Prof. Anne Chapin Class meets in 226 Sims Art Bldg.

Office: 216 Sims Art Building Tuesdays 6:30-9:15 p.m.

Email: chapin@brevard.edu

Office Hours: MW 9:30-12 and by appointment

Prerequisites: AH 201, sophomore status, or permission of the instructor.

Goals and Objectives:

The primary goal of this course is to investigate the archaeology of the Olympic games and other sporting events of ancient Greece and Rome. This is accomplished by examining the artistic, archaeological, and literary evidence for ancient sport as evidenced by surviving vase painting, sculpture, numismatics, architecture, and textual sources. The course begins with an examination of the Bronze Age Minoan and Mycenaean precursors to Greek athletics, and explores the development of sporting competition in ancient Greece through the Dark Age into the Archaic and Classical Greek eras. The course surveys the cultic and athletic facilities at Olympia and other Panhellenic sanctuaries, and investigates a variety of issues related to sporting competition within the context of ancient Greek society. The evolution of the Olympics in the Roman era, and the popularity of blood sports such as animal combat and gladiatorial contests, are also considered within the context of ancient Roman culture. Additionally, the rise of the modern Olympic games is discussed, and the ancient and modern sports are compared.

Implementation:

This course is organized as a seminar developed primarily around student participation in the form of class discussion and the presentation of oral reports. Students are asked to conduct independent research—some of it experimental investigation of ancient sporting technique—and to present their findings to other members of the seminar, both in group reports and in individual reports presented in PowerPoint. This allows students to develop their oral communications skills. Additionally, students are required to keep a journal outlining their responses to the material presented in class, and in response to the 2004 Olympic games in Greece.

Course Requirements:

1. Attendance and Participation

Class attendance is mandatory and vital. Plan to attend every single class. Each class is worth 8 points. Participation is vital to this class and greatly encouraged. Active participation in this seminar can be rewarded by a potential raising of the final course grade by as much as one letter grade.

2. Completion of Reading Assignments.

Texts: The Ancient Olympic Games, 2^nd ed., by Judith Swaddling (Texas, 1999)

The Naked Olympics, by Tony Perrottet (New York, 2004)

Additional reading assignments are on reserve in the Jones Library.

3. Journal.

Students are required to keep a journal in which responses to the individual reading assignments are given. In addition to reflecting on the course material focusing on ancient athletics, students are also asked to reflect on this summer’s coverage of the 2004 Olympics in Greece. This exercise is intended to promote reflection on the material covered in class and contained in the readings, and to ponder the meaning of sport in both ancient and modern competitive societies.

4. Group report

Students are required to participate in a group report analyzing an ancient event or events. The group examines ancient evidence from art, archaeology, and literary sources, and the individual events are presented to the class in the form of the oral report. Students are encouraged to experiment with the individual sporting events and perhaps even demonstrate aspects of the sporting competitions to other students, but should at all times be careful and follow precautionary measures to ensure the safety of themselves and other people.

5. Individual reports

Students are required to present two individual oral reports of 10-15 minutes each to the class on a topic related to ancient athletics. A selection of possible topics is incorporated into the tentative schedule of class meetings. The student should present the report in PowerPoint and submit an annotated bibliography after presenting the report.

6. Paper

The students are required to write a research paper of 5-8 pages, due on October 26, 2004. Students are free to pick any topic related to the history of athletics. Assistance with bibliography will be provided to all students desiring such help.

SUMMARY OF GRADING

Attendance and Participation     100 pts

Journal                                             100

Group Report                                    50

Individual Reports                         100

Paper                                                100

TOTAL                                            450 pts

Grades will be assigned on a curve from a possible total of 450 points.

POLICIES:

Missed classes will be counted "0" except for documented absences due to athletic events or illness.

Papers are due on their due date. Any papers turned in late will be lowered one letter grade for every 24 hours (or part thereof) that the paper is late.

All students will follow the Honor Code and adhere to its guidelines. Any student who has not signed the Honor Code pledge may get a form at the office of the Registrar. All students should be particularly aware of the rules in the Honor Code regarding plagiarism and cheating. Plagiarism is the submission of another person’s work or thought as one’s own, either by direct copying or by insufficient acknowledgment of the source. Borrowing from web sites without acknowledgement is considered plagiarism. Cheating is the use of any form of assistance while taking a quiz or examination. Brevard College takes the infringement of these rules very seriously and carries out the appropriate academic and disciplinary actions.

Students with learning disabilities or special needs (including emergency medical information) should speak with the professor as soon as possible about any special arrangements that are necessary. The student with a learning disability should go to the Learning Enhancement Center to obtain an accommodation letter.

The professor will attempt to adhere as closely as possible to this syllabus but details are subject to change.