First Year Seminar 191HFA02 - FYS-Ancient Myth in Art & Arch

Do you like ancient mythology? Are you a lover of art? Are you interested in getting out of the classroom and exploring different art and archival collections at UMass? This course will take a unique look at ancient Mediterranean mythology along with just some of the countless art pieces and architecture these stories have inspired over the last two thousand years. Every two weeks will focus on a specific mythological story from Greece and the Rome. For our classroom sessions, we will read ancient primary sources describing these myths and discuss the many things that these stories can tell us about the cultures who produced them. The class will then focus on art and architecture which were inspired by these myths. While the stories will come from the ancient Mediterranean and the Near East, the art will be drawn from all time periods and from diverse cultures. Every other class, we will take a field trip to a museum or collection on campus to look at the different resources UMass has to offer. This class is ideally suited for curious students who wish to explore literature, art, history, archaeology, Classical studies, art history, architecture, museums, and UMass Amherst itself!

Open to first-year Humanities and Fine Arts Exploratory Track students and first-year HFA Majors. First year (Fr or Soph)