TS
Jul 7, 2020
Well thought out well presented. I feel I have gained a very knowledgeable and thorough understanding of both Greek and Roman mythology and their historical gods and goddesses from taking this course.
KW
Aug 19, 2020
I loved this course. It covers material that is generally available to those who can afford an expensive private education. It was a great way to keep myself occupied during the coronavirus lockdown.
By Живлова Т А
•Feb 6, 2017
That is such a wonderful course. I loved that the material was so in-depth, and the quizes! really testing the thoroughness of your knowledge. Sadly, I didn't have the time to complete the written assignments, but I think that the questions were very well posed. I am not a native English speaker (I'm Russian), and there are some issues even with the best (Soviet Union) translations of the Odyssey. I'd previously bought the Fagles translation, and this course allowed me to explore it in a much more efficient way; it has added a lot to my understanding of the epic. Great many thanks to all the compilers of the course and the lecturer! Keep up the good work)
By Richard L B
•May 31, 2020
I am a retired educator in art history. I took the course for something to do at the outset of the COVID-19 lockdown. I had some passing knowledge of mythology, and this course filled in many gaps in that knowledge. I was especially pleased with the structure of the course, and enjoyed the aspect of considering mythology through a variety of analytic lenses.
I admire Professor Struck's natural and relaxed demeanor in front of the camera. My only complaint is one that many other learners have mentioned: the quality of the transcripts ranges from mediocre to appalling. A good proofreader would make reading through them much easier and more sensible.
By Alderick B
•Mar 3, 2020
Dear Dr. Peter Struck and Team,
You guys can be proud of yourselves. This course was very informative, easy to follow and a whole lot of FUN! This was the perfect introduction into Mythology. You've handed me the perfect tools to not only dissect stories of Mythology, but you've introduced me to a culture and history that was until now unbeknownst to me. As a history student - mainly modern history - I would like to thank you form the bottom of my heart. And Peter, I have really enjoyed you lectures. Your knowledge and passion for this subject was very captivating. I thoroughly enjoyed it, thank you!
By Hassan R
•Dec 22, 2020
The course contains very nice guidelines for reading and understanding Greek and Roman myths and epics. The idea of the toolboxes was an excellent way of interpreting the different meanings contained int he literary works and they were also extremely useful in differentiating the different styles of each Poet and their intended goals and objectives. The suggested materials also cover most of the needed resources to cover Greek and Roman Mythologies. As a personal recommendation, I would suggest to read the entire reading material and not limit yourself to the suggested pieces and chapters.
By Doris F
•Aug 17, 2017
This course was intellectual adventure, an "odyssey" touching on some of the classic myths of our culture. Reading Homer's epics, some important Greek plays, and the Aenead and tasting the tales of Ovid--these encounters will stay with me both for their meaning and their literary quality. Professor Struck's analytical "tools" were helpful in thinking about the many ways of learning how myths offer a unique insights into our culture and our many conflicting values. I would recommend the course to anyone interested in understanding more about the normative foundation of our world.
By Pete T
•Jun 22, 2020
This was an excellent course. It gave a full picture of the world of Greek mythology and how that lead on to the mythology of Rome. The different ways and emphases used by various poets handling the world of men and gods was fascinating. Reading the texts was challenging and maybe the course was a bit too long. But we (my daughter and I both took this course) enjoyed it and would certainly recommend it. The lecturer was excellent and showed a great love for the subject with the occasional unexpected injections of humour. Believe me, this is the truth and not a myth.
By Trisha Q
•Apr 7, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed the course on Greek and Roman Mythology. I starrted this course so that I could get a grounding in some ancient texts eg the Illiad and the Oddysey so that I can enjoy a number of more recent texts on the same subject eg A Thousand Ships, The Penelopiad, A Song of Achilles and Circe to name a few ... well now I am on another journey ... and now reading Edith Hamilton's Mythology. The course has opened my mind to many new avenues to explore. Really enjoyed Lecturer Peter Struck and his enthusiasm for his subject. I highly recommend the course.
