History (510) 257: Greco-Roman Myth and Religion
Tuesday/Thursday 11:30am-12:50pm | 352 Conklin Hall
Instructor: Eleanor Jefferson (ejeffers@andromeda.rutgers.edu)
Office: 315 Conklin Hall
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30-2:00 P.M.; Thursdays 4:00-5:00pm
REQUIRED TEXTS:
 Buxton, Richard. The Complete World of Greek Mythology.
ISBN: 0500251215
This book is also available as an Amazon ebook.

Stambaugh, John E. and Rice, David G. Sources for the Study of Greek Religion.
ISBN: 0891303472
This book is also available as a Google Books ebook.
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Trzaskoma, Stephen and Smith, R. Scott. Anthology of Classical Myth: Primary Sources in
Translation.
ISBN: 0872207218
This book is also available as a Google Books ebook.
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Warrior, Valerie M. Roman Religion: A Sourcebook.
ISBN: 1585100307
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will present an overview of Greek and Roman mythology and religion. Students will not only
learn the outlines of major myths, but also study those myths in terms of their literary, historical, social, and
religious significance. In addition to the myths, students will learn about Greek and Roman religious
practices and how those practices reflect the cultural context of the time. Assignments will focus on primary
textual sources, which will be supplemented by secondary analysis and by visual evidence such as painting,
inscriptions, and sculpture. Throughout the course, some major themes will be the relationships between
mythology, ritual, and society. Students will also practice critical reading, writing, and thinking skills by
writing a journal entry to answer discussion questions for each class.
ASSIGNMENTS:
For each class there will be a reading assignment, usually consisting partially of secondary sources and
partially of primary sources in translation. A large portion of the course grade will depend upon students’
journal entries in response to these readings. Journal entries will be due by 8:00am on the day of class, and
should be written in formal English. Students are responsible for checking journal instructions after
every class to find out the reading assignments and discussion questions for next time. In addition,
student participation as assessed by the instructor in class discussions and group tasks will constitute an
important part of the grade. The final exam will be held in Conklin 352 on May 14, from 11:45am-2:45pm.
GRADING:
Grades are non-negotiable. Each of the following components will determine part of the final grade, which
will be calculated out of 100%:
15% Participation and Attendance
25% Midterm
25% Weekly Discussion Board Posts
35% Final Exam
Grades will be assigned according to the following scheme:
90.0% - 100%: A
86.0% - 89.9%: B+
82.0% - 85.9%: B
72.0% - 75.9%: C
60.0% - 71.9%: D
76.0% - 81.9%: C+
0.00% - 59.9%: F
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Make sure you are aware of the University’s regulations concerning academic dishonesty and plagiarism.
You are responsible for adhering to the guidelines in the Interim Academic Integrity Policy:
academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/integrity.shtml. You will be required to agree to the University’s
academic integrity policy on each test. By remaining in the course after being provided with this
syllabus, you are agreeing to adhere to the University’s academic integrity policy on all smaller
assignments as well.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Absences due to sickness, injury, or family emergency may be excused with a signed note from the
university health center or your dean of college. In some cases, planned absences (e.g., for religious
observance) may be allowed. Students requesting a planned absence must contact the instructor AT LEAST
one week (7 days) in advance of the expected absence and must complete the assigned tasks due the day
PRIOR to your absence.
All absences that do not accord with the above situations will be unexcused. Those who have excused
absences may make up any missed work; those with unexcused absences may not. There will be no exam or
midterm make-ups except in extreme circumstances, at the discretion of the instructor.
ADDITIONAL NOTICES:
If you are a university athlete, please let me know within the first week of class.
Under Federal Law, the University is required to provide reasonable academic accommodations to students
with documentable disabilities, in legally defined categories. If you have special needs in this course, please
have your College coordinator contact me by the end of the second week of classes.
LECTURE TOPICS:
Below is a preliminary list of topics that will be covered in the course.
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Introduction to the Greco-Roman world
Creation of the World & Eastern Roots
Olympian Gods & Aetiology
Heroes
The Trojan cycle
Foundation legends
Religious practice and daily life (Greek)
Religion and poetry
Funerary culture and the afterlife (Greek)
Mystery cults (Greek)
Religion and politics (Greek)
Hellenistic Religion
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Cultural relationship between Greece and
Italy
Italic myths
Religious practice and daily life (Roman)
Funerary culture and the afterlife
(Roman)
Religion and politics (Roman)
Performance and Representation
Religion in the Western Roman Provinces
Mystery cults and foreign gods in Rome
Oracles and divination
Magic and curses in Greek and Roman
religion
Christianity and the end of paganism