Department of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies,
Pennsylvania State University
This course journeys through the mythological worlds of the ancient Near East, spanning Mesopotamia, Egypt, Hatti, and Ugarit. Students encounter the great epics and sacred narratives that shaped these civilizations: the flood story of Atrahasis, the cosmic battle of Enūma Eliš, the trials of Gilgamesh, Egyptian creation traditions from Heliopolis to Amarna, the death and resurrection of Osiris, the contest between Horus and Seth, Hittite dragon-slaying myths, and the storm-god epics of Ugarit.
Beyond close reading of primary texts in translation, the course traces how these ancient stories echo through Greek, Roman, and Biblical traditions, and how they continue to surface in modern art, architecture, literature, film, and games. Students also build digital literacy by curating a virtual museum exhibit, pairing 3D artifact models with the myths they illustrate. The result is both a deep dive into ancient worldviews and a lens for understanding mythology's enduring grip on human imagination.