Courses about Ancient Civilisations
Discover the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Roman on our courses, as well as Mayan civilisations and more.
Many of our courses are delivered online. For more information about our live online courses, please see our guide to online learning.
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Women of the Bible in Art
Course Date: Tue 3 Nov 2020
Location on this date: OnlineThis module will look at the reception of the stories of biblical women in the visual arts, using a variety of tools from narratology, feminist interpretation, sociology, politics and visual exegesis. We will look a number of biblical texts where women appear as central or marginal and will examine the ways in which their story is depicted. We will look at the ways in which paintings will sometimes fill a gap in the story, or indeed diverge from its biblical model. The range of paintings will range from the medieval period, passing through the Renaissance to contemporary art.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £79.00Senior fee: £63.00Concession: £48.00 -
In Celebration of Lifelong Learning Week, a Special City Lit Perspectives: How Classical Cultures Speak to us Today with Professor Dame Mary Beard
Course Date: Fri 6 Nov 2020
Location on this date: OnlineThis lively discussion will conclude with questions from the audience via our host, Mark Malcomson CBE, Principal and CEO of City Lit. This event will be interpreted into British Sign Language.
Mary Beard is one of Britain's best-known Classicists - a distinguished Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Newnham College. She has written numerous books on the Ancient World, including the 2008 Wolfson Prize-winner, Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town. In addition, Mary has presented highly-acclaimed TV series, Meet the Romans and Rome – Empire without Limit, as well as documentaries on Pompeii, Caligula and Julius Caesar, and is a regular broadcaster and media commentator. Mary’s most recent two-part documentary, Shock of the Nude was broadcast on BBC Two in February 2020, followed by Inside Culture with Mary Beard last month.
Mary is also Classics editor of the Times Literary Supplement and writes a thought-provoking blog, A Don's Life. In 2015 Mary published the critically-acclaimed SPQR – A History of Ancient Rome and more recently Women & Power examining the silencing of women across the millennia. Her books are translated into many languages and she has a significant following all over the world. As a presenter for the landmark BBC TV Civilisations series, she has published a book based on her episodes. In addition, Mary hosts the BBC’s TV arts show, Front Row Late and has recently been awarded the J Paul Getty medal for her contribution to the Arts.
Mary is a Fellow of the British Academy, a Trustee of the British Museum and was made an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List 2013 for services to Classical scholarship. Mary was awarded the further honour of Dame in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2018.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £0.00Senior fee: £0.00Concession: £0.00 -
Rome: from Republic to Empire - 120 BC to 20 AD
Course Date: Tue 12 Jan 2021
Location on this date: OnlineIn 120 BC, Rome was a city-state with functioning republican institutions that made room for a substantial element of democracy. It was also the dominant power in the Mediterranean World. By 20 AD, Rome was the capital of an autocratic empire that covered virtually the whole of the Mediterranean World and most of its surrounding territories. Between these dates, Rome saw the collapse of its ancient governing institutions in an orgy of political assassination, civil wars, purges, and military dictatorships.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £169.00Senior fee: £135.00Concession: £103.00 -
Seven wonders of the ancient world
Course Date: Fri 15 Jan 2021
Location on this date: Online
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £55.00Concession: £42.00 -
Great voyages from Greek and Roman myths - Jason, Odysseus and Aeneas
Course Date: Sat 16 Jan 2021
Location on this date: OnlineA detailed examination of the voyages and their fantastical encounters relating them to reality.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £59.00Senior fee: £47.00Concession: £36.00 -
Athens in the 2nd century AD according to Pausanias
Course Date: Wed 20 Jan 2021
Location on this date: Online
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £169.00Senior fee: £135.00Concession: £103.00 -
Creation myths in the ancient near East
Course Date: Sat 23 Jan 2021
Location on this date: OnlineCome and explore with us the idea of ‘myth’. We will look at creation myths in Ugarit, in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, ancient Greece and in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £59.00Senior fee: £47.00Concession: £36.00 -
Sex, gender roles and sexuality in Ancient Israel
Course Date: Tue 26 Jan 2021
Location on this date: OnlineThe role of ancient Israelite women has been at the forefront of discussions about gender and sexuality as the biblical stories have been formative in mapping out subsequent understanding of women’s sexuality. This course will explore gender roles and sexuality in ancient Israel through biblical stories and laws about women in ancient Israel. We will explore a range of texts from myths, to laws, love poetry and texts portraying graphic violence against women while asking questions about the implications of gender constructions for the status of women in ancient Israel.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £119.00Senior fee: £119.00Concession: £73.00 -
Greek myths and their symbolism
Course Date: Wed 27 Jan 2021
Location on this date: OnlineMyth permeated all aspects of ancient society and much the same can be said today. Investigate the relevance and perseverance of the Greek myth and why these tales continue to fascinate.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £129.00Senior fee: £103.00Concession: £79.00 -
Ancient Israelite religions
Course Date: Thu 4 Feb 2021
Location on this date: OnlineThe study of ancient Israelite religions has seen recently an increase of interest among scholars. The Bible gives us an impression that there is one acceptable dominant religion at the exclusion of all others. However a more nuanced picture emerges as the texts often record a disjunction between and ‘official’ form of religious practice centred on monotheism and ‘popular’ forms of religions, sometimes made alongside gender lines. The course will examine the symbolic universe which we can glimpse in the Bible to help us understand a broad range of religious practices and beliefs in ancient Israel.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £79.00Senior fee: £79.00Concession: £48.00 -
Ancient cities St. Paul knew
Course Date: Thu 4 Feb 2021
Location on this date: OnlineThis information will be provided soon. Please keep checking our website.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £79.00Senior fee: £63.00Concession: £48.00 -
Shakespeare and the classical world
Course Date: Fri 5 Feb 2021
Location on this date: OnlineA quarter of Shakespeare’s major works were based on stories from the Classical World and have influenced our view of the Classical World ever since.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £69.00Concession: £42.00 -
Ancient American civilisations: the North
Course Date: Wed 10 Feb 2021
Location on this date: OnlineExplore the little known history of pre-Columbian civilizations North of Mexico and their links to Aztec and other Mexican cultures.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £129.00Senior fee: £129.00Concession: £79.00 -
Great sea battles from the classical world - Salamis, Syracuse and Actium
Course Date: Sat 27 Mar 2021
Location on this date: OnlineShips and sailing techniques and naval warfare in the Ancient World. Visit to the British Museum included.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £59.00Senior fee: £47.00Concession: £36.00 -
Isis, Mithras and Christ: iconography and mythology
Course Date: Wed 14 Apr 2021
Location on this date: OnlineDiscovere three ancient religions.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £179.00Senior fee: £143.00Concession: £109.00
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