REL 3325 Religions of Classical Mythology
Janet McDaniel
jmcdanie@fiu.edu
Office Hours: W @ 11:00 – 11:50 or by appointment.
DM 301 B 305-348-6728
Course Description
This course will examine the Religions of Classical Mythology from Greece and Rome.
We will use several methodological approaches including Externalist (myth as a product
of the environment), Internalist (myth as a product of the mind) and Feminist (myth as a
reflection of gender construction). We will investigate how these myths help us
understand Greek and subsequent Roman societies.
This course is Web Assisted on Moodle. Notes, Rubrics, Calendar, Web Links
Students registered through Disability Services will be accommodated. Students with
extended time may take exams in the Disability Service Office.
The last week of the semester will be utilized for the Final Exam.
Required Text
Stephen L. Harris and Gloria Platzner, Classical Mythology: Images & Insights,
5th Edition. McGraw-Hill, 2008.
ISBN 9780073535678
Course Objectives
 The student will be able to apply methodological interpretations of myth.
 The student will be able to recognize myths as historical reflections of social
constructions.
 The student will be able to understand ancient concepts of gender and their
applications in myth.
 The student will be able to articulate the theory of the Divine Woman/Great
Goddess and her subordination and transformation into the patriarchal system.
On-Line Study Guide
 http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073535672/student_view0/
 Consists of notes, quizzes, flashcards, glossary, accompanying each chapter.
Citations Bibliographies and citations should be in MLA or Chicago Style format
Course Requirements
 There will be 4 exams consisting of multiple-choice and short answer questions
each worth 15% of the final grade. Exams consist of information from the text as
well as in-class lectures. In class vs on-line TBA. If in class, attendance is
mandatory. Only extreme cases will be excused, e.g. incarceration or
hospitalization with documentation.
 There will be 6 (min. 800 words) short response papers, each worth 5 % of the
final grade. You may choose from select questions at the end of each chapter for
topics. Papers due every 2 ½ weeks. Specific Paper Due Dates Posted on
Moodle. Detailed rubric also posted on Moodle.
 Papers must be double spaced and have the question labeled by
chapter/number and typed at the beginning.
 Papers must have the following: 1) clearly recognizable thesis statement in
introductory paragraph. 2) all paragraphs must have main idea and
supporting details 3) conclusion paragraph
 All papers must be turned in through turnitin.com.
 Late papers will be accepted up to one week after the due date with 1 point
drop. Papers over 1 week late will not be accepted.
 Class Participation: 10% of grade
 Attendance is mandatory. Missing more than 5 class periods will lower
your grade by 5 points..
 Classroom conduct and respectful discourse. Regardless of attendance, if
classroom conduct is repeatedly disruptive, your grade can be lowered by
the entire 10 points. Respectful discourse includes but is not limited to the
following: one person speaking at a time, refraining from interrupting or
carrying on a conversation with those around you while I am lecturing,
persistent off topic commentary/questions. If your discourse becomes
problematic, you will receive an email as a warning through regular
FIU/Panthersoft email.
 Additional Responsibilities:
 Checking FIU email before each class.
 Understanding your course progress which includes checking that grades
are recorded accurately in the grade-book. E.g. it is your responsibility to
confirm points have been added and recorded accurately especially with
Turnitin. Turnitin only allows whole number submissions but this course
utilizes a decimal system. Whole number grades are dropped in the grade
book automatically but I must manually change to include decimal points.
Occasionally this causes unintentional mistakes. It is your responsibility
to make sure your grades are recorded correctly. Notification of any such
discrepancies must be emailed to me by Dec. 5.
 Any questions or disagreements with grades must be sent via fiu email and
discussed before the end of the semester.
Academic Conduct
 Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a zero. Plagiarism is 1) copying
any written material without using proper citation – this includes material from
the internet; 2) incorporating another person’s ideas without giving proper
credit/citation (literary theft).
 Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and
imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and
respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. All students should respect
the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly to
demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students are expected to
adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for
themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University.
All students are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found
responsible for academic misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic
Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the Student Handbook.
Drop/Add Period Ends August 29 at 12:00 a.m.
Grading Scale: Grades are based on accumulated points, 100 in total
94 – 100
90 – 93
87 – 89
84 – 86
80 – 83
77 – 79
A
AB+
B
BC+
74 – 76
70 – 73
67 – 69
64 – 66
60 – 63
59 & below
C
CD+
D
DF
Syllabus
(subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances – students will be given reasonable
notice to any changes)
8/22

