Please note that this is a beta version of Perseus 2.0 -- an unfinished version available for testing and debugging. It is quite stable, but is subject to change, and has some known bugs. If you find a bug, please send it to jgoodall@perseus.tufts.edu.
Perseus will be an integral part of the course. You will be required to follow paths, use Perseus in a group for research and present your findings to the class in the form of paths and hand in paths. Perseus runs on Macintosh computers with ethernet connections at Tufts. If you have an ethernet connection in your room, you can use Perseus there. You should check hardware requirements first, however. If not, you can use the Mac labs in Jackson gym. Most likely the User Consultants at the lab will not be able to help you with Perseus based questions. Jennifer will have office hours to answer those questions, but email is the quickest way to get an answer. There are also copies of the documentation available in the lab. This is a very helpful way to learn Perseus. You may have to ask the UC's, but it is there.
If you have never used Perseus or have used it and would like a refresher, you are invited to one of the demonstrations at the PowerMac lab in Jackson gym. Perseus staff will be on hand to demo Perseus and answer questions regarding the HyperCard version, WWW version and the LSJ. In this class, the emphasis will be on the HyperCard version of Perseus, but information from how to set up Perseus on your Mac to how to read Greek will be offered at these sessions. You will need to pre-register by sending a message to jgoodall@perseus.tufts.edu with your phone number and which class you would like to take. Remember that Perseus assignments are required early in the semester, so you should think about taking one of the early classes. Click here for dates and times.
There is no computer experience necessary for this class, but you will need to learn. If you have no experience with Macintosh, you might want to attend a computer training class sponsored by Tufts Computing and Communications Services (TCCS). "Introduction to a Macintosh" should be helpful. If you do not have an email account, you should get one. You need to go down to the Academic Computing offices (the little red building behind the Chemistry building). TCCS is also offering a class "Introduction to Emerald: Basic Unix commands, Pico editor, and Pine mail" that you might find helpful.
You will need to already have an email account to attend this class. To register for these classes, contact TCCS.
Once you have email, please send a message to Jennifer at jgoodall@perseus.tufts.edu. As the semester goes on, you will also need to send your paths as an attachment through email (Pine will allow you to do this) so learn how to send attachments as well at the Intro to Emerald class.
You will have various assignments using Perseus, but you are strongly encouraged to use Perseus on your own. The best way to learn Perseus is to use it. Most importantly, remember that you can NOT break Perseus. If anything goes wrong, just quit out and get a new copy of Local Stacks.
If you have an ethernet connection in your room, you can use Perseus. If not, Perseus is installed at the Mac Labs. Directions for how to use Perseus at the labs are available here, from Jennifer and at the lab.
Primary Texts
Basic Philological Tools (Morphological Analysis, Greek-English Lexicon)
Historical Overview
Atlas
For the Grain path, answer these questions to hand in:
1. Who is Triptolemos?
2. Using some of the references given in the English Index, describe
Metapontum.
3. Using some of the references given in the English Index, describe
Leontini.
4. According to Strabo, what are the three treasure of Cyzicus?
For the Oracles & Delphi path, answer these questions to hand in:
1. To what god was the Sanctuary of the Oracle of Delphi dedicated?
2. Why would there be a stadium at a religious sanctuary?
3. What is a treasury?
4. Who is Loxias?
1. Who is Pausanias?
2. What is the distance from Athens to Hermione as the crow flies and
overland?
3. Find and describe a vase with Sappho on it.
4. Use the lookup tool to find out 3 relevant facts about and 3 primary texts
references to Sappho. Be familiar with what these references say to discuss
in class.
Also be familiar with how to use:
More advanced Philological Tools
Browser
English Index
Encyclopedia
Email to me as an attachment a path about one of the following divinities. There should be at least 10, but not more than 15, locations on the path. You should write relevant and detailed path notes. You should utilize a varied selection of tools and references. For instance, don't just go through page by page of a text; instead use the philological tools and images to explore your own ideas. Perseus presents you with lots of information and at the same time allows you to develop your own conclusions, instead of just giving you someone else's ideas. Take advantage of this!
To make a path, create your own path stack and save it on a floppy. Even though you will email me your path stack, you should still save it on a floppy in case it gets lost in the mail. Do not just save it on the computer at the lab since it will be thrown away. You will have to go to the settings card on the Gateway to change the path stack and notebook stack. Click the "New Path" button on the Path Index. Name your path your name and topic. Write a brief description of the path in the "About this path" field on the path card. Record the locations as you go with the path icon on the navigator and write your path notes. When you're done adding locations, go back to the path card where you can rename, delete and rearrange locations.
***You should refer to the User's Guide, section 10.2 for specific directions on paths. User's Guides are available in the Mac Labs.
You will then need to email your path stack using Pine (jgoodall@perseus.tufts.edu). Please send it to me by 9am Monday morning.
Choose one from this list of divinities:
Cronos
Hebe
Leto
Selene
Oceanus
Themis
Thetis
Iris
Eos
Styx
In groups of 3 or 4, research one of the following topics to present to the class (you will have a specific date assigned). The easiest way might be to have a path ready, but be prepared to explain your ideas to the class, not just to expect everyone to read your Path Notes. Your presentation should last about 10 minutes, but not much more than that, so think about what you're each going to say ahead of time. Take turns "driving" Perseus both during research and the presentation. You should also look at some of the other paths (Art and Archaeology, Grain, Greek Vases in Perseus, Oracles & Delphi) for ideas of how to set up your path. You must email me your path stack the day before your presentation is scheduled, so I can set up the computer in class properly.
Topics:
history as a subject matter for drama
athletics
the Prometheus myth
the Io myth
the women of Aeschylus
myth in Pindar
suppliants and religious rituals
Greeks vs. Persians
familial bonds
death and burial
mythological creatures (Harpies, Sirens, etc)
Follow the Oedipus Path and answer five of the following questions to hand in.
1. Use the encyclopedia to explore who Jocasta was. Explain who she was and
cite your references.
2. What does Ofid[[currency]]pouw mean? From what words is this word derived and what do they mean? Feel free to explore the Greek-English Lexicon.
3. Compare and contrast Apollodorus' and Pausanias' account of the Oedipus
myth.
4. Use the Browser to look for sculpture of the Sphinx. How does the Naxian
Sphinx compare to the vases in the path with the sphinx on it.
5. What do Thucydides and Aristotle say about the Probouloi? (hint: read the
encyclopedia entry on Sophocles).
6. Describe the conditions in Athens under which Sophocles wrote the Oedipus
trilogy.
7. Choose one of the authors listed in the English Index search of oracles.
What does this author have to say about oracles?
See above, second part of quiz 1, for details. Select one of the following topics:
Ajax, in literature and art
Medea, in literature and art
Jason, in literature and art
Hecuba, in literature and art
Andromache, in literature and art
Philoktetes, in literature and art
Deianeira, in literature and art
Kassandra, in literature and art
Talthybius, in literature and art
This path should be longer than your previous paths (24-27 locations) and involve an in depth study of something we've studied this semester. It may include some of the information from your previous paths, but must be more involved. Check with Prof. Halpern or Jennifer about a topic.
Jennifer Goodall
Office hours:
Tuesday, 4 - 6 pm, Eaton 324
Thursday, 9:30 - 11:15 am, Eaton 124
Phone:
627-3830
Email:
jgoodall@perseus.tufts.edu