Greek and Roman epic heroes: 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 two of the most recognisable heroes of antiquity: the long-suffering Odysseus and the founder of the Roman race, Aeneas as depicted respectively in their canonical texts, Homer's Odyssey and Vergil's Aeneid.

In this course we will seek to understand the nature of a hero in Greco-Roman antiquity by focusing on two significant examples: Odysseus and Aeneas.  

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 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. 

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes for this course are:

• To gain an understanding of the two primary texts, Homer’s Odyssey and Vergil’s Aeneid;
• To gain an understanding of the definition and concept of ‘hero’ in Greco-Roman antiquity;
• To gain an understanding of myth and poetry in Greco-Roman antiquity 

Classes

1. Introduction
2. Odysseus: the central legend
3. Odysseus in the Odyssey: broader issues
4. Aeneas: the central legend
5. Aeneas in the Aeneid: broader issues

Required reading

Homer’s The Odyssey, Oxford World’s Classics, Oxford University Press, 2008    
Vergil’s Aeneid, Oxford World’s Classics, Oxford University Press, 2008  

Or any recent translation, eg    

Lattimore, R. The Odyssey of Homer, Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2007   
Fagles, R. The Odyssey, Penguin Classics, 1997   
Fagles, R, The Aeneid, Penguin Classics, 2010 

Typical week: Monday to Friday

For each week of study you select a morning (Am) and an afternoon (Pm) course, each course has five sessions, one each day Monday to Friday. The maximum class size is 25 students. Your weekly courses are complemented by a series of two 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 £65 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 within a week of your courses finishing.