Course Description

Nowadays it is widely recognized that gender perspective is essential for historical study. This class aims to reinterpret the classical and hellenistic history of Greece from the point of women. The first half treats the Athenian women in the social and religious context and thier image descibed in comedies and philosophical writings, and the second half treats the royal women of Macedonia and the hellenistic monarchies, focusing on Olympias, mother of Alexander the Great, Arsinoe II, queen of Ptolemy II, and Cleopatra VII.