Off-Campus Study & Exchanges

Although the boundary between sacred and secular space was less rigid in ancient Greece, sanctuaries were areas set aside specifically for encountering the divine. This travel seminar will explore a number of questions associated with Greek sanctuaries from their inception in the 8th century BCE through the Hellenistic period. Such questions include what physically constituted a Greek sanctuary, what sorts of rituals and religious practices [Acropolis]  occurred in the sanctuary, and what the social functions of these sites were. We will explore Greek religion in the context of specific sanctuaries: first, Athens, for the relationship between civic and religious life; two of the four Panhellenic sites, one of which also served as an oracular shrine (Delphi) and the other as a venue for athletic competition (Olympia); the healing cult of Asklepios at Epidauros; and the sanctuary of Apollo and Artemis on the sacred island of Delos. We will discuss in detail the archaeological and art historical composition of the sites and their historical contexts, as well as examine the particular types of religious rituals associated with each sanctuary. In doing so we will gain a better understanding of the functions of the sanctuary and the central role it played in Greek society.

By "body and soul", we mean the way that the Greeks imagined and imaged the body, how they cared for themselves in sickness and health, and what they believed happened after death. Therefore, the on-campus course and travel seminar both expand and deepen students' understanding of the place of the human body in ancient Greece in a broader context. The best way to study the monument and its sculpture is to do so in situ.  By visiting the temples, sanctuaries, athletic venues, oracular shrines, and cemeteries will help students understand the place, and limits, of existence in the ancient Greek mind. 

The semester-long study of Greek sanctuaries, religion and ritual culminate in an intensive travel-seminar program in Greece. During the 10 days, the group will visit the archaeological sites and museums which illuminate the work done in the classroom. The presentations practiced on campus will be delivered on-site as a final demonstration of students' knowledge of the material and its cultural and social context.

This program will consist of a fall 2023 on-campus course (CC 265) and the January travel to Greece (TX200A). Students will receive three credits for the CC 265 course and one credit for TX200A, for a total of four credits.