Online Courses about Ancient Civilisations
Discover the fascinating histories of the ancient world with City Lit’s online ancient civilisations courses. From the wonders of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia to the achievements of Greece, Rome, Persia and beyond, these expert-led courses bring the distant past to life — all from the comfort of your own home.
Explore the culture, art, politics, religion and daily life of some of the world’s earliest and most influential societies. Learn how these civilisations shaped history and how their legacies continue to influence the modern world. With flexible online learning, live interactive sessions and supportive tutor guidance, you’ll engage deeply with the achievements and complexities of the ancient world.
open to adults of all ages, whether you're new to the subject or looking to expand your knowledge, our courses offer a welcoming space for curiosity, discussion and learning.
Explore our online ancient civilisations courses today and connect with the stories, people and ideas that helped shape human history.
- The Epic of GilgameshCourse start date: Mon 20 Apr 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Yentl LoveDiscover the legend that began it all. Journey back to third millennium BCE to discover what is commonly referred to as the world’s oldest surviving work of literature, the story of the king Gilgamesh and his epic quest to conquer gods, monsters, and even death itself.
Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00 - Reading the Iliad in the original languageCourse start date: Thu 23 Apr 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew DavidConsolidate your knowledge and understanding of Greek grammar through reading extracts from the Iliad in the original Greek.
Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £142.00 - Grammar for ancient languages: an introduction
Course start date: Tue 28 Apr 2026 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Justin MurraySuitable for complete beginners of ancient languages. Become familiar with the key grammar terminology and concepts that will enhance your learning. Highly recommended if you are starting to learn an ancient or classical language.Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £49.00 Concession £32.00 - Gothic level 2Course start date: Wed 29 Apr 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Stephen PollingtonContinue to learn the ancient language spoken by the Goths, the ancient Germanic population from Scandinavia who settled in North-Eastern and Eastern Europe.
Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £219.00 - The Iliad reading group (in translation) Course start date: Wed 6 May 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Justin MurrayCome and explore Homer's great epic tale in translation.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £90.00 - Tales of transformation: Ovid’s MetamorphosesCourse start date: Thu 7 May 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Nikoletta ManiotiSo many works of art refer, in a way or another, to Ovid's Metamorphoses. In this course, you'll become familiar with some of the most memorable stories in this masterpiece and begin to understand why its stories are - and have been - so universally fascinating and influential.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00 - Everyday Life in the Roman EmpireCourse start date: Thu 7 May 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sean GabbAn opportunity to find about how daily life was for ordinary people in the Roman Empire.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - The Coming of the Sea Peoples: The Trojan War in the context of Mycenaean Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean in the Late Bronze AgeCourse start date: Thu 7 May 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sean GabbThe Late Bronze Age is a story of collapse, from New Kingdom Egyptian to Hittite Anatolia, from the Assyrian Empire to Babylonian turmoil. Mycenaean Greece is a part of this and the Coming of the Sea Peoples is a terror that echoes through the pages of history. Come learn about how the world as we knew it ended!Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £142.00 - Psalms and Prayer: their use in church and synagogue through music and the artsCourse start date: Tue 12 May 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Rachel MontaguThe Psalms are often referred to as “the heart of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible” or as John Calvin said, the Psalms represent ‘an anatomy of all parts of the soul, for there is not an emotion of which any one can be conscious that is not here represented as in a mirror.’ Within 150 variations, the Psalms express a wide variety of emotions, from despair, to thanksgiving and confidence in the eventual triumph of God’s purposes in the world. These expressions of emotion serve as patterns of prayer to shape the emotions and actions of Jews and Christians throughout the ages.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £64.00 - Gender and sexuality in the ancient world: an introductionCourse start date: Thu 11 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Yentl LoveAn introduction to the study of gender and sexuality across the ancient world, including the ancient Mediterranean, Near East, and Egypt. We will explore how and why we talk about the lived experiences of diverse gender and sexual practices across the ancient world, and what impact this might have on our understanding of history.
Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £45.00 - Greek myths: ancient truths, modern mystery Course start date: Tue 7 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Maria ContosMyth 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.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £45.00 - The Odyssey reading group (in translation) Course start date: Thu 9 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Justin MurrayHomer’s epic tale of Odysseus’ journey home after the Trojan War may now be over 2,500 years old but it still has much to tell us about the Ancient Greek world that is still relevant today. Explore this great work in translation.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £90.00 - The writings of Cicero: an introduction Course start date: Fri 17 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sean GabbAn introduction to one of the most influential and prolific Roman writers, Cicero, his life and works.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - The Female AeneidCourse start date: Wed 30 Sep 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Judith RiceAn exploration of the Roman epic poem through its women, and of the women of mythology through the poem.
Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £155.00 - Virgil's Aeneid reading group (in translation) Course start date: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Justin MurrayDiscover one of the greatest works of Latin literature.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £159.00
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