The infamous story, the epic battles, the characters and conflicts that have spanned the ages – the Trojan War has inspired countless generations cross-culturally in so many areas. But was there ever an actual war between two powerful Bronze Age Aegean cultures? Did Hektor and Achilles actually clash on the battlefield? Did the Trojan Horse cause the destruction of a powerful city and its people? Was Helen really "a face that launched 1000 ships?"

We will explore the evidence for the Trojan War, one of the greatest stories ever told: literary, historical, visual, and archaeological. The history of the search for the reality behind Homer's epic and its scholarship will be examined as well as detailed analyses of the theories currently in play. Through reading, visual analysis, discussion, and writing - students will discover for themselves the ancient world of the heroes and their legends.

The coursework will consist of illustrated lectures, extensive reading, class discussion, and three writing assignments, each of a different style -- research and comparative analysis, theoretical analysis/opinion, and critique/review -- all pertaining to aspects of the myth and its history. This will be a synchronous class with some asynchronous content that will encourage group activities and seminar-style discussion.