By Bernard P
•Aug 24, 2021
This has been a great experience for me, as a recently retired physician, I have wanted to get back to studying the humanities. I had started with refreshing my latin , reading Homer and Virgil but really wanted to dive more into classical studies. The course on Greek and Roman Mythology has met all my expectations and has helped me to better understand the work of key classical authors as well as gaining insights in ancient mythology. I want to thank Professor Struck and his team for making the course accessible , entertaining and motivating. Really well done !!
By Ellen E
•Aug 27, 2017
Wonderful! If you've been meaning to read more of the Greek and Roman classics (Homer, Hesiod, Aeschylus, Virgil, Ovid, etc), this is a great way to do it. Dr. Struck not only helps you understand the texts themselves-- their themes, literary devices, and use of language-- but also uses them to look at several contrasting interpretations of myth and its role in human society. The lectures were lively and informative, the discussion questions were engaging, and the result is that I'm sure I'll be thinking about the ideas I learned in this course for years to come.
By Marc G
•Feb 27, 2022
Peter Stuck is a great, inspirational lecturer. His video lectures were all about the right length. I also enjoyed the readings. However, I wish the course had been more spaced out as I was struggling to keep up with the readings. The other small issue was that the transcripts from the videos typically misspelt the names of the Greek or Roman heroes and gods or concepts, making it at times difficult to make things of the notes I had taken.
All in all, I very much enjoyed the course. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Greek and Roman mythology.
By Kevin T
•Apr 15, 2018
Professor Stuck is outstanding. The course is very well structured to provide a great easing in point for ancient mythology, which helps allay the fear that can come from undertaking such a daunting challenge as trying to understand the lessons and stories from texts that are thousands of years old. Once you've got your toes in the water, Professor Struck quickly gets you up to speed so that by the end of the course, you've learned to recognize a lot of the subtleties that flew right over your head at the beginning. Cannot recommend highly enough!
By Jesus A B S
•May 8, 2017
Loved it. I took this course because I wanted to know more about these particular myths, since they have always caught my attention. Since I can recall, I have always loved them. This course made see them in a way I would not, even if I read the same Tragedies, Epic poems and plays that I read during this course. Fantastic course to do. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes or has some kind of curiosity about these myths. Cheers! Best of luck to everyone out there! And congratulation to all the Penn team and professor struck. My respects to you.
By Lina B
•Feb 26, 2022
I've had so much fun with this course! I took a lot of various courses on Coursera, but Peter Struck is the most engaging professor so far. He so pationate about the subject that he makes you fall in love with all the works of these great Roman and Greek epic poets. You get to understand them and interpret the works, see the meanings between the lines. Highly recommend the course. It is not required to read the works professior talks in the class about, but for full experience I recommend reading the suggested before weekly lectures.
By Shravya K
•Jun 30, 2020
This course was amazing. As someone who was a complete beginner to the Classics and is only doing this out of curiosity and a passion for Greek Myth I found myself completely enveloped in the world of Ancient Greece. Highly recommend not just reading the texts, but looking up audiobook or play versions on YouTube. I did full readings of all the plays and poems, and then some. Huge thanks to Professor Peter Struck, who smiles while he teaches - he has a genuine passion for his subject, and is a great teacher. Loved this course.
By Chalee B
•Oct 2, 2020
This was a fun and enjoyable course to take! It was nostalgic to read some old favorites like the Odyssey and learning more in-depth theories and readings about what occurs in Greek and Roman mythology. I appreciated how the videos were broken up - there was never too much information in video and they were all easy to sit through and watch. The added visuals helped keep things interesting as well. Overall, I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to dive a little deeper into Greek and Roman mythology!
