The majority of literary and material evidence from religions in the ancient Mediterranean world was produced by men, for men. So, what can be said about women in antiquity? This is the guiding question for this course. Using a variety of methods and broad-ranging evidence, we will take a deep dive into modern and ancient constructions of gender, “historical” women, and literary women. To examine these topics, we will cover the time period from the rise of the Hellenistic period to the fall of the Roman Empire, and look at artifacts and ancient literature from Judaism, Christianity, and “pagan” religions. Primary sources will include a variety of non-canonical and canonical sources (e.g., Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, Josephus, Philo, New Testament, Church Fathers, Rabbinic literature). Our work together will focus on uncovering what can be known about women—and how it can be known—and the construction of gender and religion in antiquity.

Intended Audience:

Students interested in the Bible, the Ancient Mediterranean World, Jewish Studies, Classical Studies, Women and Gender Studies, and Middle East Studies.

Class Format:

Two 90-minute meetings weekly