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INFORMATION ON MLC IN CLASSICS
MA IN ANCIENT LANGUAGES AND CULTURES (MLC)
The degree is designed to provide a secure foundation of understanding and expertise in Greco-Roman languages
and cultures.
The degree aims at equipping students with expertise in a number of selected fields of application, based on
specialised knowledge obtained from a study of diverse cultural and linguistic aspects of the classical world, such
as: Greco-Roman societal and political structures (slavery, ethnicity, gender), philosophy, religion, mythology,
literature; historical methodology, ancient source analysis, manuscript tradition, textual criticism, and several
others.
The degree comprises: a) a number of courses with examinations, and b) a dissertation of limited scope.
Ancient Greek, Latin, Ancient History and Classical Culture, are offered at postgraduate level as participating
disciplines in the MA with specialisation in Ancient Languages and Cultures (MLC).
MLC CURRICULUM
DETAILED CURRICULUM
Part 1: Honours degree
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!
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3 core modules (year modules; 24 credits each = 72 credits), of which MLCREC-Q (The Reception of
Ancient Languages and Cultures) is compulsory
1 fundamental module (year module; 24 credits), also compulsory
2 elective modules (semester/year modules; 12 credits each)
Part 2: Master’s degree
!
3 core modules (year modules; 24 credits each = 72 credits)
!
1 dissertation of limited scope (approximately 100 pages in length; 48 credits)
Students who have completed an Honours degree in one of the participating disciplines
may proceed directly to Part 2. MLCREC-Q and MLCTOP-4 are optional for these
students
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MLC: Part 1
3 Core (24 credits
each)
1 Fundamental (24 credits)
2 Elective (12 credits
each)
MLC: Part 2
3 Core (24 credits each)
Dissertation (48 credits)
COMPLETION OF CURRICULUM
IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE:
1.
Students may not register for the modules of Part 2 unless they have passed at least 2 of the 3 core
modules, 1 fundamental module, and 2 elective modules in Part 1; the outstanding core module must be
taken concurrently with the modules in Part 2.
2.
Students may not proceed with the dissertation of limited scope unless all the modules of Part 1 and the 3
core modules of Part 2 have been passed, except with the permission of the Head of Department.
3.
Dissertation: A formal research proposal, drawn up according to precise guidelines established by the
Department, must be submitted by students who qualify to begin their dissertation of limited scope. Details
of these guidelines in the form of a booklet will be made available to students by their promoter, who will
assist them in drawing up their proposal.
DURATION OF STUDY
The degree usually cannot be completed in less than three years. Students are advised to spread their studies of
Part 1 over two years and of Part 2 over another two years. We encourage you to discuss any problems you may
experience in relation to the duration of the curriculum with your lecturers.
YEAR MARK
A year mark of 35% for each module will be calculated on the average of the marks obtained in the assignments.
The examination mark will count for 65% towards the final mark.
ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION DATE
The first assignment for each year module must reach the University not later than the 15th May. We cannot
grant an extension for this specific assignment.
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THE CORE MODULES
Below is a list of the Core Modules, in alphabetical order, from which you may make your choice.
A brief overview of the contents of these modules is offered in the following pages.
Your selection of modules and of options within modules will be subject to availability of
tutors and other considerations. We strongly advise you to consult the coordinator and
other lecturers to obtain assistance in making your choice before registering
1.
MLCCON-A:
Ancient Literatures: A Contextual Study
2.
MLCCUL-L:
Material and Cultural Aspects of Ancient Cultures
3.
MLCDRA-5:
Ancient Literatures: Language, Verse & the Dramatic Arts
4.
MLCEPI-D:
The Ancient Epic: Oral & Written; The novel
5.
MLCPOL-J:
Ancient Politics, Historical Background and Methods
6.
MLCREC-Q:
The Reception of Ancient Languages and Cultures**
7.
MLCSOC-J:
Ancient Society
8.
MLCSOU-6:
Ancient Languages and Sources of Study
9.
MLCTEX-N:
Ancient Religious and Rhetorical Texts
10.
