Tides of War. Steven Pressfield, Bantam Books (2000)
           The Plot to Save Socrates. Paul Levinson. TOR books (2006)

Recommended texts: Oxford Grammar of Classical Greek
                                 Pocket Oxford Classical Greek Dictionary
 
 

Course Aims:  In the course of the semester, students will be introduced to the works of Plato, specifically the Symposium, and thereby to classical Greek prose style at its best.  As the Symposium is set at a Greek drinking party, the text will afford us with the opportunity to discuss daily life in ancient Greece as well as various aspects of Socratean and Platonic philosophy.

Requirements and Assessment:

 Class participation:  40%
 Midterm test:  25% (based on the Symposium, and the Tides of War) Oct. 24
Quizzes: 10%
 Final test:  25% (based on the Symposium, Tides of War, and the Plot to Save Socrates)

Schedule of Classes:
        As this class consists of students with varying degrees of preparation, progress through the text and grammatical topics to be reviewed will be determined on a day-to-day basis. Homework will be assigned as we go and will be posted on the web. In addition to reading Plato's work, we will be reading two novels, both centering on characters of importance in Plato's dialogue (primarily Alcibiades and Socrates). Questions to help focus your reading will be posted below.

August 29:  course introduction
                  HW: read introduction to Plato and 172a1-c2 with attention to grammatical constructions (bring in questions)

31:   go over reading, review nouns and cases
      HW: read through 173b8, start Tides of War

Sept. 5: HW: read through 173e3

7: HW: read through 174c4

10: HW: to line 174e2

12: HW: to line 175b3

14: HW: 177d6-178d1

17: HW: to 179b3

19: HW: to 180

21: HW: to 180c5

24: HW: to 181d1

26: HW: to 182a6

28: HW: 185c4-186b2

Oct. 1: HW: to 187

Oct 5. NO CLASS , Prof. at conference
HW: to 188

8: HW: to 188 and then skip to 189a1-d1

10: HW: to 190d1 and prepare for quiz on material post-Eryximachus

12: HW: to 191c2

15-19: 191&192

24: HW for the 29th: aim for 194

31: Test re-do
HW: aim for 194

Nov. 5: HW: jump to Agathon's speech 194e4-195c7

7: HW: jump to Socrates' (198b1-199a6)

9: HW: to 199d7

12 moving towards 200

14 keep reading through 200

16  HW: 200b9-d7, 201d1-202

19

21: NO CLASS

26: 202-203c4

28: HW: 203c5-204d1

30: HW: 212d3-213c5

Dec 3: HW: 215a4-d6
 
 

The Plot to Save Socrates - Things to look out for while reading:

1. Heron - who is he and what sorts of inventions is he credited with?

2. The Library at Alexandria and at Constantinople

3. Who is Jowett? and who is Hypatia?

4. On pages 223-225, what do we learn about Socrates' views on truth and authorship?
 
 
 
 

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1. Can you identify Socratic discourse in the opening chapters of the book?

2. What do we learn early on about the appearance and character of Socrates?

3. What do we learn about Alicbiades and his position at the Potidaean camp?

4. Pay attention to Polemides’ aunt’s participation in the Panathenaia. Keep track of subsequent references to the Panathenaia.

5. What are we told about the City Dionysia and Alcibiades?

6. What is revealed about the civic role and status of women – courtesans and wives? what of their education and participation in festivals (Panatheneia, City Dionysia, Eleusinian Mysteries)?

7. Take particular note of references to the great plague in Athens and its victims, including Pericles.

8.  What arguments does Alcibiades make in favor of the Sicilian expedition?

9. Note descriptions of daily life: gymnasia, and theaters

10. We know what the Parthenon’s long-lost statue of Athena looks like because copies of tourist replicas of the statue have been found. What similar replica statues are mentioned in this book?

11. What is Nicias’ argument against participation in the war?

12. What are we told of Socrates and his daimon?

13. What is a herm? and what happens to herms in Athens prior to the Sicilian Expedition?

14. What were the repercussions of the herm incident?

15. Note the impact of the “Sicilian” lunar eclipse.

16. How is life in the quarries described?

17. What was the total cost of the Athenian loss at Syracuse?

18. What are we told about Spartan life, specifically attitudes towards commerce and empire?

19. What radical proposal does Alicibiades make with reference to Persia?

20. What is Lysander’s prediction regarding Alcibiades’ future actions?

21. Does this differ from what Alcibiades actually does?

22. What was the government of the 400 like in Athens?

23. What do we hear about Socrates’ demeanor in battle?

24. What is described as another Trojan War?

25. Who is Timandra?

26. How is Alcibiades received in Athens upon his return?

27. Does Alcibiades believe that peace in Greece is possible?

28. How did Pericles keep the city enthralled?

29. Note the description of Socrates as a bringer of happiness and prosperity

30. How does Darius enable Lysander to win the war?

31. Note the character of Lysander’s speech. Does it sound sophistic?

32. What atrocities did the Athenians commit in Thrace?

33. What horrific event took place at Arginousai?