Short course
Aphrodite and the Ancient Greek Deities: Myth and Religion
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
22/01/2027 - 02/04/202714:00 - 16:00
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£315.00
Aphrodite was one of the 12 Olympian Divinities of Ancient Greece: the goddess of love, desire and beauty. But beyond the stereotype, she offers a rich and complex example of the theological beliefs and practices of the Ancient Greeks. Join us to explore the origins, versions, cults, reach and significance of Aphrodite in the context of the other Greek Divinities.
In this visually rich course, through lectures, participatory exercises, as well as documentary footage, we will combine art, archaeology and literature to analyse in depth not just ancient Greek religion, gender and belief, but also cultural politics, societies and legacies in contemporary popular culture.
A highlight of this course will be a structured visit to the Ashmolean Museum exhibition: "Aphrodite: the Making of a Goddess".
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Course starts Friday 22 January 2027
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Fridays, 2.00-4.00pm.
Please note: There will be no class on Friday 26th March (Good Friday)
Week 1: Introduction to archaeology and Ancient Greek religion
Week 2: Cosmogony and the 12 Gods: beliefs and practice
Week 3: Elements of Aphrodite: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter
Week 4: Aphrodite case study 1: origins, archaeology, development
Week 5: Aphrodite case study 2: myths, legends, versions, symbolism
Week 6: Complements and opposites: Artemis, Ares (Mars), Hephaistos (Vulcan)
Week 7: Composites and mediators: Dionysus, Apollo, Athena, Hermes
Week 8: Aphrodite and the Gods of ancient Greek religion: bringing it all together.
Week 9: Ashmolean Museum Visit
Week 10: Archaeology, beliefs, societies and the legacies of Aphrodite.
Please note: students will have to arrange their own transport for the field trip, and cover the cost of any entry fees.
Course aims
This course aims to enable participants to develop an understanding of Aphrodite’s place within ancient Greek religion, mythology and society, and to explore the ways in which literary, artistic and archaeological evidence can illuminate the cultural significance of the goddess and the wider ancient Greek world.
Course objectives
By the end of the course, participants will have been given the opportunity to:
1. explore the origins, development and significance of Aphrodite within the context of the ancient Greek pantheon and religious traditions
2. engage with a range of literary, artistic and archaeological sources and consider how they contribute to the study of ancient Greek sociopolitical, religious and cultural life
3. develop a critical understanding of ancient belief systems through the examination of recurring themes, representations and practices found in Greek material culture and literary traditions
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students should be able to:
1. outline and explain the most important aspects of the origins, development and significance of Aphrodite in the context of the Ancient Greek pantheon;
2. apply the combination of art, archaeology and literary sources towards the in-depth analysis of certain sociopolitical, religious and cultural phenomena of the ancient world;
3. be able to critically approach a belief system of the past by exploring wider, recurrent belief themes represented by certain Ancient Greek material culture and literary genres.
Level and demands
The Department’s Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, ie first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.
Teaching methods
A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used, taking into consideration students’ different learning styles and possible special needs. We will use tutor presentations and explanations, substantial visual material and handouts, some documentary footage and extensive discussion. Group presentations will offer opportunities when main topics will be analysed by different teams. We will also use props. Students will study between sessions and will progress through a workbook according to their evolving understanding and skills.
There will be the opportunity of on-site learning during a museum visit in session 9: we will visit the Ashmolean’s Aphrodite exhibition (https://www.ashmolean.org/exhibition/aphrodite-the-making-of-a-goddess).
Assessment methods
You will be set various pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed pieces of work totalling 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.
Dr Anna Simandiraki-Grimshaw
Dr Anna Simandiraki-Grimshaw is trained in Archaeology, Western History of Art, Classics and Education, specialising in the Aegean Bronze Age. She conducts research as a Research Fellow at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London (UCL) and independently. She also lectures in Archaeology at the Continuing Education Departments of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, among other institutions, and is affiliated with Humboldt University in Berlin.
Academic credit
Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS Points)
Please note, students who do not register for assessment and accreditation during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun. If you wish to gain credit from completing this course you must register to do so before the course starts.
Only those who have registered for assessment and accreditation will be awarded CATS points for completing work to the required standard. Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail.
Learn more about the Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme.
If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee for assessment and accreditation.
Digital certificate of completion
Students who are registered for assessment and accreditation and pass their final assignment will also be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Information on how to access the digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course attended. You will be able to download the certificate and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee (with no assessment) | £315.00 |
| Assessment and Accreditation fee | £60.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.
- More information about the Library can be found on the Bodleian Libraries website.
- This guide for Weekly Class students also provides further information.
Preparatory reading
- The Complete World of Greek Mythology / Buxton R.G.A.
- Ancient Greece, The British Museum Concise Introduction / Neils J.
- Aphrodite: The Making of a Goddess / Ulbrich A., McNamara L., Thompson P.A., Sliwka J.
Module code: O26P434AHW
How to enrol
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.
How to register for accreditation and assessment
To be able to submit coursework and to earn credit (CATS points) for this course, if you wish to do so, you will need to register and pay an additional £60 fee. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun.
If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.