Classical Civilisation provides a broad, coherent and rewarding study of the literature, drama, thought and art of ancient Greece and Rome. These civilisations have had a huge impact on modern life, but they can also reveal startlingly different attitudes and beliefs. You will study a wide range of socio-political and literary topics: from the cultural values of Homeric Greece and its gods and heroes; through the political, physical and literary aspects of Greek theatre; to the beliefs and ideas of Roman poets—a scope of the most fascinating periods and texts that survive. COURSE STRUCTURE You will study three units for this A-Level: Component 1: The World of the Hero For this unit, we will read Homer’s Iliad, the story of the last year of the Trojan War, and Virgil’s Aeneid, which describes Aeneas’ journey from Troy to establish the city of Rome. These epic poems are two of the most exciting works to survive from the ancient world and paint a picture of the Greek and Roman gods and their relationship with humans, as well as show us what it meant to be a hero in the classical world. Component 2: Culture and the Arts For this unit, you will study and analyse visual and material culture in combination with literature. We will be studying Greek theatre, both tragedy and comedy, including its political and social nature, the stagecraft and techniques involved, and material evidence for its production. Components 3: Beliefs and Ideas For this unit, you will study one area of classical beliefs through literature and material. We will study beliefs about love and relationships, including legal and philosophical attitudes of Greek and Roman authors about the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ ways to love, sexuality, and the purpose of marriage.