The symposium (or συμπoσιον) was for centuries an important part of ancient Greek culture (and ancient Roman culture, too; the Romans admired Greek culture and literature very much, and so they "borrowed" quite a bit from the Greeks, including their own version of the symposium, called a convivium). Symposia were essentially intimate dinner parties at a private home; after the main meal, the attendants would gather to drink wine, nibble on snacks, and indulge in all manner of literary and artistic entertainment:  reciting poetry, discussing literature and philosophy, debating history and politics, singing, listening to live music, and more. We still use the term "symposium" today to describe conferences or meetings that revolve around a specific subject.

This course is the sixth in a series of symposium-style courses (the first being the Story of the Trojan Horse, the second being the Story of Eros and Psyche, the third being the Story of Achilles, the fourth being the Story of Circe, and the fifth being the Story of Medea). Please note that these classes can be taken in any order, and there is no prior knowledge required for this course. Take one mythology symposium course, or take them all--each class is a standalone course, and can be taken alone or in conjunction with other courses in the symposium series. 

In this course, we'll have our own symposium, and the topic will be mythology--specifically, the myths and stories surrounding Pentheus, whose denial of Dionysus's divinity and whose subsequent actions (and their consequences) are the subject of one of ancient Greece's most spectacular tragedies:  The Bacchae. This play, written by Euripides, who was one of ancient Greece's most famous tragedians, is filled with darkness, danger, madness, and chaos. It derives its name from the followers of Dionysus (the Greek god of wine and theatre, among other things), who were also known as Bacchants or Maenads. These female followers of the gods were known to lose themselves in rituals in celebration of Dionysus, and when Pentheus decides to meddle, the consequences of his actions lead to one of the most brutal punishments in Greek mythology.  Pentheus himself was the grandson of Cadmus, who was one of Greek mythology's first heroes, and who himself appears in Euripides's play. In this course, we'll explore the story of Pentheus as told in Euripides's The Bacchae and Ovid's Metamorphoses, and we'll learn also some of the stories surrounding Pentheus's famous grandfather, Cadmus. A short introduction to Dionysus will also be part of the class. Though the story of Pentheus as communicated in Greek tragedy is a complex one, layered with symbolism and featuring some dark and more adult content, this class is designed to make some of the key plot points of this story more accessible to younger learners. 

This course is designed to feature some of the hallmarks of a true classical symposium. In keeping with the tradition of poetry recitation, I will read, an excerpt of either Euripides's The Bacchae (in ancient Greek) or Ovid's Metamorphoses (in Latin). (Please note: Greek and Latin readings are part of the class so that students can hear the languages; this is not a language course, so language learning is not part of the class). Together as a class, we'll also read some short passages in English. From there, via around-the-campfire style storytelling, I will weave the stories surrounding Pentheus. This course will make use of slides to introduce new material and to provide visual representations of art and literature. Ongoing dialogue and conversation, questions directed to students from the teacher (and from students to the teacher!), and reading aloud are all part of this course (please note that although I will be reading aloud, students are free to listen OR to join in the reading; it is their choice, and there is no pressure to participate in this way); discussion and questions are not just welcomed, but encouraged! 

As food and drink were an important part of a symposium, we'll seek to recreate that with traditional symposium snacks (please see the supply list for more details!), and while the traditional wine isn't age appropriate, a more appropriate drink like water or juice is a suitable replacement. (Please note that students should not feel obligated to eat or drink if they do not wish to; the food is meant to enhance the experience, but it's far from necessary.)

A symposium was an occasion for people to gather together for entertainment and learning. This course is one of many symposium-style courses, with each course designed to feature a different topic. This course has no prerequisites, and it is ideal for learners who love mythology, who have a curiosity about the classical world, or who enjoy good stories. Let's sit down to a symposium together!