Classical Studies

The Classical Studies component of this course focuses on the Art discipline of the Classical Studies Year 12 course, as this is a combination subject in which the rest of the course is drawn from the Art History field.  Students study the architecture and sculpture of Ancient Greece.  They sit an external assessment on Classical Greek art and architecture and complete an internal standard on recognising the influence of Classical architecture on Auckland landmarks.

 Level 3 Classical Studies

 This course introduces students to the literature, arts and philosophies of ancient Greek and Roman culture with its emphasis on individual expression’ and the quest for solving the important questions of human existence.  By studying the sages, poets and philosophers of our ancient past, students discover that the foundations for all of our higher learning and thinking, stems from Greek and Roman antiquity.  Classical studies is a multi-disciplinary subject which seeks to give students an understanding of the principles of how we view ourselves and our world.  It is about exploration of the potential of individual thought, and how society can enrich itself by celebration of the individual who questions, challenges and reflects upon the mores of society.

The course covers the study of two plays by the Attic old Comedy playwright; Aristophanes; the study of Greek Vases and their significance as records of Greek social and political values and the study of the philosopher, Socrates.  Students have the option of studying two Roman topics; Roman Religion and “The Aeneid “by Virgil.  These five topics form the basis of the course and each year these units are interchanged according to the interest level of the students.  For those students, who did not take the Classical Studies/Art History course in Year 12, there is a compulsory unit on Greek Mythology to begin the year.