Rome – Mythology and Religion
Explore of Rome’s most well-known myths and discover how they were re-told, re-imagined, and re-. Get a taste of Roman historical writing, literature, and art as you trace their representation through Roman history.
Learning Objectives
- Gain a detailed knowledge of two key Roman myths
- Use a broad range of sources to gain insights into different versions of Roman myths
- Appreciate the different reasons for telling and using myths in ancient Rome.
Session 1: Introducing Roman Myths
Get to grips with the stories of two of Rome’s most well-known myths: the story of Aeneas and the origins of the Roman people and the story of Romulus, Remus, and the founding of Rome. Find out whether the ‘hard’ historical and archaeological evidence supports the stories told in these myths.
Session 2: Exploring the Myth of Aeneas
Examine the representation of the myth of Aeneas in variety of ancient sources ranging from historical texts, biographies, poetry, coins, and art. Are all versions of the myth the same? Why might different people present slightly different versions of the myth?
Session 3: Exploring the Myth of Romulus and Remus
Examine the representation of the myth of Romulus and Remus in a variety of ancient sources ranging from historical texts, biographies, poetry, coins, and art. Are all versions of the myth the same? Why might different people present slightly different versions of the myth?