Introduction to class.
8/24 – 8/26
 Outline of Greek and Roman History
 Chapter 1, Introduction to Greek Myth
 Selections for paper topics: Ch. 1. #1, #2, #3
8/29 LAST DAY TO DROP COURSE (without loosing money)
 Chapter 2, Ways of Interpreting Myth.
 Selections for paper topics: Ch. 2. #1, #3
8/31 – 9/2
 Chapter 3, In the Beginning: Hesiod’s Creation Story.
 Primary Source Readings: Hesiod’s Theogony
 Selections for paper topics: Ch. 3. #1, #2, #4.
9/5 NO SCHOOL: Labor Day
9/7 – 9/9
 Chapter 4, Alienation of the Human and Divine: Prometheus, Fire and Pandora.
 Primary Source Readings: Hesiod, Works and Days. Aeschylus,
Prometheus Bound
 Selections for paper topics: Ch. 4. #1, #2, #3, #7.
 First Paper Due
9/12 – 9/14
 Chapter 5, The great Goddess and the Goddesses: The Divine Woman in Greek
Mythology
 Primary Source Readings: Homeric Hymn to Demeter
 Selections for paper topics: Ch. 5. #1, #2, #5
9/16
 Exam 1
9/19


9/21



Chapter 6, The Olympian family of Zeus: Sharing Rule of the Universe
 Primary Source Readings: Homer, The Loves of Aphrodite. Unknown
author, Homeric Hymn to Hermes.
Selections for Paper topics: Ch. 6, #3, #4.
Chapter 7, In Touch with the Gods: Apollo’s Oracle at Delphi.
 Primary Source Readings: Cynaethus of Chios, Hymn to the Pythian
Apollo.
Ch. 7, #2, #3
Paper 2 Due
9/23 - 9/26
 Chapter 8, Dionysus: Rooted in Earth and Ecstasy
 Primary Source Readings: Unknown author, Hymn to Dionysus
 Selections for paper topics: Ch. 8, #1, #2
9/28


Chapter 9, Land of No Return: The Gloomy Kingdom of Hades
Ch. 9, #2, #3, #4
9/30 – 10/3
 Chapter 10: Heroes of Myth: Man Divided Against Himself
 Selections for Paper topics: Ch. 10, #1, #2, #4
 Paper 3 Due
10/5

Exam 2
10/7


Chapter 11: Heroines of Myth: Women in Many Roles
Selections for Paper topics: Ch. 11. #1, #2, #4
10/10 - 10/12
 Chapter 12: Heroes at War: The Troy Saga
 Primary Source Readings: Homer, selections from Iliad
 Selections for Paper topics: Ch. 12. #3, #4, #6, #7.
10/14, 10/17 - 10/21, 10/24, 10/26
 Chapter 13: A Different Kind of Hero: The Quest of Odysseus
 Primary Source Reading: Homer, Selections from Odyssey
 Selections for Paper topics: Ch. 13. #2, #3, #4.
 Movie Odysseus
 Paper 4 Due
10/28
 Chapter 14: The Theater of Dionysus: Myth and the Tragic Vision
 Selections for Paper topics: Ch. 14. #1, #2.
10/31 -11/2
 Chapter 15: The House of Atreus: Aeschylus’ Orestia
 Primary Source Readings: Aeschylus, Agamemmnon, Libation-Bearers,
Eumenides
 Selections for Paper topics: Ch. 15. #2, #4, #5.
11/4

Exam 3
11/7 – 11/9
 Chapter 16: The Tragic House of Laius: Sophocles’ Oedipus Cycle
 Primary Source Readings: Sophocles, Oedipus Rex, Antigone
 Selections for Paper topics: Ch. 16. #3, #4, #5, #6.
 Paper 5 Due
11/11 Veteran’s Day, No School
11/14 - 11/16
 Chapter 17: A Different Perspective on Tragedy: Euripides’ Medea and the
Bacchae
 Primary Source Readings: Euripides, Medea, Bacchae
 Selections for Paper topic: Ch. 17. #1, #3, #5, #7.
11/18
 Chapter 18: The Roman Vision: Greek Myths and Roman Realities
 Selections for Paper topic: Ch. 18, #1, #2, #3.
11/21, 11/23, 11/25
NO CLASS
11/28 – 11/30
 Chapter 19: Virgil’s Roman Epic: The Aeneid
 Primary Source Reading: Virgil, The Aeneid
 Selections for Paper topic: Ch. 19, #1, #3, #5, #6. #8,
12/2



Chapter 20: The Retelling of Greek Myths: Ovid’s Metamorphoses
 Ovid, selections from the Metamorphoses
Selections for Paper topic: Ch. 20, #3, #5, #6
Paper 6 Due
Exam 4: TBA Week of 12/5