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How War Gods Are Made: Iliad to Thucydides
Suggested Grade Level: 11th - 12th
Accademic Credit: 0.5
Subject Area: Literature
Course Charge
As an individual course: $400
As a CLH elective: $300
THIS IS A ONE SEMESTER ONLINE COURSE. Due to the nature of the online courses, availability is limited and provided on a first come, first serve basis. (You will be contacted if this course is no longer available.)
Description:
Homer’s Iliad—an epic composed ages ago about the Trojan War and the lives of its heroes and heroines—concludes with the iconic line: “Thus, then, did they celebrate the funeral of Hector breaker of horses.” But this was in the realm of myth … or was it? While Achilles and Hector can be seen as archetypes of Greek warrior culture, historians affirm that Agamemnon was not only an historical figure, but that he had the naval power to undertake such a campaign.
Beyond the war story, the Iliad offers a cultural ethos. Unlike in later Greek philosophical traditions, Homer defines heroism by deeds, not discourse; and men (and even the gods) lie at the heart of legend, and personal renown is paramount.
Our course will examine this warlike attribute of the Greeks and its consequences—how it led to the collapse of both Sparta and Athens. We will also explore the reality of men committed to action rather than thought, and how the desire for heroism and fame (so-called "street cred") in the end leads only to endless war and destruction.
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Course Details:
This is a 1-semester course. Class begins Monday, September 8, 2025, and will officially end Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Weekly classes will meet on Monday & Thursday from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM CST. Do note your time zone.
Holidays will be Thanksgiving week (Nov 24–28).
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This course will use Zoom (click here for system requirements) and Google Classroom (click here for system requirements). You will be given a link and class code for Zoom and Google Classroom once you are enrolled.
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Course Materials:
There are two texts required for this class:
The Iliad by Homer; Richmond Lattimore, translator (ISBN: Hardcover 9780226469393; Paperback 9780226470498; Kindle 9780226470382)
The Landmark Thucydides by Thucydides; Richard Crawley, translator (ISBN: Hardcover 9781416590873; Paperback 9780684827902; Kindle 9781439106594)
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Students are responsible for obtaining this edition of each required text. Christian Liberty will NOT supply these books.
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