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GRC30330

Academic Year 2026/2027

Death and the Afterlife in the Ancient World (GRC30330)

Subject:
Greek & Roman Civilization
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Classics
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Bridget Martin
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

What happens when we die? From our earliest extant literature to contemporary pop culture, the human mind has imagined a wide range of possible destinations; each proposes an answer to one of the most profound questions of the human experience. This module examines the mythology and the social and political importance of death, burial and the afterlife in the ancient Mediterranean. It examines whether ancient cultures believed in an afterlife and how they conceptualised the world of the dead. It explores how the dead were mourned, as well as the social and political importance that such expressions of grief held for the living. The module also touches on the relationship between the living and the dead after burial. Were the dead to be feared? Could the living and the dead communicate with one another? To offer answers to these questions students will draw on a wide a range of sources including: poetry and prose (read in translation), inscriptions, iconography and other material and visual cultures.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completing this module, students should be able to:
• differentiate between different concepts relating to the afterlife in the ancient world;
• demonstrate knowledge of, and analyse, key concepts and practices relating to death in the ancient world;
• evaluate the social, political and personal importance of rites and practices performed for the dead;
• engage with a range of ancient sources, and critically evaluate their reliability, benefits and limitations;
• critically engage with modern scholarship on death in antiquity.

Indicative Module Content:

In the 2026/2027 academic year this module will explore death, burial and the afterlife in the classical Greek world of the fifth and fourth centuries BC through three broad, interconnected stages. Firstly, we begin in the world of the dead, examining the mythology and contrasting conceptions of the afterlife and the Underworld. Secondly, we move to the world of the living, questioning, for example, the social and political importance of burial rites for the living, the influence of gender in relation to death and mourning, and how ‘good’ and ‘bad’ death were manipulated by the polis. Finally, merging the two worlds, we consider the possibility of communication between the living and the dead, and whether this was hoped for or dreaded.

Case studies may vary from year to year, though indicative topics include:
• different conceptions of the afterlife across authors and/or ancient cultures;
• the role of katabasis or types of journeys to the underworld.
• the topography of the underworld and mythologies of death;
• the role of ‘society’, rewards, and punishments in the underworld;
• conceptions of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ deaths;
• funerary rites, mourning, and the role of the iconographic and archaeological evidence;
• funerary legislation – the political and social importance of the dead (public funerals);
• the roles of gender and age in death and mourning;
• epigrams and remembrance;
• the relationship between the living and the dead and the possibilities of communication;
• the restless dead; fear of the dead.

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Competent

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Competent

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Competent

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Not addressed

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Not addressed

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Competent

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Competent

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Novice

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Advanced Beginner

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Novice

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Advanced Beginner

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages 1

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 2
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

11
Tutorial

5
Specified Learning Activities

34
Autonomous Student Learning

50
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is taught through a combination of lectures and small-group tutorials. During tutorials, students will discuss key issues raised during the lectures, using images or passages from texts, and will consider approaches to essay and commentary writing.

This module is red on the Arts and Humanities traffic-light system for the use of generative AI technology. This means you must not use generative AI technology for any purpose in your assignments.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): 2,500 word essay Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
65
 No
Student Negotiated or Choice of Assessment: Choice of assessment relating to ancient Greek funerals and funerary objects Week 7 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
35
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback individually to students post-assessment (written feedback through Brightspace). The tutorials will concentrate on material covered by the assessments, which will give time for discussion and verbal formative feedback on ideas.

Recommended reading for this module (made available through Brightspace - you do not need to buy it):
- Garland, R. (1985) The Greek Way of Death. Ithaca

A bibliography on individual topics will be included in the coursebooklet and on lecture slides.

Name Role
Dr Bridget Martin Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Conor Trainor Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 9, 11 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 9, 11 Thurs 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 4 Week(s) - 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 Thurs 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 5 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 9, 11 Wed 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 6 Week(s) - 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 Wed 14:00 - 14:50
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