Greek 101: Learning an Ancient Language
Overview
Ancient Greek is a language like no other. It records an astonishing array of great works in different genres, stretching across a thousand years of history. Homer, the most influential poet ever, recited in the matchless cadences of the epic literary Greek dialect. The Apostle Paul, the Four Evangelists, and the other authors of the New Testament also left their accounts in Greek, using Koine, the beautifully clear conversational Greek spoken in the eastern Mediterranean of their day. Likewise, Sappho, Euripides, Aristophanes, Herodotus, Plato, Demosthenes, and many other ancient authors wrote in Greek, each with a distinct style that makes their individual voices live across the centuries. The greatest poetry, tragedy, comedy, history, philosophy, oratory, and the foundational text of Christianity – all are in ancient Greek. Discover beauty that no translation can capture, and learn to truly appreciate these achievements. Greek 101: Learning an Ancient Language introduces you to the ancient language using two great masterworks: Homer’s Iliad and the New Testament.
After just a few hours of Greek 101: Learning an Ancient Language, you’ll understand why no translation can capture the expressive power of this incomparable tongue. In some ways simpler than English, in other ways more complex, Greek is a delight to study. You’ll work through these 36 engaging half-hour lessons with the guidance of Professor Hans-Friedrich Mueller, an innovative professor who has decades of experience teaching classical languages. By the end of this course you will master Greek’s graceful alphabet, the precision of the nouns and verbs, the endlessly flexible syntax, and a vivid vocabulary.
The inadequacy of even the best translation is a theme you encounter throughout the course. No translation can equal the hypnotic effect of Homer’s verse or the mysterious depth of John 1:1. You will discover that there is much you can appreciate while you are still a beginner. After completing Greek 101, you can go in many different directions. The beauty of Sappho’s lyrics, the graceful dialogues of Plato, the stirring historical narrative of Xenophon, the influential translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek called the Septuagint, and many other experiences await you.
Course Instructor
Dr. Hans-Friedrich Mueller is the Thomas B. Lamont Professor of Ancient and Modern Literature at Union College in Schenectady, New York. He earned his M.A. in Latin from the University of Florida and his Ph.D. in Classical Philology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before coming to Union College, he taught at The Florida State University and the University of Florida. Professor Mueller won the American Philological Association’s Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Classics at the College Level, as well as two awards for excellence in teaching at The Florida State University. At the University of Florida, he developed a graduate distance-learning program in Classics for high school teachers. In addition to writing numerous articles, Professor Mueller is the author of Roman Religion in Valerius Maximus, the editor of an abridged edition of Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, and the translator of Andreas Mehl’s Roman Historiography: An Introduction to Its Basic Aspects and Development. He is also the author of Caesar: Selections from his Commentarii De Bello Gallico and coauthor of Caesar: A LEGAMUS Transitional Reader.
Videos 1 – 6 || Videos 7 – 12 || Videos 13 – 18
Videos 19 – 24 || Videos 25 – 30 || Videos 31 – 36