MLCTHO-K:
Aspects of Ancient Thought
**
Core module (6) The Reception of ALC is compulsory and must be completed in Part 1.
AN OVERVIEW
MLCCON-A: ANCIENT LITERATURE. A CONTEXTUAL STUDY
You may choose ONE of the following:
1.
Greek Writers of History: A study of selected texts from the genre of Historiography, either in Greek or
in English translation. Selections will include texts by Herodotus and Thucydides from the Classical
period, Josephus from the literature of Hellenistic Judaism, and by other historians.
Lecturers: Martine de Marre; Gottfried Mader
2.
Roman Writers of History: A study of one or more Roman writers of history, such as Sallust, Livy or
Tacitus, with emphasis on analysis of selected texts, either in Latin or in English translation.
Lecturers: Richard Evans; Gottfried Mader
3.
Greek Writers of Early Christian Literature (for students who have majored in Greek): Translation and
detailed analysis of early Christian writings: New Testament, Apocryphal or early Patristic literature. This
paper is aimed primarily at students with a particular interest in Theology.
Lecturer: Johan Strijdom
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MLCCUL-L: MATERIAL AND CULTURAL ASPECTS OF ANCIENT CULTURES
You may choose ONE of the following:
1.
Technology in the Classical World: An examination of the physical environment which the Greeks and
Romans created for themselves. This module provides details about the public image (temples, élite
buildings), but also analyses how engineering and technological advances made daily life easier, or more
difficult, for the people of the classical epoch. Topics include: Water supply; Agriculture; Town planning;
Transport; Civic and military engineering.
Lecturer: Richard Evans
2.
Environment in the Classical World: Based on a wide range of Greek and Latin texts in the original or
English translation, as preferred, this module examines selected aspects of the historical evolution of
environmental awareness, early models of environmental thinking, and the ancient origins of modern
environmental problems and solutions. Topics include: Presocratic philosophy on creation; Platonic and
Aristotelian concepts of the cosmos; Concepts of space; Philosophical debates on the rationality of animals;
Mythological, literary and philosophical treatments of hunting; The concept of leisure and the importance
of the villa as an architectural and social construct.
Lecturer: Sira Dambe
MLCDRA-S: ANCIENT LITERATURE. LANGUAGE, VERSE & THE DRAMATIC ARTS
You may choose ONE of the following fields:
1.
Greek and Roman Dramatic Arts:
A study of Greco- Roman drama (tragedy and comedy) in the original languages or in English translation,
as preferred.
Lecturers: Philip Bosman; Martine de Marre; Gottfried Mader

Greek Tragedy
Lecturer: Philip Bosman
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Thematic field: Euripides’ tragedy Iphigenia in Aulis
$
Introduction to Greek drama/tragedy
$
The work, thought, and influence of Euripides
$
The Iphigenia in Aulis: textual analysis, translation and commentary (for those proficient in Greek)
$
Themes: Ancient treatment of the Iphigenia myth
Voluntary death in Euripides
‘Iphigenia changes her mind’.
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2.
Greek and Roman Poetry
Lecturer: Sira Dambe
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Thematic field: Love and sexuality in Greco-Roman poetry
Representative selections from Greek and Roman poetry, with particular attention paid to the issues
raised by these influential poetic genres in the field of love and sexuality.
Choose THREE of the following topics:
!
Love in archaic Greek lyric
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Homosexuality in Hellenistic epigram and Roman verse
$
Lucretius’ DRN Book 4: An Epicurean’s views on love and sex
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Love in the Roman Republic: Catullus
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Rape. Its treatment and significance in the playwrights, the elegists, and Ovid
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Love and identity. Finding the poet in Roman elegy and its Greek antecedents
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3.
Roman Satire: Selections from the satires of Horace and Juvenal, with emphasis on both generic
conventions and social-historical aspects. The texts may be studied in Latin or in English translation.
Topics to be discussed with the lecturer.
Lecturer: Martine de Marre
MLCEPI-D: THE ANCIENT EPIC; THE NOVEL
You may choose ONE of the following:
1.
