University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 30

ECTS credits : 15

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 2

Availability restrictions: Available to General Degree students with the permission of the Honours Adviser

Planned timetable: To be arranged

How was travel experienced and imagined in Graeco-Roman world? What defined a marvel? The module explores practices and cultural meanings of travel and the marvellous through a series of case studies. We will investigate maps and landscape painting, literary journeys, accounts of miraculous healing pilgrimage, texts on marvels (paradoxography), and evidence for tourism and early Christian pilgrimage in the Holy Land. A central theme is the variety of modes of describing travels and marvels in texts and images and the relationship of these cultural artefacts to lived experience. We also explore the role of religion and technology in the experience of the marvellous. The primary evidence for this module includes literary texts, inscriptions and material culture, giving insights across the social range from popular to elite.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): As stated in the School of Classics Undergraduate Handbook

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: One 2-hour seminar (x11 weeks).

Scheduled learning hours: 22

Guided independent study hours: 280

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: Coursework = 60%, 2-hour Written Examination = 40%

As defined by QAA
Written examinations : 40%
Practical examinations : 0%
Coursework: 60%

Re-assessment: 3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr A I Petsalis-Diomidis
Module teaching staff: Dr A Petsalis-Diomidis
Module coordinator email aipd@st-andrews.ac.uk