Classical Monsters: Mythical Beasts of the Ancient World

To mark Halloween, we're giving you another chance to sign up to Jasmine Elmer's popular 2023 course, Classical Monsters: Mythical Beasts of the Ancient World. While there is no live component to this course, attendees will have access to a treasure trove of recorded material.

Course description: We all know and love the tales of monstrous beasts from the classical world. Whether it’s the Minotaur roaming his labyrinth; Scylla devouring men from her watery lair or the shocking beheading of Medusa by Perseus’ hand. But there is much more to these tales, beyond the surface lie deep and powerful messages about the human condition. If we want to get closer to the minds of the Greeks and Romans, let us examine the object of their fears. You will see these monsters like you never have before!

Delivery: The course will be delivered by a series of 4 pre-recorded video lectures, and separate pre-recorded Q&As with the course tutor. Participants will also receive a reading list, course literature and activities. Links and details will be sent to participants a few days before the course begins.

Lecture 1: Introduction to monsters: We will explore the archetypal classical monstrous tale; outline the roles of hero and monster; consider definitions of key terms and set the scene for the rest of the course.

Lecture 2 - Monsters and the human psyche: We will look at psychoanalytic explanations for monstrous myths, including discussion of Freud and Jung. Can we argue that monstrous myths are extensions of human fears and anxieties?

Lecture 3 - Monsters and the Landscape: we will look at how monsters have left their mark on the landscapes of Europe, tracing how myths attempted to explain natural phenomena like volcanic activity. Are monstrous myths an attempt to rationalize the physical world?

Lecture 4 - Monsters and society: we will examine how myths convey tension about social and cultural identities, such as the ‘foreign’, women, and social order. What can we learn about ancient attitudes to these ideas?

Your tutor: Jasmine Elmer is a classicit, broadcaster and the author of Goddess with a Thousand Faces and the forthcoming Slay: Ancient Legends of Female Slayers and the Hidden Mythology of Dragons.

If you have any queries about the course, please do not contact the tutors direct. Instead, contact enquiries@histfest.org where we will be happy to advise.