Regular classes:
In the curricula of the studies at the Faculty of “Artes Liberales” there are many regular classes on ancient culture and its reception. For details, see the webpage of the Faculty in the USOS system and the websites of the particular curricula:
In addition, every year we offer all students an opportunity to participate in various elective classes. Their subjects vary depending on the research projects currently conducted at OBTA etc.
Elective classes in the academic year 2016/2017:
Gods and Ancient Wonders in the Polish Language – Reception of Mythological and Cultural Concepts in the Polish Language (Course ID in USOS: 4018-KONW118-OG), in Polish
Instructor: Dr. Ewa Rudnicka
The course aims at familiarizing students with the ancient tradition’s impact on Polish vocabulary and with the changes in dictionary descriptions of selected word units (Latinisms and Hellenisms) related to the ancient heritage.
The Reception of Antiquity in Contemporary Culture (Course ID in USOS: 4018-KONW146-OG), in Polish
Instructor: Dr. Michał Kucharski
The course focuses on the reception of ancient culture in a broadly understood contemporary culture. The one-year course has been divided into six thematic units. We will trace ancient themes in contemporary cinema, literature, music, radio, theatre, and in “low-brow” culture. Through analyzis of different instances of reception, we will not only describe in detail the ways in which the ancient template is used; above all, we will try to define the aims for which the Graeco-Roman tradition was used. Thus, the key questions we will ask about every discovered example of contemporary use of Antiquity will be: “How?” and “Why?”.
Wine in Mediterranean Culture (Course ID in USOS: 4018-KONW113-OG, Winter semester 2016/2017), in Polish
Instructor: Prof. Robert A. Sucharski
The aim of the seminar is to familiarize students with the role of wine in the cultural history of Mediterranean countries. Wine is one of the most important elements defining Mediterranean culture from the earliest times to the contemporary age. The culture of wine is a binding element – one cannot discuss the Mediterranean region without considering wine as an unusually important factor. It has not only played a huge role in everyday lives of the region’s inhabitants, but has also been an indispensable trait of what we could call the Mediterranean heritage. In class, the topics will be discussed from the point of view of the history of religion and the history of literature. An interdisciplinary approach is essential in discussing this issue.
On the History of Writing (Course ID in USOS system: 4018-KON165-CLASS-OG, Winter semester 2016/2017), in Polish
Instructor: Prof. Robert A. Sucharski
The aim of the class is to present the history of writing from the earliest times, i.e. from the fourth millennium BC, when the earliest, still pre-cuneiform writing appeared, to the writing systems used in Egypt and the emergence of alphabet(s) until the creation of the so-called Slavic alphabets i.e. Cyrillic and Glagolitic script. Special attention is paid to the history of writing in Greece (Aegean Syllabaries) and, in particular, to the development of the Greek alphabet and deriving from it Latin alphabet. Writing systems from outside the Mediterranean region will also be discussed.
Elective classes in the academic year 2015/2016:
Antiquity as Seen by Nietzsche, Rodhe, Kerényi (Course ID in USOS: 4018-KONW127-OG; Winter semester 2015/2016), in Polish
Instructor: Prof. Katarzyna Sadkowska
The course covers texts that are important and significant for German and European culture in terms of references to the ancient tradition. We will analyze selected works from various perspectives – reading them as evidence of understanding tradition and arguing with it, as a means of building a new image of Antiquity in relation to contemporary times. Another central issue is the question of Antiquity’s importance for the philosophy of Nietzsche and for the interpretation of human existence according to Kerényi.
Gods and Ancient Wonders in Polish – Reception of Mythological and Cultural Concepts in the Polish Language (Course ID in USOS system: 4018-KONW118-OG), in Polish
Instructor: Dr. Ewa Rudnicka
The course aims at familiarizing students with the ancient tradition’s impact on Polish vocabulary and with the changes in dictionary descriptions of selected word units (Latinisms and Hellenisms) related to the ancient heritage.
Chasing Mythological Creatures and Monsters (Course ID in USOS: 4018-KONW145-OG), in Polish and English
Instructors: Prof. Katarzyna Marciniak and Dr. Elżbieta Olechowska
During the course we will study the reception of creatures and monsters from Graeco-Roman mythology in children’s and young adults’ culture. The seminar will be part of an international research project carried out at the Faculty of “Artes Liberales” thanks to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Alumni Award for Innovative Networking Initiatives.
No Woman is Born Greek, No Man is Born Roman: The Theory and History of Gender and Sexuality in View of Studies on Ancient Literature (Course ID in USOS: 4018-KONW148-OG), in Polish
Instructor: Joanna Kłos, MA
A lack of connection between publications in the field of studies of Antiquity and political discourses is a feasible proposal according to some, but others view it as an utopia, unattainable and not necessarily worth the effort. The course is based on the assumption that such connections may cause controversies but are based on undeniable facts. The works of academics are an element of classical reception, a reading of Greek or Roman sources that remain in a constant relationship with the contemporary cultural context. The classes will focus on a discussion of publications exploring ancient sources in relation to gender/sexuality/queer studies. The starting point will be provided by theoretical texts fundamental for these fields.
The Reception of Antiquity in Contemporary Culture (Course ID in USOS: 4018-KONW146-OG), in Polish
Instructor: Michał Kucharski, PhD
The course focuses on the reception of ancient culture in a broadly understood contemporary culture. The one-year course has been divided into six thematic units. We will trace ancient themes in contemporary cinema, literature, music, radio, theatre, and in “low-brow” culture. Through analyzis of different instances of reception, we will not only describe in detail the ways in which the ancient template is used; above all, we will try to define the aims for which the Graeco-Roman tradition was used. Thus, the key questions we will ask about every discovered example of contemporary use of Antiquity will be: “How?” and “Why?”.
From the History of Writing (Course ID in USOS system: 4018-KONW149-OG; Spring semester 2015/2016), in Polish
Instructor: Prof. Robert A. Sucharski
The aim of the class is to present the history of writing from the earliest times, i.e. from the fourth millennium BC, when the earliest, still pre-cuneiform writing appeared, to the writing systems used in Egypt and the emergence of alphabet(s) until the creation of the so-called Slavic alphabets i.e. Cyrillic and Glagolitic script. Special attention is paid to the history of writing in Greece (Aegean Syllabaries) and, in particular, to the development of the Greek alphabet and deriving from it Latin alphabet. Writing systems from outside the Mediterranean region will also be discussed.