Tell Me a Myth: Gods, Rituals and the Archaeology of Belief

Greek myths are among the most powerful stories of the ancient world — narratives of gods, heroes, and human experience that shaped social values and collective identity.

This module explores the relationship between myth and material evidence, examining how archaeological sources illuminate ancient beliefs and religious practice in ancient Greece from the 7^th to the 4^th century BCE.

We will investigate various Greek myths and connect them to the archaeology of Greek religion, considering public and private spaces of worship, sacred objects, and ritual action.

Sites such as Delphi, Delos and Olympia provide evidence for the complex interaction between myth, ritual and civic life.

Material culture — including pottery, figurines, sanctuaries and burial evidence, will be studied alongside literary traditions from the Classical period (510–323 BCE), enabling critical reflection on how stories and beliefs were expressed in the ancient world.

The module addresses scholarly controversies concerning the development and interpretation of Greek religion, exploring continuity and change in practice and ideology.

Students will consider how archaeology contributes to understanding belief systems and the ways in which myth mediated relationships between communities, the divine, and the natural world.

By engaging with primary evidence and modern debates, students will gain insight into the cultural significance of myth and ritual in Greek society and the broader Mediterranean.

Learning and teaching

The module will be delivered through ten 2-hour sessions.

These sessions will consist of a 1-hour lecture followed by class discussion and group work on specific topics relating to the module.

The discussion and group work will enable students to think critically and contribute to the debates and topics presented during the lectures.

The discussion-led sessions and the lectures will be supplemented by resources available to students via Learning Central.

Syllabus:

1. Introduction: Myth, Ritual, and Archaeology
2. Greek Mythology and Storytelling
3. Archaeology of Religious Practice
4. Gods, Temples, and Sanctuaries
5. Myth and Civic Life
6. Ritual and Festival
7. Gender and Religious Experience
8. Burial and Belief
9. Debates and New Perspectives on Greek Religion.

Coursework and assessment

Formative assessment / feedback will occur on a weekly basis through class discussion and group work.

Assignment 1 (Critical Review): 30% - Exact nature of the task will vary from year to year. 500 words. Week 5-6.

Assignment 2 (Essay): 70% - Exact nature of the task will vary from year to year. 1000 words. End of the module.

Reading suggestions

Formative assessment / feedback will occur on a weekly basis through class discussion and group work.

Assignment 1 (Critical Review): 30% - Exact nature of the task will vary from year to year. 500 words. Week 5-6.

Assignment 2 (Essay): 70% - Exact nature of the task will vary from year to year. 1000 words. End of the module.

Library and computing facilities

As a student on this course you are entitled to join and use the University’s library and computing facilities. Find out more about using these facilities.

Accessibility

Our aim is access for all. We aim to provide a confidential advice and support service for any student with a long term medical condition, disability or specific learning difficulty. We are able to offer one-to-one advice about disability, pre-enrolment visits, liaison with tutors and co-ordinating lecturers, material in alternative formats, arrangements for accessible courses, assessment arrangements, loan equipment and dyslexia screening.