Back to selection
80631-01 - Practical course: Founding Cities, Creating Identities: Myth and Memory in the Ancient Mediterranean (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | Sara Baldin (sara.baldin@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | How did ancient cities explain their origins—and why did those stories matter? This course explores the myths, traditions, and historical memories surrounding the founding of cities across the ancient Mediterranean. Through literary, archaeological, and historical evidence, students will examine how foundation narratives shaped civic identity, legitimized political power, and connected communities to their past. From legendary founders to competing origin stories, the course investigates how myth and memory influenced the development of ancient societies and continue to shape our understanding of the ancient world today. |
| Learning objectives | - Analyze ancient foundation myths and assess their cultural, political, and historical significance. - Compare the origin narratives of cities across the ancient Mediterranean and identify common themes and regional differences. - Evaluate the relationship between myth, collective memory, and civic identity in the ancient world. - Interpret literary, archaeological, and epigraphic evidence related to city foundations using historical methods. - Explain how foundation stories were adapted and reinterpreted over time to serve changing political, social, and religious contexts. |
| Bibliography | - Antonaccio C., An Archaeology of Ancestors: Tomb Cult and Hero Cult in Early Greece, Rowman & Littlefield, 1994. - Assmann J., Cultural Memory and Early Civilization: Writing, Remembrance, and Political Imagination, Cambridge University Press, 2011. - Dench E.,Romulus' Asylum: Roman Identities from the Age of Alexander to the Age of Hadrian, Oxford University Press, 2005. - Mac Sweeny N., Foundation Myths and Politics in Ancient Ionia, Cambridge University Press, 2013. - Mac Sweeny N. (ed.), Foundation Myths in Ancient Societies: Dialogues and Discourses, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2015 - Strootman, R & von Reden, S., Imperial metropoleis and foundation myths : Ptolemaic and Seleucid capitals compared, in Fischer-Bovet C. & von Reden S. (eds), Comparing the Ptolemaic and Seleucid Empires : Integration, Communication, and Resistance, Cambridge University Press, 2021, pp. 17-47. |
| Admission requirements | Knowledge of ancient history is preferred but not required |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Tuesday | 14.15-15.45 | Rosshof, Tagungsraum 306 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 15.09.2026 | 14.15-15.45 | Rosshof, Tagungsraum 306 |
| Tuesday 22.09.2026 | 14.15-15.45 | Rosshof, Tagungsraum 306 |
| Tuesday 29.09.2026 | 14.15-15.45 | Kollegienhaus, Mehrzweckraum 035 |
| Tuesday 06.10.2026 | 14.15-15.45 | Rosshof, Tagungsraum 306 |
| Tuesday 13.10.2026 | 14.15-15.45 | Rosshof, Tagungsraum 306 |
| Tuesday 20.10.2026 | 14.15-15.45 | Rosshof, Tagungsraum 306 |
| Tuesday 27.10.2026 | 14.15-15.45 | Rosshof, Tagungsraum 306 |
| Tuesday 03.11.2026 | 14.15-15.45 | Rosshof, Tagungsraum 306 |
| Tuesday 10.11.2026 | 14.15-15.45 | Rosshof, Tagungsraum 306 |
| Tuesday 17.11.2026 | 14.15-15.45 | Rosshof, Tagungsraum 306 |
| Tuesday 24.11.2026 | 14.15-15.45 | Rosshof, Tagungsraum 306 |
| Tuesday 01.12.2026 | 14.15-15.45 | Rosshof, Tagungsraum 306 |
| Tuesday 08.12.2026 | 14.15-15.45 | Rosshof, Tagungsraum 306 |
| Tuesday 15.12.2026 | 14.15-15.45 | Rosshof, Tagungsraum 306 |
| Modules |
Electives Bachelor History: Recommendations (Bachelor's degree subject: History) Modul: Areas: Europa Global (Master's degree program: European History in Global Perspective) Modul: Griechische Geschichte BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Griechische Geschichte BA (Bachelor's degree program: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Römische Geschichte BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Römische Geschichte BA (Bachelor's degree program: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Theorie und Methoden der Alten Geschichte (Bachelor's degree subject: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Theorie und Methoden der Alten Geschichte (Bachelor's degree program: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Vertiefung in Alter Geschichte (Master's degree subject: Ancient History) Modul: Vertiefung in Geschichte und Altertumswissenschaften BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Vertiefung in Geschichte und Altertumswissenschaften BA (Bachelor's degree program: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Vertiefung in Geschichte und Altertumswissenschaften MA (Master's degree subject: Ancient History) Wahlbereich Master Geschichte: Empfehlungen (Master's degree subject: History) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | - Continuous Assessment: Students will be evaluated throughout the semester based on their engagement with course readings, discussions, and assigned activities. - Participation: Active and informed participation in class discussions is expected. - Individual or Group Presentations: Students will deliver presentations, individually or in groups, analyzing ancient foundation narratives, primary sources, or related case studies. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Alte Geschichte |