Classical Studies

Why study ?

So much of what we take for granted in today's world has origins in the ancient past. For example, if you have a favourite movie or television series, you can thank the ancient Greeks as they invented drama. Also, the democratic system our government is chosen by originated in ancient Athens. Furthermore, a lot of the architectural features of the buildings in the towns and cities we live in were perfected by the Romans. These examples only scratch the surface of the debt we owe the Greeks and Romans. In short, we study Classics because it is the story of how our world and society began. Due to their level of commitment and interest, students in Mount Sackville have performed well in the Leaving Certificate examination. The student opting for Classical Studies is likely to be highly motivated and is expected to maintain this tradition. A foundation is provided in Transition Year but those who wish to take up this subject ab initio (from the beginning) in 5th Year are welcome.

Course Content

There are four topics: -  Alexander the Great: This is the story of the real life king, Alexander of Macedon. In the 4th Century BC Alexander invaded the largest empire on earth, Persia. Against the odds, he conquered it. By the age of 32, Alexander ruled a huge chunk of the then-known world. But at the height of his power, Alexander suddenly died. This is the fascinating story of a man who shaped the course of history.  Greek Drama: This is the study of three of the great Greek tragedies. (i) "Oedipus the King" - Oedipus was the much loved king of Thebes. He had it all and in the space of 24 hours loses everything as his life collapses into a living nightmare. (ii) "Medea" - Medea was a powerful witch who helped her husband, Jason steal the famous Golden Fleece. But Jason then leaves her for a younger woman. This is the tale of Medea's brutal revenge. (iii) "Prometheus Bound" - Prometheus was the god who created human beings. But his love for humanity led him to defy Zeus, king of the gods. Stealing fire from heaven in order to aid mankind, Zeus punishes Prometheus for his crime. This is the story of that punishment.  Ancient Epic: This section studies "The Odyssey" and "The Aeneid", two ancient epic poems. Composed as poetry but studied in prose translations (i.e. they read like novels) these two tales are incredible adventures in which the central heroes battle for survival against hostile gods and monsters. Join Odysseus on the terrifying voyage back to his kingdom of Ithaca and if that is not enough for you, follow Aeneas in his search to find a new homeland for his people.  Roman Art and Architecture: This section studies some of the great architectural structures built by the Romans, as well as many of their great works of painting, sculpture and mosaic.

Exam Structure

The Leaving Certificate Exam consists of one paper of three hours duration.

The subject is offered at both higher and ordinary levels. Students must answer a total of six questions in the exam. They must answer at least one question from each of the four topics (Alexander, Greek Drama, Ancient Epic, Roman Art and Architecture.)

It is recommended that 30 minutes are given to each question answered in the exam.

Each question is worth 50 Marks with an overall total of 300 for the entire paper.

Career Possibilities

Students who take Classical Studies enter a variety of careers including journalism, teaching, medicine, business and even law enforcement! You may ask yourself, "how this is the case?" The answer is simple. As a consequence of studying Classics students become well read and knowledgable; but most importantly of all they learn to think, question, analyse and solve any problem presented to them. This makes them highly employable in any field.