By Rita M
•Feb 7, 2024
Taking this course was a highly satisfying experience. Professor Struck was engaging, and his enthusiasm for and knowledge of the subject was infectious and highly motivating. The quizzes were well designed and challenging, and as there was so much information, it was often necessary to review the material to ensure understanding of the themes and context. This was an in depth introduction to a fascinating world and I am grateful for the enlightened guidance given by Professor Struck and Coursera!
By Lynne W
•Oct 10, 2020
This course was fantastic. In just 10 weeks of lessons I filled in huge lacunae in my classical education. (I must've been daydreaming throughout most of my early schooling.) Dr. Struck was so engaging and I could weave his narrative into sense that made all the stories and names and patterns make sense. My major motivation was to understand the brilliant writings of the famed Jungian, Helen Luke, who based much of her writings on classical Greek (and Shakespearean) stories. Bravo! Thanks.
By TC D
•May 17, 2019
This was simply a wonderful course. Professor Struck is an excellent instructor who brings a lot of insight into the subject of mythology itself, different ways that mythology is interpreted, and Greek and Roman mythology itself. His humor, easy way of teaching a complex subject, and knowledge all contributed to making this one of my favorite online courses. Thank you, Professor Struck and your teaching staff at Penn for expanding my knowledge and insights of what it means to be human.
By Peter G
•Jan 31, 2018
I grew up reading the greek myths and consuming media that has been inspired by the greek myths. This Course has enabled me to view these myths through a plethera of perspectives, and it has introduced me to a number of concepts foreign to me. The most important thing I got from this course has to be the introduction to the culture surrounding the authors of these myths and how it influenced their writing and the content of the myths. This course certainly delivered what it promised!
By Ger K
•Jun 8, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this course. I was initially weary of the course beginning with 4 weeks of the Odyssey as I was familiar with this book and enrolled in the course to learn more about the non Homeric tales. However, I am glad to admit that I was wrong in this pre judgement as the pacing of the course, the content of the course and the richness of the course made for a wonderful learning experience. Well done to Prof. Peter Struck and his team for developing a marvellous course.
By Elli d R
•May 8, 2022
A wonderful introduction to Greek and Roman mythology which has answered many of the questions I initially had, and inspired me to learn more. The stories examined here are still important and still referenced to this day, and getting a better grasp of the characters, as well as the world in which they were written, has given me insight into storytelling and culture to this day. 10 weeks very well spent in my opinion - I have been recommending this course to everyone I talk to!
By Fresia C L H
•Jul 22, 2023
I really enjoyed the Greek and Roman Mythology course. Have always wanted to learn about classical mythology but never had the chance. The course was well organized, and the quizzes prompted critical thinking and further analysis of the myths and their elements. Professor Struck's tools to "dissect " the stories and his "universal rules" were really eye-opening to me. I also enjoyed the art pieces that he shared in class to illustrate his lectures. Thank you!
By Tomas K
•Aug 20, 2021
My interest in the course had a sentimental origin: as a child, many years ago, my father talked a lot about Greek and Roman Mythology. Now in old age; I had the impulse both to learn a bit more and honour my father. The course has completely and fully satisfied my objectives and in the process, I have also enjoyed myself. I found Prof. Struck's lectures very didactic, informative and in an easy to follow language: I think he has done a great job. Many thanks.
By Lou M
•Mar 22, 2019
Totally delightful course. Professor Struck, is wonderful! I haven't been exposed to an academic course that I've enjoyed as much as I have this one. It has been about 60 years since I experienced a college level course that included the topics presented in this course. At that time, I took advantage of "Cliff Notes" to get through the wonderful writers we were assigned to study. That was my loss, this course is my gain. Thanks to Robert Struck and Coursera.
By Debbie C
•Jun 14, 2020
I am so sad that this course has finished. Regardless of the fact that I completed this during lockdown, it has enriched me in so many ways. Peter Struck is engaging and propels you through the materials with interest and passion. The materials pushed me and have fostered a real love of the stories and their context as well as enabling me to develop my ability to apply theories and perspectives. Amazing! Thank you, Coursera. Thank you, Peter Struck.