Latin I: Beginner's Course (KLM101G)

This course is a beginner’s course in Latin. No prior knowledge of Latin is assumed at the outset. It introduces the basics of Latin grammar and syntax. Chosen passages will be read in Latin, translated and thoroughly analysed. Teaching consists of 24 lectures on particular aspects of the Latin language and assigned readings.

This course is taught in Icelandic but students can get permission of the instructor to complete assignments and exams in English.

Ancient Greek I: Beginner's Course (KLM102G)

This course is a beginner’s course in Ancient Greek. It introduces the basics of grammar and syntax of the Attic dialect. No prior knowledge of Greek is assumed at the outset. Reading knowledge of Ancient Greek will be prioritized and chosen passages will be read in Greek, translated and thoroughly analysed. Teaching consists of both lectures on particular aspects of the Greek language and assigned readings. It is essential that students read the assigned materials before each lecture.

This course is taught in Icelandic but students can get permission of the instructor to complete assignments and exams in English.

Roman epic poetry (KLM306G)

Epískur kveðskapur er meðal glæsilegustu minnisvarða klassískrar fornaldar. Í þessu námskeiði kynnast nemendur epískum kveðskap Rómverja í þýðingu. Tekin verða fyrir verk tveggja höfunda: Eneasarkviða Virgils og Þebukviða Statiusar.

Medieval Queenship in Northern Europe (SAG359G)

The course Medieval Queenship in Northern Europe explores the political, cultural, and religious influence of queens from the early medieval period to the reign of Margarethe I and the Kalmar Union. Although queens often operated in male-dominated systems, their roles in diplomacy, patronage, and governance were critical to the shaping of medieval Northern European societies. This course investigates the ways queens used gender and genealogy to consolidate power, and how their influence extended through religious patronage and cultural leadership. Using a thematic approach, students will examine key figures, analyze primary sources, and engage with historical debates. The course findings underscore the complexity of queenship and its long-term impact on medieval state-building and European politics and make use of both micro- and macro-historical approaches. This contributes to students' understanding of gender dynamics, political structures, and the cultural landscapes of Northern Europe during the Middle Ages.

Introduction to the Old Testament (GFR104G)

A Survey of the History of Israelin Old Testament times . The Faith of thr OT depicted in tems of historical development,but also in relation to the social,politacal and religius situation in the comtemporary peoples and cultures of the Anicent Near East. The origin and the main characteristiscs of the individual books of the OT discussed. The afterlife of some OT texts also discussed.

Homer (KLM303G)

This course introduces Homer’s epics in translation and in the original Homeric Greek. Their historical background will be discussed as well as the contents of the epics, the metre and poetics.

Students may work on supervised independent studies (5 or 10 ECTS) based on the text in the original language in connection to the course.

Medieval Literature (ABF112G)

This course provides an overview of the main literary works in Europe during the Middle Ages. The course covers material ranging from Germanic heroic poetry to the works of the best known authors of the late Middle Ages, such as Chaucer and Dante. The main focus of the course will be to establish an overview of the various genres and literary trends of the period, while closer readings of the works will provide insight into their cultural, ideological and narratological context. Teaching will be in the form of lectures and discussions in class.

The Greek of the New Testament (GFR212G)

The primary purpose of this course is to provide students with a basis on which to read and interpret the texts of the New Testament independently. The main elements of the grammatical structure of ancient Greek will be studied and text examples from the New Testament and other early Christian texts will be read for that purpose. Special emphasis will be put on the knowledge and use of ancient Greek within the fields of theology and religious studies.

Ancient Philosophy (HSP104G)

A survey of ancient philosophy, based upon a close reading of primary texts from the works of the Presocratics, Plato and Aristotle, and their Hellenistic successors. The primary aim is to offer an overview of the development of ancient philosophy. A secondary aim is to offer an insight into the importance of the history of philosophy for philosophy, and deepen the students' competence in reading philosophical works from the ancient world. At the completion of the course, the students should be acquainted with the main periods and individual thinkers of ancient philosophy, their views and arguments. They should be able to give an account of these views, support it with references to the primary sources, and compare the views of different philosophers. Further, they should have gained an insight into the importance of the history of philosophy for philosophy and the historical origins of classical philosophical problems.

