language and culture. Through hands-on activities and collaborative work, students will explore the shifting definitions of writing and the diverse ways in which cultures through time have developed and used writing systems. We will also investigate the traditional divisions of oral vs. written and consider how digital technologies have affected how we use and think about writing in encoding systems from Morse code to emoji.

Full details for CLASS 2812 - Hieroglyphs to HTML: History of Writing

CLASS 3391

Independent Study in Sanskrit, Undergraduate Level

To be taken only in exceptional circumstances. Must be arranged by the student with his or her advisor and the faculty member who has agreed to direct the study. To be approved by the DUS.

Full details for CLASS 3391 - Independent Study in Sanskrit, Undergraduate Level

CLASS 3396

Advanced Sanskrit II

Selected readings in Sanskrit literary and philosophical texts.

Full details for CLASS 3396 - Advanced Sanskrit II

CLASS 3616

The Rise and Fall of Julius Caesar, and the Death of the Roman Republic

Julius Caesar is one of the most influential and enigmatic figures in world history. His ruinous overreach forever changed the course of Roman history, and his reform of the calendar is still with us. In this course, students will chart Caesar's rise, fall, and contemporary artistic and philosophical responses to it. Authors include Julius Caesar himself, Cicero, Plutarch, Sallust, Nepos, Lucan, and Shakespeare. All readings are in English.

Full details for CLASS 3616 - The Rise and Fall of Julius Caesar, and the Death of the Roman Republic

CLASS 3669

Plato

We will study several of Plato's major dialogues, including the Apology, the Meno, Phaedo, and Republic. Topics include knowledge and reality, morality and happiness, and the nature of the soul.

Full details for CLASS 3669 - Plato

CLASS 3674

Introduction to Indian Philosophy

This course will survey the rich and sophisticated tradition of Indian philosophical thought from its beginnings in the speculations of Upanishads, surveying debates between Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and materialistic philosophers about the existence and nature of God and of the human soul, the nature of knowledge, and the theory of language. (RL)

Full details for CLASS 3674 - Introduction to Indian Philosophy

CLASS 3686

Independent Study in Classical Civilization, Undergraduate Level

May be taken upon completion of one semester of work at the 3000-level. To be taken only in exceptional circumstances. Must be arranged by the student with their advisor and the faculty member who has agreed to direct the study. To be approved by the DUS.

Full details for CLASS 3686 - Independent Study in Classical Civilization, Undergraduate Level

CLASS 4645

Ancient Empires: From Persia to Rome, 550 BCE to 14 CE

This seminar explores how ancient empires developed and were administered as well as how the experience of empire in the modern world and the writing of its history in the ancient world are intertwined. Which ancient empires receive scholarly attention? How are those empires’ histories told—and do those histories change when we reflect on lessons from modern colonialism? In this course, we look at the Achaemenids and the Seleucids in Western and Central Asia as well as Carthage in Northern Africa and Western Europe to situate Classical Athens and the Roman empire within the history of ancient empires in the latter half of the first millennium BCE. Major themes will include ethnicity and identity among imperial elites, citizenship as power, and economic institutions as means of territorial control.

Full details for CLASS 4645 - Ancient Empires: From Persia to Rome, 550 BCE to 14 CE

CLASS 4662

Topics in Ancient Philosophy

Advanced discussion of topics in ancient philosophy. Topics vary by instructors.

Full details for CLASS 4662 - Topics in Ancient Philosophy

CLASS 4722

Honors: Senior Essay II

Full details for CLASS 4722 - Honors: Senior Essay II

CLASS 4744

Globalism and Collapse in the Late Bronze Age World

Several Bronze Age kingdoms situated around the Eastern Mediterranean underwent a violent collapse around 1175 BCE. Archaeological and textual evidence suggest that two major socioeconomic processes played a part: the creation of the first known international system, and climate change. In our class we explore how ancient leaders reacted (or not) to these processes and what their reactions teach us about more current events. Charismatic leaders, fascism, colonialism, sexism, racism, capitalism, globalism, climate change, famine, migration, militarism, and collapse—all have correlates or origins in the Bronze Age that we study through a variety of textual sources, including the Amarna Letters, Ramesside papyri and cuneiform documents from Syria and Turkey. We also become familiar with several archaeological sites, including the Uluburun shipwreck and Ugarit, offering unique windows onto the transformative times at the end of the Bronze Age.