Greek Epic: Homer
Introduction to Homer and:
Option A. Selected texts from the Iliad and/or the Odyssey: textual analysis, translation and commentary
Option B. The wanderings of Odysseus (Odyssey Books 6-12)
Lecturer: Philip Bosman
2.
Roman Epic: The main emphasis is on a detailed study of selected books of Virgil’s Aeneid, either in the
original Latin or in English translation. Selections from Ennius, Lucan, Statius, or Silius Italicus will be
included where thematically appropriate. Topics to be discussed with individual lecturers.
Lecturers: Sira Dambe; Gottfried Mader
3.
The Greco-Roman Novel
The following works will be studied:
Apuleius’ Metamorphoses: The Golden Ass (Johan Strijdom)
Petronius’ Satyricon (Sira Dambe)
Lecturers: Sira Dambe; Johan Strijdom
$
$
MLCPOL-J: ANCIENT POLITICS, HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND METHODS
Topic : Concepts of Justice in the Classical World: A critical introduction, based on a broad selection of ancient
texts from Homer to Seneca (in English translation), designed to provide historical perspective on various
modern notions of justice and human rights.
Lecturers: Richard Evans; Gottfried Mader
MLCREC-Q: THE RECEPTION OF ANCIENT LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
We strongly recommend that students study this compulsory module at the beginning of their MLC studies, as
familiarity with its contents will improve their understanding of, and sharpen their insight into, important issues in
other modules. This module examines from various angles the impact of Classical Languages and Cultures on
modern society. To mention a few: The assimilation of classical languages, and their continued use and
adaptation by modern society. The reception of classical literature and its prominence in modern literature and in
other media: art, architecture, music, cinema. The enormous influence of classical myths and philosophical ideas
upon the imagination and thought patterns of the modern world. Students will engage in the study of a wide
selection of texts, in English translation, from a broad range of Greco-Roman writers, with a view to gaining
insight into their enduring influence on diverse aspects of modern life.
The module consists of TWO sections:
Section A: Theory of Reception (40%)
Section A deals with The Theory of Reception. Tutorial Letter 101/2007 for MLCREC-Q contains all the
necessary information on this Section.
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Section B: Selected Fields of Enquiry (60%)
Students must choose ONE of the following fields and must inform the coordinator and the relevant lecturer
about their choice not later than 30 April: its approval will depend on the availability of tutors and other
considerations. Detailed information on these options is provided in Tutorial Letter 102/2007 for MLCREC-Q:
1.
Reception of Myths
Johan Strijdom; Sira Dambe
(Greek & Roman)
2.
Reception of Drama (Tragedy and Comedy)
Gottfried Mader; Philip Bosman
(Tragedy - Greek & Roman)
Martine de Marre; Sira Dambe
(Comedy - Greek & Roman)
3.
Reception of Philosophy
Johan Strijdom; Sira Dambe
4.
(Greek & Roman)
Reception of Architecture and Sculpture
Liana Rademeyer
(Architecture - Greek & Roman)
Rolene Meyer
(Sculpture - Greek & Roman)
Sira Dambe is responsible for Section A and for the administration of the module as a whole.
MLCSOC-J: ANCIENT SOCIETY. ASPECTS OF GENDER, CLASS AND ETHNICITY
You may choose ONE of the following thematic fields:
1.
Gender studies
Lecturer: Martine de Marre
2.
Aspects of slavery in classical antiquity
$
$
$
$
$
Choose THREE of the following topics:
The concept of the ‘other self’: slavery in the Greco-Roman world
Seneca, Stoic philosophy and modern thought on the issue of slavery
Slavery ancient and modern: some thoughts on Africa
Slavery in ancient tragedy and comedy
A literary and socio-historical perspective on the metaphorical use of slavery
Lecturer: Sira Dambe
3.
The ‘ethnic Other’ in ancient Greece and Stoic cosmopolitanism
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
4.
