Exploring the Ancient Greek Underworld: Its Places, Its Occupants, & Its Dead
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 3 - 6
According to the ancient Greeks, the underworld was a dark, shadowy realm where souls--both good and bad--went after death. This mythical otherworld was home not only to the souls of those who had died, but to mysterious, often terrifying, and even divine creatures. The ancient Greek underworld has been depicted in art and literature throughout the ages, and references to it abound. Though the many stories about the underworld are too plentiful to fit into a single course, in this course, we'll narrow our scope and learn more about the geography of the underworld (its rivers and regions) and some of its most famous occupants (Charon, Cerberus, the Erinyes, etc.). Let's do a deep dive exploration of this mythological realm and to find out what it's really all about. (Please note that though we may mention Ixion, Tantalus, Sisyphus, and the Danaides in this class, those learners who wish to explore their stories in detail should enroll in Even More Gruesome, Grisly & Gross: Epic Mythological Tales of Punishment.) This course is meant to provide students with a knowledge of some of the key features and figures of the underworld as they are related in the ancient Greek and Roman sources. A knowledge to some of the most famous aspects of the underworld will allow for richer literary experiences, as poets and writers throughout history often make references to the underworld in their work. The class is designed to be more of a casual-lecture style, with around-the-campfire style storytelling woven throughout. Every story will be sourced from ancient Greek and Roman writers. I will use slides to display ancient and modern works of art that illustrate scenes from each story, and learners are invited to think about the many ways that the world of the ancient Greeks and Romans has influenced the human race across many thousands of years. Questions and discussion are always encouraged. I allow for a certain amount of flexibility within the classroom; I believe that each class and every student is different, and as a result, the environment that my students and I co-create from class to class will always be unique. The class may become more or less discussion based depending on the level of student participation and engagement. Students are also encouraged to exercise their creativity in this course; should students wish, they are more than welcome to illustrate scenes from the stories during class, and, if they wish, to share their drawings with their classmates.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Please note that some artwork may involve some modest nudity. This is never gratuitous, and it always reflects the artistic style of the day. I make an effort to keep such images to a minimum, but it is a fact that ancient and Renaissance art often made the stylistic choice to depict its subjects as partially clothed or nude. Any such images would of course be restricted to paintings, sculpture, or pottery. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Foreign Language from University of Virginia
Bachelor's Degree in Foreign Language from Oberlin College
I fell in love with classics as an undergraduate. During high school, I had taken a few Latin courses, and I had a genuine interest in the language (as a child, I had even attempted to teach myself Latin from a book, which didn't go so well, but clearly I had an attraction to Latin from an early age!), but it wasn't something I imagined myself pursuing in any serious way in higher education. In the first semester of my freshman year at college, however, due to a mix up with my schedule, I ended up in a Roman history course, and it transformed my world. I was entranced by both the subject matter and the teacher, and when the second semester came around, I made sure to sign up for as many classics courses as I could take. By sophomore year, I was learning ancient Greek and declaring my major in classics. I received my BA in Latin Language and Literature (with an undeclared minor in ancient Greek language and literature) from Oberlin College.
During my senior year of college, I made the decision to apply to graduate school. By that time, I had decided that I wanted to share my excitement for the classical world by becoming a teacher, and given my passion for classics, I preferred to deepen my knowledge of the subject rather than to attend a master's of education program. I received a merit-based classics fellowship from the University of Virginia, from which I received my MA in Classics. I wrote my master's thesis on the treatment of women in three exempla of Ovid's Ars Amatoria.
My classics education exposed me not only to ancient languages and literature, but to the very world of the ancient Greeks and Romans, and learning more about Greek and Roman mythology, in which I have had a strong interest since I was a child, was an integral part of the experience. Any program of study in classics demands a strong knowledge of many aspects of the ancient world outside of its languages. I love classics, and I believe my love for it shines through in every class I teach and in every interaction I have with a student.
I have been a Latin language tutor for my entire adult life, I have taught Latin language and literature courses on the college level, and as a teacher at a private school in Virginia, I taught Latin language courses (intro Latin all the way through AP Latin) for middle schoolers and upper schoolers; because the school gave teachers control over course curriculum, I structured my classes so that mythology, ancient history, and classical civilization played an integral role.
Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$16
per classMeets once
55 min
Completed by 11 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-13
2-9 learners per class