Man and the four elements (Air, Fire, Water, Earth)

PURPOSE/GOALS:  "Magic and witchcraft, the fear of daemons and ghosts, the wish to manipulate invisible powers- all were very much part of the life in the ancient world."
                                                                        Georg Luck, Arcana Mundi, P.xiii

        This course will investigate some generally neglected and often purposely ignored superstitious and folklore aspects of what may be loosely termed "folk religion" and occult practices in the Greek and Roman world.  We will examine ancient contexts for these beliefs and practices, and their continued popularity despite attempts to suppress them.  Our investigative aids will include primary texts in translation, secondary texts, film, slides and comparisons with more recent and contemporary occult beliefs/practices.

1) Georg Luck, Arcana Mundi        2) Apuleius, The Golden Ass (trans. by Robert Graves)

3) Euripides, "Medea", "Alcestis"(Grene & Lattimore eds); 4) Euripides "Bacchae"

5) Petronius, Satyricon, (trans. Arrowsmith - preferred, but Penguin trans. ok.)

6) Margot Adler, Drawing Down the Moon 7) packet - various handouts

Required books - ordered only through Gator Textbooks, 3501 SW 2^nd Ave., Suite D (2 doors behind Calico Jacks in the Creekside Mall, phone 374-4500, Problems? Ask for Doby)

Mechanics, etc: Attendance is required and is especially important because of the frequent use of visual materials - films and slides. One point deducted from grade point total for each unexcused absence

Ethical Standards: plagiarism or cheating in any form is not tolerated.

Late work: not accepted without medical/other valid excuse

Quizzes: will be 'take-home'- and may cover reading, lecture, film slides, discussion, etc.

Study guides - will be distributed before midterm and final exams

Exams - a Midterm and a Final (part objective, part essay-study guides should explain)

Office Hours - (See p.l) Students are encouraged to avail themselves of Dr. Turner's office hours for problems or discussion of matters related to the course.

Paper: Students may choose their research Paper topics w/Dr. Turner's approval of topic and bibliography. See above, p.l for due dates. Papers should be 5 pages - no more(!) + a Bibliography page which includes works cited (books, articles), typed, double-spaced, 1-inch left and right margins,10 or 12 pitch type accepted only with footnotes (not "end notes"); page # citations may be noted in parentheses at end of a sentence in paper's text (e.g. (Smith 42). Do not include any Encyclopedia or Textbook citations in Bibliographies (that's not university level work!) You may use/cite translated "readings" from you Luck, Arcana Mundi book. If your are unsure about term paper format, refer to a suitable writer's manual.

Paper grading: (80%) = Content/Analysis; Documentation-citations, references, footnotes; (20%) - Mechanics (spelling, grammar), and writing Style.

Note: Internet sources must be used with caution! Often they are not reliable, reputable, or scholarly sources - especially for our course materials.

Greek alphabet exercises: Learn Greek alphabet and how to transliterate from English to Greek through handout take-home exercises. This should aid with ancient names, terms.

Grading: Quizzes = 120 pts. (6 at 20 pts. ea.)

Midterm = 100 pts.

Final Exam = 100 pts. *** Paper = 100 pts.

Greek alphabet exercises 10 pts.

Total = 430 pts.

I do not "curve" the class. A = 90% - 100%, B+=87-89%; B=80-86%; C+=77-79%; C=70-76%, etc. A 94% grade avg. up to Final may excuse student from Final.

The course should be enjoyable, informative and thought provoking (and scary?). Handouts, film, reading, discussion and other course activities will be accounted for in exams. I do not loan slides, lecture notes/outlines, films, etc. Rely upon classmates for missed notes.