Full details for CLASS 4744 - Globalism and Collapse in the Late Bronze Age World

CLASS 4746

Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology

Topics Rotate: Spring 2026 topic: Olympia. Few sites of Greek antiquity enjoy a global resonance as large as that of Olympia, origin of the Olympic games. And yet, with its monumental archaeological traces reaching from the Bronze Age to late Antiquity, Olympia was more than a venue for athletic competitions. Besides those, the seminar focuses on the development of the site from an early hero cult to panhellenic sanctuary, its embeddedness in the landscape, its various political affiliations and mediterranean networks, its artistic productions, but also on Olympia as tourist destination in antiquity and today. Moreover, the site has been a laboratory of archaeological methods and negotiations of cultural heritage which we will revisit, beginning with the French and German excavations in the 19th century and continuing to this day with the involvement of a larger international community. Nazi Germany (Berlin 1936), Western Germany (Munich 1972), Greece (Athens 2004), and Cornell (Temple of Zeus Café) will serve as case studies on the modern reception of Olympia.

Full details for CLASS 4746 - Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology

CLASS 4754

Themes in Mediterranean Archaeology

This seminar provides a higher-level general introduction to, and survey of, contemporary theories, methods, and approaches in the archaeology of the Mediterranean world. Rather than focusing on a specific geographical sub-region or chronological period, this course examines and critically assesses the practice and distinctive character of Mediterranean archaeology more broadly.

Full details for CLASS 4754 - Themes in Mediterranean Archaeology

CLASS 7173

Topics in Ancient Philosophy

Advanced discussion of topics in ancient philosophy. Topics vary by instructors.

Full details for CLASS 7173 - Topics in Ancient Philosophy

CLASS 7345

Graduate TA Training

Pedagogical instruction and course coordination. Requirement for all graduate student teachers of LATIN 1201-LATIN 1202 and first-year writing seminars.

Full details for CLASS 7345 - Graduate TA Training

CLASS 7346

Classics Graduate Preparation Seminar

A course to prepare Classics graduate students for exams and for professionalization.

Full details for CLASS 7346 - Classics Graduate Preparation Seminar

CLASS 7634

Topics in Ancient Society

Course will introduce graduate students to different aspects of ancient society including slavery, economics, law, and citizenship among other topics. Topics for this course vary by instructor.

Full details for CLASS 7634 - Topics in Ancient Society

CLASS 7744

Globalism and Collapse in the Late Bronze Age World

Several Bronze Age kingdoms situated around the Eastern Mediterranean underwent a violent collapse around 1175 BCE. Archaeological and textual evidence suggest that two major socioeconomic processes played a part: the creation of the first known international system, and climate change. In our class we explore how ancient leaders reacted (or not) to these processes and what their reactions teach us about more current events. Charismatic leaders, fascism, colonialism, sexism, racism, capitalism, globalism, climate change, famine, migration, militarism, and collapse—all have correlates or origins in the Bronze Age that we study through a variety of textual sources, including the Amarna Letters, Ramesside papyri and cuneiform documents from Syria and Turkey. We also become familiar with several archaeological sites, including the Uluburun shipwreck and Ugarit, offering unique windows onto the transformative times at the end of the Bronze Age.

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CLASS 7746

Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology

Topics Rotate: Spring 2026 topic: Olympia.

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CLASS 7754

Themes in Mediterranean Archaeology

This seminar provides a higher-level general introduction to, and survey of, contemporary theories, methods, and approaches in the archaeology of the Mediterranean world. Rather than focusing on a specific geographical sub-region or chronological period, this course examines and critically assesses the practice and distinctive character of Mediterranean archaeology more broadly.

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CLASS 7960

Independent Study in Classical Studies

Independent course in topics not covered in regularly scheduled courses. Students select a topic in consultation with the faculty member who has agreed to supervise the course work.

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GREEK 1102

Elementary Ancient Greek II

Continuation of GREEK 1101, prepares students for GREEK 2101.

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GREEK 1104

Beginning Homeric Greek

This course offers a ground up introduction to the vocabulary and grammar of Homeric Greek with the goal of reading Homer's Iliad and Odyssey as soon as possible. Once students learn the language of the Iliad and Odyssey, they can move on to other works written in roughly the same formulaic diction, ranging from Hesiod's Theogony to the early philosophical verses of Empedocles and Parmenides. Teaching Beginning Homeric Greek at Cornell, affectionately known as 'baby' Greek, harkens back almost 100 years to the influential and popular courses of Professor Harry Caplan. In fact, this course uses an updated version of the same textbook used in Caplan's beginning Greek courses.

