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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CL 260-1"
COURSE NAME: "Classical Mythology"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Massimo Betello
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment in person or on Microsoft Teams

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course examines the principal myths of Classical Greece and Rome, with some reference to their evolution from earlier local and Mediterranean legends, deities and religions. The importance of these myths in the literature and art of the Western World will be discussed.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course is designed to allow students to become acquainted with the main myths of the Greco-Roman tradition, and as such it is structured to be a survey of the legends, sagas, goddesses, gods, heroes and heroines that were familiar to the Greeks and the Romans. In fact, it is not possible to understand the Classical word without a good knowledge of Classical myths: they were part of religion, often used in literature, art, politics, and entertainment. Our major sources are written stories, but ancient artworks are also important as they are the physical representation of how these mythological events were pictured in the minds of old. Consequently, Greek & Roman vases, sculptures, mosaics, and frescoes will be used to contextualize some of the legends.
This course will also discuss how Classical mythology is alive in the modern culture: graphic novels, movies, books, and Las Vegas.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

With a successful conclusion of this course, the students will be able to:

·         name the main characters of Classical mythology
·         describe the origins stories of the main gods and heroes
·         summarize the main Greek and Roman sagas
·         appraise the connections and differences between Greek and Roman myths
·         compare and contrast Greek and Roman gods
·         discuss the two-way relationship between myth and art (mainly visual art)
·         argue about the “mechanisms” at work in the creation of mythologies (ancient and modern)

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Classical Mythology (11th ed)Morford Mark and othersOxford University Press9780190067243 Purchase it ONLY through Perusall (see link on Moodle)Ebook  
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Art and Myth in ancient GreeceCarpenterThames and Hudson0500202362N 7760.C27 
Images of myths in Classical AntiquityWoodfordCambridge University Press0521788099N 7760.W66 

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
The Oxford handbook of monsters in classical mythDebbie Felton(Editor)Oxford University Press, [2024]9780191918940 Ebook available from the JCU library.
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Reading and commentsAll the readings that are part of this assessment method must be accessed from Moodle through Perusall links. Perusall.com is the online platform where the readings are to be done, and no other ways are accepted for these assignments. Students are expected to comment on each reading using the Perusall platform.5
Tests (online)These short tests are intended to foster a regular study and allow the students to get ready for the major exams. Questions will test both factual knowledge (events, date, people etc.), and the comprehension of fundamental concepts. They will be administered online roughly every two weeks, not during class time.15
Midterm examThe topics tested will be those of the first half of the semester. It will be made up by two parts: • one testing the student’s factual knowledge (events, gods, heros, people etc) using identifications, multiple choices, true-false, etc.; • the other testing the student’s understanding and knowledge of the concepts explained in class using open questions, essays etc.30
Final examThe topics tested will be those of the second half of the semester only. The final exam is not cumulative. The format will follow that of the midterm exam. 30
Final paperIn the final paper the student is expected to provide an analysis of a mythological story. In its simplest form it can be a compare and contrast paper of two mythological (or mythologically inspired) topics (e.g. Perseus VS Percy Jackson, Neptune VS Poseidon, Apollo VS Dionysus). 15
Class ParticipationParticipation will be evaluated at every class.5

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course. A 94 - 100 A- 90 - 93.99
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments. B+ 87 - 89.99 B 84 - 86.99 B- 80 – 83.99
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings. C+ 77 – 79.99 C 74 - 76.99 C- 70 – 73.99
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail. D+ 67 - 69.99 D 60 – 66.99
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant. F 59.99 >

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance Policy and Absences

Attendance will be taken at every class (except during the add-and-drop period.)

Each student’s official attendance record can be accessed on Moodle at any time. Please, check it regularly.

Students who are late to class will be considered absent unless they ask for a change in the attendance record by the end of the class in question. Later amendments cannot be taken into consideration.

Up to five (5) permitted unexcused absences are allowed in this course without consequences. More than 5 permitted unexcused absences regardless of the reason (that is, missing more than 20% of the course) will have you fail the course.

For privacy reasons, this instructor is unable to justify any absence: 5 permitted unexcused absences are enough to cover any ordinary mishap.

