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Underworld and Afterlife (ANCW30011)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
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About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 - Dual-Delivery |
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Fees | Look up fees |
The journey to the underworld, the existence of an afterlife, the survival of the bereaved, the mummification of the dead, human sacrifice, communicating with ghosts - the ancient world blossomed with myths and rituals associated with all these things. This subject focuses on these topics in the literature and material culture of antiquity including the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh, the myths of Homer, Greek tragedy, Roman epic, epitaphs commemorating the deceased, and archaeological evidence from funerary and other ritual contexts. On completion of this subject students should not only have an understanding of ancient myths and death-rituals. They should have assessed critically the relevant literary and material sources through multidisciplinary practice; have learned the major scholarly approaches to death, bereavement and the afterlife in the ancient world; and have discussed the ethical and cultural implications of these practices today.
This subject requires students to access reading and lecture materials online in preparation for multidisciplinary and interactive seminars.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject should be able to:
- demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of ancient myths and rituals discussed in the subject and the primary sources available for their study;
- identify and articulate the relationships between funerary rituals and objects and the social, religious, and political contexts of their production;
- identify and critically engage with scholarship;
- demonstrate in their own academic practice an understanding of the expectations of scholarship in the discipline of Ancient World Studies;
- communicate interpretations of ancient funerary ritual, objects, and theories effectively, both orally and in writing;
- approach all evidence about Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, and Roman culture and society with intellectual honesty and a respect for ethical values;
- work effectively, in groups and independently, to identify, discuss and critically analyse key issues in the interpretation of ancient funerary culture and society.
Generic skills
Students who successfully complete this subject should:
- be skilled in critical thinking and analysis.
- possess effective written communication skills.
- have an understanding of social, ethical and cultural context.
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
A document analysis
| Week 5 | 15% |
A research essay
| Week 8 | 45% |
A take home examination
| During the examination period | 40% |
Hurdle requirement: Students must attend no fewer than 9 of 12 seminars. All pieces of written work (document analysis, research essay and take home exam) must be submitted to be eligible to pass this subject. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day; after five working days, late assessment will not be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Monique Webber Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours: 1 hour of online lectures per week for 12 weeks and a 2-hour seminar per week for 12 weeks. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 28 February 2022 to 29 May 2022 Last self-enrol date 11 March 2022 Census date 31 March 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 6 May 2022 Assessment period ends 24 June 2022 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
George, Andrew, trans. The Epic of Gilgamesh.
All other subject readings will be available online
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major Ancient World Studies Specialisation (formal) Classical Studies and Archaeology Specialisation (formal) Classical Studies and Archaeology Major Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern Studies Major Breadth Track Ancient Egypt and the Near East - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 27 April 2024