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GREEK 2103

Homer

The study of selections from the Iliad and/or Odyssey in Greek, with a focus on Homeric grammar, dialect, meter, poetics and composition.

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GREEK 3120

Seminar in Greek

Undergraduate seminar in Greek. Fall 2024 topic: Family intrigue in Herodotus and Lysias. Spring 2025 topic: Euripides' Herakles, Plato's Euthyphro.

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GREEK 3185

Independent Study in Greek, Undergraduate Level

May be taken upon completion of one semester of work at the 3000-level. To be taken only in exceptional circumstances. Must be arranged by the student with their advisor and the faculty member who has agreed to direct the study. To be approved by the DUS.

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GREEK 5112

Elementary Ancient Greek II

Continuation of GREEK 5111, prepares students for GREEK 5121.

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GREEK 5114

Beginning Homeric Greek

This course offers a ground up introduction to the vocabulary and grammar of Homeric Greek with the goal of reading Homer's Iliad and Odyssey as soon as possible. Once students learn the language of the Iliad and Odyssey, they can move on to other works written in roughly the same formulaic diction, ranging from Hesiod's Theogony to the early philosophical verses of Empedocles and Parmenides. Teaching Beginning Homeric Greek at Cornell, affectionately known as 'baby' Greek, harkens back almost 100 years to the influential and popular courses of Professor Harry Caplan. In fact, this course uses an updated version of the same textbook used in Caplan's beginning Greek courses.

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GREEK 5123

Homer

The study of selections from the Iliad and/or Odyssey in Greek, with a focus on Homeric grammar, dialect, meter, poetics and composition.

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GREEK 5130

Seminar in Greek

Fall 2024 topic: Family intrigue in Herodotus and Lysias. Spring 2025 topic: Euripides' Herakles, Plato's Euthyphro.

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GREEK 7161

Greek Philosophical Texts

Reading and translation of Greek Philosophical texts.

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GREEK 7171

Graduate Seminar in Greek

Topic: Plutarch on women.

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GREEK 7910

Independent Study in Greek

Independent study in Greek for graduate students.

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LATIN 1202

Elementary Latin II

This course is a continuation of LATIN 1201, using readings from various authors and prepares students for LATIN 1205.

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LATIN 1205

Intermediate Latin I

Introduces students to reading original Latin text. Covers complex syntax and reviews the grammar presented in LATIN 1202, LATIN 1204.

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LATIN 2209

Latin Poetry

Intermediate readings of Latin poetry. Topics change by instructor.

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LATIN 3220

Rapid Reading in Latin

Topics vary by instructor.

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LATIN 3286

Independent Study in Latin, Undergraduate Level

May be taken upon completion of one semester of work at the 3000-level. To be taken only in exceptional circumstances. Must be arranged by the student with their advisor and the faculty member who has agreed to direct the study. To be approved by the DUS.

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LATIN 5212

Elementary Latin II

Continuation of LATIN 5211, using readings from various authors; prepares students for LATIN 5215.

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LATIN 5215

Intermediate Latin I

Introduces students to reading original Latin text. Covers complex syntax and reviews the grammar presented in LATIN 5212, LATIN 5214.

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LATIN 5229

Latin Poetry

Intermediate readings of Latin poetry. Topics change by instructor.

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LATIN 5230

Rapid Reading in Latin

Topics vary by instructor.

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LATIN 7222

Latin Paleography

This course is an introduction to and survey of Latin scripts from Roman antiquity through the early Renaissance, with an emphasis on the identification, localization, and reading of scripts. Class meetings will combine practical study of Latin scripts through medieval manuscripts in the Kroch library, facsimiles, and online digital reproductions with instruction in the cultural-historical background to manuscript production, library practices, and bibliographical resources. Students will also be introduced to basic techniques for codicological description and the principles of textual criticism.

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LATIN 7262

Latin Philosophical Texts

Reading and translation of Latin philosophical texts.

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LATIN 7920

Independent Study in Latin

Independent study for graduate students only.

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Courses by semester

Courses for Spring 2026