FLIT 480 (Greek and Roman Literature)

Assignment:

I'd like everybody to take a look at a particular web site:

The DEMOSION SEMA

This site reports on Athens' State Burial Ground and the recent discoveries and excavations which have brought to light several of the state tombs which are described in Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, Book II.

Take notes on

(1) the physical context in which the burial of fallen soldiers took place (Compare, if you wish, with Arlington National Cemetery);
(2) the public ceremonies that took place (the social context) to honor the deceased. Passages from Thucydides are posted on the site.

There is no particular due date for this, but we will be discussing the material as part of our work on Thucydides, the Greek historian.