Death and Rebirth - Introduction to Late Medieval Europe - World History I (SAG115G)

Introductory course on the history of late medieval Europe. Taught in Icelandic; please see full course description in Icelandic

Intruduction to Classical Studies (KLM103G)

The course is an introduction to Classical Studies. It will deal with the history of the discipline as well as its subject matter and methods: Students will be introduced to classical philology and the various branches of Classical Studies, such as the history, literature, and philosophy of classical antiquity. The course will, moreover, address issues concerning the use of sources, methodology, and conventions in Classics. Students will be introduced to major resources. Knowledge of the classical languages is not required.

Greek and Roman Mythology and Religion (KLM104G)

Adultery and murder, cannibalism and incest, fate, responsibility, man and divinity: the subject matter of this course is Greek and Roman mythology and religion. We shall acquaint ourselves with the variety classical myths by reading from primary sources in translation. Knowledge of the classical languages is not assumed. We will discuss the nature of classical myths, their purpose, and connection to Greek and Roman religion, philosophy, literature and arts, historiography and politics. Modern interpretative frameworks will also be considered.

Ancient Philosophical Texts (KLM307G)

This course studies select philosophical texts. This time we will read the Laws Plato. The Laws are Plato’s longest dialogue as well as his last. It discusses political philosophy albeit in a different spirit from that of Plato’s older dialogue the Republic. In this course we will shed light on the political philosophy contained in the Laws and seek to place it in a wider Platonic context.

Knowledge of Greek and Latin is not required, but students of Classics may choose to work on a supervised independent study project (5 ECTS or 10 ECTS) centered on an original text in connection to the course. The supervised independent study projects which are available to students with reading knowledge of Ancient Greek and Latin are intended to strengthen their proficiency in Ancient Greek and/or Latin and train them in the reading of original texts.

Greek Tragedy (KLM107G)

Obstinance, pride and treachery can have disastrous consequences, nevermind matricide, patricide and incest. Sometimes it almost seems like fate is in charge and fate can be very ironic. All of this is quite familiar from Greek tragedy.

This course introduces the student to Greek tragedy as a genre. Students will read a number of Greek tragedies in (Icelandic) translation and will become familiar with both the form and content of Greek tragedies. Various aspects of the genre will be discussed, including interactions of mortals and immortals in Greek tragedy, fate and responsibility, gender issues, Greek self-identity and respresentation of the foreign.

Knowledge of Ancient Greek is not required, but students who are able to read Greek will be asked to submit a translation assignment.

Making History (SAG101G)

This course introduces students to some of the basic skills that they will use in the study of history. The special character of history and its relationship with other fields of study will be discussed. The students will be introduced to the sources and methods used in historical research and the writing and presenting of historical work. - Students must register for the course in the beginning of their history study (first or second semester, depending on whether they start in January or September).

The History of Early Christianity (GFR211G)

The course contains a discussion of the beginnings of Early Christianity as well as of its historical and ideological background. Special emphasis will be given to the roots of Christianity in early Judaism. Attention will also be paid to the ideological roots of Christianity in Hellenistic thought. Early Christian literature will be discussed with emphasis on a historical approach to the sources. Included is a general discussion of the nature and form of writings of this sort. In this way, a basis will be laid for a qualified interpretation of and research into Early Christian literature.

Greek authors of the 1st and 2nd centuries (KLM405G)

This course focuses on Ancient Greek texts from the first and second centuries. The period includes diverse writers and genres, e.g. Plutarch, Lucian of Samosata, Pausanias, Appian, Arrian, Marcus Aurelius, and the authors of the Ancient Greek novel, as well as New Testament Greek and other religious texts.

Neo-Latin (KLM218G)

This course focuses on Neo-Latin texts, i.e. from the time of the Renaissance onwards. During antiquity Latin was a living language of a certain linguistic community, but as it eventually developed into the Romance languages it ceased to exist as a native language. It nevertheless endured as a second language and as such was both spoken and written for centuries. In fact, a majority of existing Latin texts postdates antiquity. In this course we will read select texts from the 15th to the 18th century.

The World of Rome: History and Society (KLM216G)

The course introduces students to Roman social history. The period from 201 BCE to 180 CE will be emphasized. The main points of Roman history will be briefly discussed, as well as Roman institutions, the Roman social fabric,family life and gender roles, slavery, education, culture, religion, entertainment and daily life. In addition to secondary reading material, some ancient sources will be read in translation (English or Icelandic). No knowledge of Latin is assumed or required.

