Death in Antiquity
Classics · 3 hrs Lecture
Offered: Fall Or Winter, Every Third Year
Hard to catch. Runs only once every three years, and the calendar doesn't say which, confirm the next offering with the department before counting on it.
CLAS-3320 prerequisites
We couldn't read this course's prerequisites into a chain. The wording is under “Requisite courses” below.
Description
This course approaches various aspects relating to death in antiquity (emphasizing Roman antiquity) from the perspective of two disciplines, Anthropology and Classics. Topics include beliefs and philosophies about the afterlife; causes of death, with emphasis on diseases and demographics; the practicalities of planning for death and disposing of the dead; the methods and significance of commemoration; rituals of grief and mourning; spatial distribution of cemeteries in antiquity; methods and theories in mortuary archaeology from classical sites; and analysis of osteological, artifactual, and architectural data from such sites. Contemplation of cross-cultural comparisons on these and other topics under study is encouraged.
Requisite courses
3 credits in any Anthropology or Classics course [prerequisite(s)].
Restrictions
Students may not hold credit for this course and ANTH-3261 or CLAS-4320.
Cross-listed
ANTH-3261(3).
From the 2026-27 undergraduate calendar. Always verify details on WebAdvisor or with an academic advisor before registering.