I’m launching a new version of CLAS 315i this fall, centering around four (in)famous trials from Classical Athens. The class ought to be a good choice if you are interested in . . .

• Ancient philosophy
• Sexuality in the ancient world
• The role of women in the ancient world
• Ancient politics
• Rhetoric
• Law

Or, put otherwise, this class should be interesting if your major is in:

• Communication studies (especially for rhetoric)
• Classics
• Criminology and Criminal Justice
• English (especially for rhetoric)
• History
• Philosophy
• Pre-law

Socrates founded western philosophy, yet was executed for impiety. Neaira managed to buy her freedom after working as a slave prostitute, only to find herself attacked after living in Athens for 30 years with her husband. Timarchus’ political career was derailed by the charge that he sold his body for sex as a young man. Demosthenes, the greatest orator of Classical Greece and hero of the unsuccessful Greek resistance to Macedon, was attacked for his failures by his long-term rival, Aeschines, only to successfuly defend his right to be honored by the people of Athens.

Question we’ll consider include:

• How did the democratic Athenian legal system work? How did it differ from ours? Was it more democratic? More just?
• What sorts of arguments worked in an Athenian court? How do ancient ideas about what is persuasive shape our ideas about what is persuasive–and how do they differ?
• Why was Neaira’s apparent claim to be a citizen such a threat to many Athenians, and what does that tell us about women’s status in classical Athens?
• Just why was Timarchus’ sex life such a scandal? Didn’t anything go back in ancient Athens?
• Why did Socrates end up in such trouble with the Athenian legal system?
• How did Demosthenes secure eternal glory after leading Athens to military defeat?

Assignments will include reading of the relevant courtroom speeches and some related material, and composition of “missing speeches” for speakers whose words have been lost.

Students seeking credit for majors outside Classics are encouraged to enroll, and we can design your written work to be relevant to your course of study.

I’m old enough to remember when web sites were flagged as being under construction, as if they were every going to be finished. Well, this one should someday be more finished than it is now, in any event.