Medieval literature (ÍSL206G)

The course focuses on the various ways in which medieval texts can be studied, referring to both medieval or modern literary theory. The characteristics of medieval textual culture will be discussed, as well as medieval attitudes to fact and fiction, entertainment and edification. Texts representing all of the most important genres of Icelandic medieval literature will be read.

Medieval Latin (KLM203G)

In this course we will read selections from medieval literature broadly conceived (from the end og the 4th century to the beginning of the 16th century): poetry and historiography, philosophy and theology. Texts will be analysed grammatically and discussed materially as needed.

The course will be taught in Icelandic, but students whose native language is not Icelandic may complete assignments and exams in English.

Comedy (KLM219G)

Comedy was a popular genre of literature in atntiquity, both in Ancient Greece and in Ancient Rome. They are, moreover, important sources of knowledge about antiquity, for both use of language and various aspects og culture and society. We will discuss features of ancient comedy and read select comedies in translation and to some extent in the original languages.

Students may work on supervised independent studies (5 or 10 ECTS) based on the text in the original language in connection to the course.

Greek authors of the 1st and 2nd centuries (KLM405G)

This course focuses on Ancient Greek texts from the first and second centuries. The period includes diverse writers and genres, e.g. Plutarch, Lucian of Samosata, Pausanias, Appian, Arrian, Marcus Aurelius, and the authors of the Ancient Greek novel, as well as New Testament Greek and other religious texts.

Latin II: A Selection of Latin Texts (KLM201G)

The course is a continuation of LAT101G Latin I. Students will read a selection of Latin texts by various authors.

This course is taught in Icelandic but students can get permission of the instructor to complete assignments and exams in English.

Ancient Greek II (KLM202G)

The course is a continuation of KLM102G Ancient Greek I. The first part of the course resumes coverage of grammar and syntax of Ancient Greek (Attic) where Ancient Greek I left off. During the second half of the course, students will read a selection of Ancient Greek texts by different authors from various periods.

Students can get permission of the instructor to complete assignments and exams in English.

Prehistory (FOR204G)

Prehistory deals with the cultural history of humankind from the persepctive of material culture, from the first tools of around 2,5 million years ago up to the end of the Iron Age (c. 0-800 AD), i.e. the period for which there are no written sources. This course will cover the basic aspects of prehistory, including chronology and definitions of prehistoric society. In addition, the course will look at different aspects of prehistoric social life such as subsistence patterns, burial customs, craft and technology, trade and livelihood. Emphasis will be placed on human evolution in a global context and on later prehistoric Europe (c. 10.000 BC-800 AD). By the end of the course, the students will be expected to have collated a glossary of terms for prehistoric archaeology and understand the main outlines of prehistoric chronology and European prehistory.

The Bible as Literature (ABF221G)

We will read a selection from the Pentateuch and other ancient Hebrew texts, along with most of the New Testament. For comparison we will have ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek and Latin works. The Bible is read as ancient literature and world literature, and there will be a focus on the reception of these texts through the ages, the importance of translations for the reception, and various literary theories related to the Bible, for instance about textual and interpretive societies.

Ethics (HSP202G)

This course provides an overview of three principal moral theories: Aristotle's virtue ethics as presented in his Nichomachean Ethics, Kant's deontoloical ethics as presented in his Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals and John Stuart Mill's rule ethics as presented in his Utilitarianism.

History of Ideas in the Classical World (KLM105G)

This course will focus on several select themes in the history of ideas in antiquity, including love and friendship, freedom and servitude, happiness, the divine, justice and society, death and the afterlife. Ideas of both Greeks and Romans from the archaic to the classical period will be discussed. Texts will include ancient literature in translation. Knowledge of the classical languages is not required.

History of Linguistics (AMV205G)

The major aspects of the history of linguistics traced from the antiquity through the middle ages till the beginning of the 19th Century. The Old Icelandic grammatical treatises. The major aspects of the history of linguistics in the 19th and 20th century. Emphasis is placed on the theories and discoveries that have been most influential in the development of ideas and methods in linguistics.

Medieval Latin (KLM203G)

In this course we will read selections from medieval literature broadly conceived (from the end og the 4th century to the beginning of the 16th century): poetry and historiography, philosophy and theology. Texts will be analysed grammatically and discussed materially as needed.

The course will be taught in Icelandic, but students whose native language is not Icelandic may complete assignments and exams in English.

The History of Rome (SAG271G)

Introductory course on the history of Rome. Taught in Icelandic; please see full course description in Icelandic.