Courses about Ancient Civilisations

Discover the link between the riches coming from Persia and democracy in Athens.



This session accompanies the forthcoming Classics Day (RCD61) organised by City Lit in partnership with the British Museum and University College London. This year’s inspiration is the major British Museum exhibition “Luxury and power: Persia to Greece”.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Find out more about the washing and toilet habits that were common in ancient Rome.



This session accompanies the forthcoming Classics Day (RCD61) organised by City Lit in partnership with the British Museum and University College London. This year’s inspiration is the major British Museum exhibition “Luxury and power: Persia to Greece”.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Discover the extraordinary lives of the first rulers of Imperial Rome. Ancient historians have given us vivid accounts of the sometimes amusing, often scandalous, but always fascinating events in their lives. Can we distinguish between 'fact’ and vicious propaganda? A visit to the British Museum is included.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

The Seven Wonders fascinate us, but what were they and why were they wonders? Using art, literature and



archaeology we'll explore possible answers.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

This 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.

Become familiar with some grammar terminology and concepts that will enhance your knowledge of English and the learning of other languages.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Greek voyages of exploration find echoes in Homer’s epic narrating the adventures of Odysseus. Other myths also find confirmation in archaeology showing the foundation of colonies throughout the Western Mediterranean. Known as ‘Greater Greece’, these lands preserve some of the loveliest art anywhere in the Greek world. The Greek cities were key players in politics & warfare in the Mediterranean.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Myth 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.

How do you define magic and divination? Why has the Western world traditionally viewed magic as opposed to religion and science? These and other issues will be discussed in this thought-provoking course.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.