Martyrdom and Voluntary Death in the Ancient World (P01201)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : HCA-P-P01201

This course looks at the subject of voluntary death in the ancient world, analysing 'pagan', Jewish and Christian discourses in order to arrive at a wide-ranging approach. It focuses on the lively ancient source material and later scholarly debates. The students will learn to place the ever controversial subject of voluntary death in its broader ancient religious, political, philosophical and social contexts. Most crucially students will learn to read texts produced in honour (or condemnation) of ancient 'martyrs' critically, with a keen eye for issues of ideology, theology, sexual and textual politics. This course should appeal to students with a range of interests, from ancient to medieval history, and from politics to philosophy to theology.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : PGs Only

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Postgraduate (School of History and Classics), (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Schedule E)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

? Additional Class Information : This option will be taught by weekly seminar (5 + students) or by weekly supervision (>5 students).

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this course the student will have:
- knowledge of the religious, political and philosophical background to voluntary death in the ancient world.
- an ability to engage critically with the relevant ancient source material.
- familiarity with a wide range of secondary literature relfecting a wealth of different academic and theological positions.
- an understanding of the pervasive legacy of discourses surrounding voluntary death.