Choose FOUR of the following topics:
Perceptions of the ‘ethnic Other’ in the Odyssey
Herodotus on Egyptians, Persians and Scythians
Ethnocentricity in Greek tragedy
Stoic cosmopolitanism and modern globalisation
The Black Athena debate
Early Christianities as ethnically mixed groups
Lecturer: Johan Strijdom
Representations of the ‘ethnic Other’ in ancient Greek art
Lecturer: Rolene Meyer
The ‘ethnic Other’ in Roman culture
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$
$
$
$
$
$
Choose THREE of the following topics:
Culture, identity and power in Rome
Problems of identity: image and symbol
Romanizing the ‘ethnic Other’: cultural diversity in the Roman empire
Status, gender and religion: categories of ‘otherness’
Staging diversity: the ‘ethnic Other’ in Roman comedy
Writing diversity: the ‘ethnic Other’ in the Aeneid
Lecturer: Sira Dambe
MLCSOU-6: ANCIENT LANGUAGES AND SOURCES OF STUDY
You may choose ONE of the following:
1.
Septuagint Studies: Translation of selected texts from the Greek translation of the Old Testament and
comparison with their Hebrew equivalents. This paper may incorporate investigation into the influence of
Septuagint texts on the language and thought of the New Testament. Students who opt for this module need
a working knowledge of ancient Greek and Classical Hebrew.
Lecturer: Johan Strijdom
2.
Greek Textual Criticism and Palaeography (for students who have majored in Greek): An introduction
intended for students with a special interest in the Greek language, the development of manuscript writing,
and the critical study of texts. The principles of the science of textual criticism are applied to the field of the
students’ interests (either classical authors or New Testament texts).
Lecturer: Johan Strijdom
3.
Latin Historical Grammar, Textual Criticism, and Palaeography (for students who have majored in
Latin): An introduction intended for students with a special interest in the development and influence of the
Latin language, history of manuscripts, and the critical study of texts. The principles of textual criticism are
applied to fields related to students’ literary or historical interests.
Lecturer: Sira Dambe
4.
Non-literary sources for a study of the Greco-Roman world: A detailed study of Greek and Roman
epigraphy and numismatics based on sections from MLCTOP-4.
Lecturer: Richard Evans
MLCTEX-N: ANCIENT RELIGIOUS AND RHETORICAL TEXTS
You may choose ONE of the following:
1.
Mystery religions: In this module different types of mystery religions in the ancient Mediterranean world
will be compared and contrasted, by analysing the most important primary texts in English translation : the
Isis-Osiris cult from Egypt, the Cybele-Attis cult of Asia Minor, the Mithras cult of Persia and its influence
on the Roman military, and the Eleusinian (Demeter cult) and Dionysian mysteries from Greece. The
theory that early Christianity should be viewed as another type of mystery religion will also be subjected to
critical examination.
Lecturer: Johan Strijdom
2.
Ritual killing in ancient Greek religion:
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A.
An analysis of blood sacrifice in relationship to: 1. The Prometheus myth; 2. A selection of other
religious phenomena (for instance, chthonian sacrifices, libations, prayer, divination,
purification/pollution, human sacrifice, funerary rites); 3. Sacred time (feasts, processions, etc);
sacred space (sanctuary, altars, etc); 4. Its social-political function in the polis as well as in sects (for
instance, Orphic and Dionysian cults).
B.
A comparison and evaluation of three modern theories on blood sacrifice (Girard, Burkert, Paris
School)
Lecturer: Johan Strijdom
3.
Roman rhetoric: A detailed examination of a selection of Cicero’s forensic and political oratory with
particular attention to the formal aspects - structure, figures of speech - and the techniques/arts of
persuasion. Either in Latin or in English translation.
Lecturer: Gottfried Mader
MLCTHO-K: ASPECTS OF ANCIENT THOUGHT
Thematic field: Greek and Roman Ethics. An investigation into a broad range of ethical values as reflected in
the works of a variety of Greek and Roman writers of poetry, prose, philosophy, and history.
