Studying poetry, drama, visual arts and artifacts from ancient cultures in such places as Egypt, Greece, Rome, India, China and Mesopotamia, students will examine the significance of these works of art in the societies that created them and the relationship of these ancient works to political, social, and cultural life today. They will also explore the reception of these ancient works by later artists who have re-imagined antiquity in film, theater, painting, music, fiction, and poetry. Students will experience the enduring traditions and appeal of ancient artistic expression and its ability to provoke debate and provide perspective on contemporary concerns. Critical and writing skills will be enhanced through close analysis of texts and the application of basic literary concepts and methods of interpretation.