Greek and Roman epic heroes: Achilles, Odysseus and Aeneas

One of the greatest and most lasting legacies of Classical antiquity is the figure of the hero: an idea so powerful that even the word 'hero' itself survives directly as a loan word from Greek and Latin because there is no equivalent in modern languages. This course aims to look as critically as possible at three of the most recognisable heroes of antiquity: Achilles, the greatest of all the Greek warriors, the long-suffering Odysseus, and Aeneas, the founder of the Roman race, as depicted respectively in their canonical texts, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and Vergil's Aeneid. This is a 10 session course and must be taken with W110Am08 in week 1.

Aims

In this course we will seek to understand the nature of a hero in Greco-Roman antiquity by focusing on the three most significant examples: Achilles, Odysseus and Aeneas. We will also come to grips with their central texts and the historical context of these poems. This course aims to reach a good understanding of:

1. The stories of Achilles, Odysseus and Aeneas;
2. The context and form of these stories in the poetry of Homer and Vergil;
3. The concept of a 'hero' in antiquity.

Content

Our first task will be to understand the historical context: what is the status of these special beings in religion, myth and history? The etymology of the Greek word ‘hero’ suggests that they ‘protect’ (perhaps like the great goddess Hera) and in a world sharply defined by military valour it seems reasonable that these figures would come to occupy so much mental space. But it is also clear that there is a gap between our casual use of the word ‘heroic’ and the way these figures were thought to behave, particularly in the poetry of ancient epic as found in its chief exponents, Homer and Vergil. 

We will examine carefully the role of Achilles in Homer’s Iliad, Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey and Aeneas in Vergil’s Aeneid. But in order to get a fuller picture, we will also spend time discussing the context of epic poetry within Greek and Roman societies respectively: Vergil composed his monumental poem several centuries after Homer and the differences at stake here are critical. We will also take some time situate the heroes firmly within the world of each poem.

Presentation of the course

Each class will be presented as an informal lecture with PowerPoint slides and an accompanying handout. Students are encouraged to ask questions at any time and are not required to bring anything to class.

Class sessions

1. Introduction: what is the meaning of ‘hero’ in antiquity and what is the Epic tradition?
2. Achilles: an introduction to the Greeks' killing machine
3. Achilles before the death of Patroclus in the Iliad
4. Achilles after the death of Patroclus in the Iliad
5. Odysseus: an introduction to the cleverest Greek
6. Odysseus in the first half of the Odyssey
7. Odysseus in the second half of the Odyssey
8. Aeneas: an introduction to the founder of the Roman race
9. Aeneas in the first half of the Aeneid
10. Aeneas in the second half of the Aeneid

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes for this course are:

1. To gain an understanding of the three primary texts, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey and Vergil’s Aeneid;
2. To gain an understanding of the definition and concept of ‘hero’ in Greco-Roman antiquity;
3. To gain an understanding of myth and poetry in Greco-Roman antiquity.

Typical week: Monday to Friday

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students. 

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.

Evaluation and Academic Credit 

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses. 

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay.

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.

Certificate of attendance

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.