Undergraduate 

Latin MA

Stargazing: Astronomy, Astrology and Meteorology in Antiquity LATIN4029

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Humanities
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course surveys ideas about the heavens in the ancient Mediterranean (e.g. Greece, Rome, Egypt, Babylon) and explores the development of the disciplines of astronomy, astrology and meteorology in both theory and practice. It offers the chance to read some of the foundational Roman texts in the Latin original.

Timetable

20x1 hr seminars as scheduled in MyCampus over 10 weeks.

Excluded Courses

Stargazing: Astronomy, Astrology and Meteorology in Antiquity (Hons)

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Essay (2,500 words) - 50%

Annotated commentary on a selected passage of Latin literature (2,500 words) - 50%

Main Assessment In: April/May

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable for Honours courses

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

Course Aims

This course aims to:

■ Enable students to become acquainted with Greek and Roman technical writing in respect of the disciplines of astronomy, astrology, and meteorology, and of individual texts in particular;

■ Engage closely with the literary, cultural and social contexts of Greek and Roman technical writing in respect of these disciplines, and of individual texts in particular;

■ Translate a selection of ancient texts on astronomy, astrology, and meteorology.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Enable students to identify Greek and Roman technical writing and individual texts;

■ Place these works in their literary, cultural and social contexts;

■ Translate fluently and accurately from the prescribed texts into clear, appropriate English and comment intelligently on notable matters of form, style, and content;

■ Formulate their own interpretations of the sources and evidence, and present and argue them in a lucid and scholarly manner;

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.