If (and only if) a student has exceeded the number of permitted unexcused absences for a specific course, due to serious, documented conditions (such as hospitalization), the student may petition the Academic Dean’s Office for an exceptional excuse for additional absences. To request an exceptional excused absence from the Academic Dean’s Office, submit the Excused Absences Request Form (available on the Registrar’s page, under forms and petitions), along with the appropriate documentation supporting the request, within five academic days of the absence.

An absence from a given class may be excused by the Dean’s Office for reasons such as the following: 

  • the student’s own illness or hospitalization;

  • the student’s physical inability to reach the university campus;

  • death in a student’s immediate family (when the student attends the funeral);

  • impending death or life-threatening illness or injury in the student’s immediate family, when the student is absent in order to be present with the ill or injured person;

  • the pursuit of high-level activities in such areas as champion-level competitions or professional artistic pursuits;

  • the observance of a religious holiday; or

  • the student’s performance of required military service.

The Academic Dean’s Office will not excuse absences resulting from, e.g., job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings of instructor or university policies, or other matters involving the personal convenience of a student.

When the Academic Dean’s Office grants an excuse request, it will notify the student’s  instructor. Whether or not your absences are excused, you are always expected to meet the learning objectives of the course as set by the instructor. If you are going to be missing several class meetings, for whatever reason, you should communicate with your instructors regarding the impact of these absences on your academic progress. An instructor may advise you to withdraw from a class if absences seem likely to prevent you from meeting the course objectives. In this case, you should contact the Academic Dean’s Office ([email protected]) for additional academic advising.

An instructor will provide a student whose absence from a class is excused with:

a. an appropriate opportunity to make up for the credit lost because the student failed to complete an in-class credit-bearing exercise (in-class work that counts toward a student’s grade) scheduled for a day when the student was absent with excuse;

b. an appropriate opportunity to submit credit-bearing homework (work done out of class that counts toward a student’s grade) the student was unable to submit in virtue of an excused absence. (It will ordinarily be assumed that a student can submit a homework exercise remotely. It is the responsibility of the student to make the case that completing and submitting an exercise was not realistically possible under the circumstances.)

Exams – Absences and Makeups

Instructors may, at their discretion, allow students to make-up missed quizzes or other, less important, graded work to students absent without an official excuse. 

Major examinations (midterms, finals) may only be re-administered or otherwise excused or accommodated, with the permission of the Dean’s Office. The standard for justifying an absence from a major examination is evidence of a serious difficulty preventing attendance. A serious difficulty includes a student’s own illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (when the student attends the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Missed exams owing to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel plans or difficulties, student misunderstandings, alarm clock failure, or personal convenience, will not normally be excused.

Students seeking an excuse for an absence from a major exam must notify their Instructor or the Dean’s Office prior to the exam, and submit the Excused Absences Request Form, also available on the Registrar’s Office webpage.

Once a request is accepted, it will be the instructor’s prerogative to have the student take a make-up exam, submit a make-up assignment, or have the weight of the missed exam shifted to another assessment. 

Please, refer to the university catalog for any other doubts regarding attendance policy: https://www.johncabot.edu/academics/academic-policies.aspx

Exams – Absences and Makeups

Instructors may, at their discretion, allow students to make-up missed quizzes or other, less important, graded work to students absent without an official excuse. 

Major examinations (midterms, finals) may only be re-administered or otherwise excused or accommodated, with the permission of the Dean’s Office. The standard for justifying an absence from a major examination is evidence of a serious difficulty preventing attendance. A serious difficulty includes a student’s own illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (when the student attends the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Missed exams owing to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel plans or difficulties, student misunderstandings, alarm clock failure, or personal convenience, will not normally be excused.

Students seeking an excuse for an absence from a major exam must notify their Instructor or the Dean’s Office prior to the exam, and submit the Excused Absences Request Form, also available on the Registrar’s Office webpage.

Once a request is accepted, it will be the instructor’s prerogative to have the student take a make-up exam, submit a make-up assignment, or have the weight of the missed exam shifted to another assessment. 

