CLASS 2633 - Sex, Gender, and Identity in Ancient Greece and Rome

(crosslisted) FGSS 2633
(GHB) (LA-AS)

Fall. 4 credits. Student option grading.

E. Haselswerdt.

How did the ancient Greeks and Romans understand differences in gender and sexuality? And how did their gendered identities intersect with other identity categories, like race, class, and citizenship status? In this introductory course we will explore these questions using a wide-ranging selection of philosophy, literature, medical writing, legal texts, magic spells, and material evidence. We will also ask how ancient ideas about sex and gender have influenced our own construction of these categories, and investigate the consequences of modern identification with antiquity. No prior knowledge about the ancient world is required, and all readings will be in English.