CLAS 210 - Animals in the Ancient World

How did the Romans justify killing thousands of animals in the Colosseum? What did natural historians like Aristotle and Pliny have to say about the intelligence of non-human animals? How did the cult of Artemis reinforce conservation strategies among noble landowners? How do scholars explain the fascination with weird animal hybrids in Greek mythology? And were there any vegetarians in ancient Athens? This course provided an introduction to the field of Animal Studies (aka Anthrozoology) in the context of the ancient Greek and Roman world (circa 800 BCE - 500 CE). Students will engage with primary texts, ancient artefacts, and visual evidence (including mosaics, sculptures, and vase paintings) to explore how the ancient Greek and Romans conceptualized the relationship between human and non-human animals.

Credit(s): 3
Disciplinary Perspective(s):
None
Interconnecting Perspective(s):
Intercultural, Writing Enhanced
University Graduation Requirement(s):
None