The module focuses on various ancient proposals for ethical systems, and on their interaction
with contemporary psychological and societal structures or political circumstances.
You may choose ONE of the following:
1.
Greco-Roman thought on love, sexuality and friendship
$
$
$
$
The following topics are available for study:
The concept of love in Plato’s Symposium and Phaedrus
The concept of friendship in Aristotle
Seneca’s Medea: a Roman Stoic’s views on love and the integrity of the self
Friendship in Rome: Cicero and Catullus on amicitia
Lecturers: Sira Dambe; Johan Strijdom
2.
The transformation of ethical values
Topics to be discussed with lecturer.
Lecturer: Philip Bosman
3.
Greek writers of philosophy (for students who have majored in Greek. However, the module may be
studied in translation by those who have no proficiency in ancient Greek): a study of philosophic texts of
the Classical era (Plato & Aristotle), the Hellenistic period (Epicurean & Stoic) or Hellenistic Judaism
(Philo of Alexandria).
Lecturers: Philip Bosman; Johan Strijdom
4.
Roman writers of philosophy (for students who have majored in Latin. However, the module may be
studied in translation by those who have no proficiency in Latin): detailed study of selections from
Lucretius, Cicero and Seneca, chosen to illustrate the main principles of Epicurean and Stoic philosophy,
their socio-historical relevance, and their interaction.
Lecturer: Sira Dambe
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TO RECAP
$
Students must pass 6 out of the 10 core modules
$
MLCREC-Q and two other core modules must be completed in Part 1
$
3 further core modules must be completed in Part 2
THE FUNDAMENTAL MODULE
:
MLCTOP- 4
MLCTOP-4 (Topics, Sources & Methodology) is compulsory and must be completed in Part 1.
In this module 6 sections are offered, of which students must choose 3.
The six sections are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Archaeology
Epigraphy
Numismatics
Palaeography
History of Classical Philology
Ideological uses of Classics
(Dr RJ Evans)
(Dr RJ Evans)
(Dr RJ Evans)
(Dr S Dambe)
(Dr PR Bosman)
(Dr JM Strijdom)
Please discuss available options with your lecturers, after you have registered.
THE ELECTIVE MODULES
$
$
$
$
TWO elective modules must be completed in Part 1 of the programme
If students have passed any of the modules listed below as part of a BA degree, they must choose two
different ones as electives for the MLC
If students have passed any two of the modules listed below for non-degree purposes, they will not have to
register for elective modules for the MLC
For details of the following modules check the Unisa Undergraduate Calendar 3/2007
Classical Hebrew (CLH101-R)
Classical Hebrew (CLH102-S)
French (FRC101-Q)
German (GMN100-K)
Greek (GRE101-9)
Greek (GRE102-A)
Italian (ITN101-9)
Latin (LAN101K)
Latin (LAN102-L)
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Portuguese (PTG101-M)
Spanish (SPS101-M)
Words & Wordpower: Vocabulary-building based on Latin & Greek (LAN821-F)
Introduction to the Theory of Literature (THL801-U)
Introduction to Literary Genres (THL802-V)
Linguistics (LIN101-W)
Linguistics (LIN102-X)
Ancient History (ANH101-P)
Ancient History (ANH102-Q)
Roman North Africa & Egypt (ANH821-K)
Imperialism in the Ancient World (ANH822-L)
Greek Myths, Literature and Society (CCL101-R)
Roman Myths, Literature and Society (CCL102-S)
Early Asian Civilizations (CCL802-J)
Ancient Entertainment: Greek Festivals & Roman Games (CCL803-K)
Archaeological Discoveries from the Biblical World (BAR102-4)
Biblical Archaeology (BBA101-U)
Biblical Archaeology (BBA 102-V)
Biblical Studies (BBS101-I)
Biblical Studies (BBS102-V)
Biblical Texts in their Ancient Context (BST101-F)
Comparative Religious Studies: Introduction to the Religions of the World (RST101-Q)
Introduction to Ancient Near Eastern Culture (ATC101-3)
Mythologies of the Ancient Near East (ATC102-4)