Father of history, or father of lies? It is from Herodotus that we received the oldest book of historical writing we now possess – the Histories. It is a massive account of the rivalry between Asia and Europe, culminating in the unforgettable Greco-Persian Wars, whose battlefields still echo in the modern mind: Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis. But in the course of this narrative, Herodotus also reports on the origins and customs of many of the peoples surrounding the Mediterranean: Egypt, Lydia, Assyria, Scythia, Persia, and of course, Greece. Herodotus’ reputation, even in the ancient world, was hotly contested, but modern archaeologists periodically confirm his reports – sometimes even his more outlandish ones. This course will introduce students to the particularities of Ionic Greek, the dialect in which Herodotus wrote, while reading in the original many of the “greatest hits” from his monumental work: the scandalous tale of Gyges of Lydia, the opulence of Croesus, Egyptian mummification, the rise of Darius, and of course, the Greco-Persian Wars themselves.
Course details:
- Sessions last 1.5 hours
- 1 session per week
- Course lasts 14 weeks
- Term runs Jan. 5, 2025 – Apr. 12, 2025
How ALI courses work:
- ALI courses are live, online classes run by ALI Ancient Greek professors. Learn Ancient Greek from anywhere.
- Classes run on a trimester basis.
- Fall: September – December
- Spring: January – April
- Summer: May – August
- We want to make sure you’re completely satisfied. If you don’t love your first Ancient Greek class, we guarantee a 100% refund. After that, in weeks 2 – 4, refunds will be made on a pro rata basis, based on however many class sessions you’ve attended. We cannot issue refunds after the fourth week of classes.
- Read more on our FAQ page and check out our academic calendar page to see a more detailed schedule