Please, refer to the university catalog for any other doubts regarding attendance policy: https://www.johncabot.edu/academics/academic-policies.aspx

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Week and day

Topic

Assignments for the day

Class number

01 week

 

 

Introduction to the course

Syllabus, assignments, textbooks, expected commitment.

Overview of the topics that will be studied.

 

 

1

01 week

 

Historical background of Greek Mythology (part 1)

 

Morford chapter 2

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

2

02 week

 

Historical background of Greek Mythology (part 2 )

 

Definition of Classical Mythology and its sources.

Morford chapter 2

 

 

 

Morford chapter 1

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

3

02 week

 

Myths of creation

Morford chapter 3

Woodford; Note on Terminology; Part one “Introduction”

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

4

03 week

 

Zeus’ rise to power

Morford chapter 4 – Titanomachy, Gigantomachy, Creation of Mortals.

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

5

03 week

 

The Twelve Olympian gods

Morford chapter 5 – Zeus and Hera

See also Moodle for other assignments.

TEST 01

6

04 week

 

 

The Nature of the Gods in Greek Religions.

 

The gods and monsters of the sea

· SELECTION Morford chapter 6- Greek Religion (only from “The Nature of Greek Religion” to the end of the chapter).

· Morford chapter 7 – Poseidon and sea deities

 

Woodford Part 2 “Making myths Recognizable”

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

7

04 week

 

Athena

Morford chapter 8 - Athena

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

8

05 Week

 

Aphrodite

Morford chapter 9 – Aphrodite and Eros

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

9

05 week

 

Artemis

Morford chapter 10 - Artemis

See also Moodle for other assignments.

TEST 02

 

10

06 week

 

Apollo

Morford chapter 11 - Apollo

See also Moodle for other assignments.

11

06 week

 

Hermes


Morford chapter 12 - Hermes

See also Moodle for other assignments.

12

 

07 week

 


 

MIDTERM

 13

07 week

Dionysus and his merry companions

Morford chapter 13 - Dyonisus

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

14

08 week

The Theban saga (1/2)

Morford chapter 17 – The Theban Saga

See also Moodle for other assignments

 

 

15

08 week

The Theban saga (2/2)

Morford chapter 17 – The Theban Saga

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

By 11:59 PM of Sunday at the end of this week, you must have submitted the title and topic of your FINAL PAPER

16

09 week

 

The Mycenaean saga

Morford chapter 18 – The Mycenaean Sag

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

 

17

09 week

 

The Iliad (1/2)

Morford chapter 19 – The Trojan Saga (part 01)

Carpenter CH 9 The Trojan war

Suggested: Hinds “The Iliad”

See also Moodle for other assignments.

TEST 03

18

   

 

10 week

 

The Iliad (2/2)

Morford chapter 19 – The Trojan Saga (Part 02)

Carpenter CH 9 The Trojan war

Suggested: Hinds “The Iliad”

See also Moodle for other assignments.

19

10 Week

 

The Odyssey

Morford chapter 20 – The Odyssey (part 01)

Carpenter CH 10 The aftermath of the War

Suggested: Hinds “The Odyssey”

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

20

11 week

 

The Odyssey

Morford chapter 20 – The Odyssey (part 02)

Carpenter CH 10 The aftermath of the War

Suggested: Hinds “The Odyssey”

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

21

11 week

 

Perseus

Morford chapter 21 - Perseus

See also Moodle for other assignments.

TEST 04

22

12 week

 

Heracles (part 1)

Morford chapter 22 – Heracles (part 01)

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

23

12 week

 

Heracles (part 2)

Morford chapter 22 – Heracles (Part 02)

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

24

13 Week

 

Theseus and the minotaur

Morford chapter 23 - Theseus

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

Submit your paper by 11:59 PM of today

 

25

13 Week

 

Greek mythology in the Roman world

Morford chapter 25 – Greek mythology in the Roman world

See also Moodle for other assignments.

TEST 05

26

14 week

 

Roman mythology (part 1)

Morford chapter 26 – Roman Mythology and Saga (part 01)

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

27

14 week

 

Roman mythology (part 2)

Morford chapter 26 – Roman Mythology and Saga (Part 02)

See also Moodle for other assignments.

 

28

 

FINAL EXAM (TBA)