Assignment for Monday, 02-02-15

Dear Roman Readers,

For Monday, February 2, please do the following:

(1) Download, print, and read "Population," chapter 6 of Stambaugh's, Ancient Roman City. Stambaugh discusses some fundamental urban social relationships, and the chapter is a timely reminder that cities were places for people to live.

(2) In the Blue Guide, read the introductory material on the Roman Forum (pp. 64–7) for overall context. Then, study the map on pp. 68–9. Choose three of the labeled structures/places in the Forum according to this scheme: one religious, one civic, and one other. Then read up on those structures/places on the following pages. Note your choices and let's briefly discuss them in class on Monday.

(3) Download, print, and read the factsheet on Horace, our next Roman author.

(4) Download, print, and read Horace's comedic poem, "Bored to Distraction" (= poem 1.9 of his collection, Satires).

If you missed class today, make sure you download the Roman deities factsheet for your reference.

DC

Assignment for Friday, 01-30-15

Dear Roman Readers,

For Friday, January 30, please do the following:

(1) Download, print, and read "The City and the Gods," chapter 13 of John Stambaugh's book, The Ancient Roman City. Stambaugh discusses the fundamentals of Roman public religion and its physical connection with civic space.

(2) Read the following sections of the Blue Guide:

• Historical sketch, pp. 10–13 (The early Republic, Imperial expansion, Civil war);
• The Temple of Jupiter, p. 45 (item 14 on the Capitoline Museums itinerary); and
• The Temples of Portunus and Hercules Victor, p. 239.

We'll synthesize all of this on Friday with a discussion of what became known in Christian Rome as pagan religion, including a look at the Roman pantheon.

Stay tuned for the posting about Friday's quizzes.

DC