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Icarus: entering the world of myth

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This free course, Icarus: entering the world of myth, will introduce you to one of the best-known myths from classical antiquity and its various re-tellings in later periods. You will begin by examining how the Icarus story connects with a number of other ancient myths, such as that of Theseus and the Minotaur. You will then be guided through an in-depth reading of Icarus’ story as told by the Roman poet Ovid, one of the most important and sophisticated figures in the history of ancient myth-making. After this you will study the way in which Ovid’s Icarus myth has been reworked and transformed by later poets and painters.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

  • display knowledge of one well-known classical myth, and understand its relation to a number of other myths and characters
  • understand how this myth functions in a range of historical, cultural and artistic contexts
  • engage in basic literary and visual analysis of ancient and later sources of myth.
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First Published: 01/10/2012

Updated: 02/03/2020

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