This course introduces the Bible (Hebrew & Christian) and the Mythology of Greece and Rome – pillars of Western civilisation. Their somewhat different value systems are seen as a cause of tension between Athens and Jerusalem, a dynamic at the heart of Western culture. That relationship, and the mythologies arising from these dual systems will be examined in this semester-long course. By looking at key stories from these dual mythologies, this course equips students to understand how Western values have been constructed and how even in the modern world its culture continues to draw on these foundational myths. Students will study their use in art, music, language, architecture, philosophy and astronomy. While these stories are important in their own right, students will also learn to read art e.g., various depictions of the same story, and to understand the central role these myths continue to play in our world today.

CILO-1: Summarize the key stories which underline Western myths of origin. CILO-2: Describe how these myths functioned in ancient society and how they are still relevant today. CILO-3: Identify how these myths are manifest in historical and contemporary Western arts. CILO-4: Explain and analyse how these myths are continually revived in the contemporary world, in literature, film, advertising, video/computer games and other media. CILO-5: Identify how these myths impact Western humanities and social sciences, esp. music, art, architecture, theatre, psychology, sociology, theology and also sport. CILO-6: Analyse how society has been constructed around myths of origin and how these continue to function, so that students will be able to explain the construction of ideologies, value systems and ethics.