Though no longer spoken, ancient Greek provided a foundational vocabulary for many other languages. Beyond the structure of words, ancient Greek was also the language of early philosophers, writers, and religions—distinguishing it as one of the most vital of languages to study.

Why study Greek at Sewanee?

By studying Greek at Sewanee, you’ll be exposed to various topics—Homer, classic historians, great orators, poets, philosophers, and writers of Greek tragedy and comedy. You’ll learn about ancient Greek civilization, its contributions to modern civilization, and its presence in lyrical, mythical, and religious texts.

A Sampling of Courses

Ancient Lyric Poetry in Translation
Classics

This course examines lyric poetry from Greco-Roman antiquity ranging from the 8th century BC to the 1st century AD. Authors include Alcaeus, Sappho, Pindar, Catullus, and Horace. Consideration is also paid to the influence of ancient lyric upon the later poetic tradition and to matters of translation. Taught in English.

CLST 202
The Golden Age of Athens
Classics

This course examines the historical and literary sources that provide us with knowledge about the development of Athens in the Archaic and Classical periods culminating in the Peloponnesian War. Emphasis is placed on examining the methods, biases, and goals of the historians Herodotus and Thucydides. Other authors considered include Sophocles, Aristophanes, the Sophists, Xenophon, Plato, and Aristotle.

CLST 250
Greek Tragedy
Greek

Selected plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides are read. (Or try a class in Greek Comedy, and read selected plays of Aristophanes and Menander.)

GREK 401
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Greek

Programs of Study & Related Programs

Requirements for the Major & Minor in Greek

Requirements for the Major & Minor in Classical Languages | Website

Requirements for the Major & Minor in Latin | Website

Contact

Daniel Stephen Holmes
Associate Professor and Chair of Classical Languages

daholmes@sewanee.edu

Gailor Hall 20, Ext. 1520

The Ancient Graffiti Project
Saving the Scribbles

Feature: A Sewanee professor and her students are preserving first-century graffiti with 21st-century tools.

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European Studies
Ancient Greece & Rome or the Middle Ages & the Renaissance

European Studies is a full semester of study abroad and offers the unique experience of studying in a variety of locations in Europe. Students choose between two academic options: ancient Greece & Rome or Western Europe in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance

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Classical Studies
The archetype of liberal arts education

The roots of Greek and Latin and the power of their mythology helped propel Western civilization. Classics majors at Sewanee benefit from the study of Western civilization’s foundational languages and find that their influence extends to today’s world. From medical terminology and legal language to hard sciences and the English language itself, we are surrounded by the legacy of our intellectual ancestors.

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