L.C. – Classical Studies

Classical Studies is the study of ancient civilisations and how they have shaped the thinking and development of the modern world. C.U.S. has a long tradition of teaching Classical Studies and we are very proud to be able to offer this subject to our students. Classics encompasses a number of areas such as literature, architecture, philosophy, history and politics. Through the study of these areas, students gain a knowledge of the various elements of human nature and development that have cultivated the beginnings of modern European thought. The course focuses on developing the students’ critical, analytical and discursive abilities as well as independent thinking and research. These are all skills that greatly serve them in third-level education and beyond.   

Course Content   

In 2021 the Department of Education released a new syllabus for Classical Studies. This new course includes a research project, completed with the teacher over the school year and worth 20% of each student’s Leaving Certificate grade.   

The final 80% is achieved through a written exam at the end of the two years.    

There are four strands to be covered in the Classical Studies course:   

1. The World of Heroes    

Students read Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid. They examine both texts, exploring life in the ancient world through epic and they discuss ancient conceptions of heroism and leadership and how they relate to the modern day.   

2. Drama and Spectacle    

Students engage with Greek drama and Roman spectacle; extraordinary experiences in the ordinary life of the inhabitants of Athens and Rome. They study a Greek tragedy and the context in which it was performed. Students focus on two Roman venues: the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus and learn how these structures were central to public life and representative of ancient identity.   

3. Power and Identity    

An investigation of the ancient political careers of two of the world’s greatest conquerors, Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. Students use multiple ancient sources to gain perspective of the events in the lives of both conquerors. They compare sources and take note of the bias and propaganda that feed the image of each personality, in order to create a “bigger picture” regarding ancient empire.   

4. Gods and Humans    

Students study Greek and Roman stories, beliefs and explanations of the divine and its relationship with mankind. Using myth, literature and art, they become familiar with the most important gods of Greece and Rome, the worshipping and funerary practices of the ancient world and the philosophical thinking of ancient writers about what it means to live and indeed to live well.