Classical Studies in St. Andrew's College

Classical Studies has been taught in St. Andrew's College since 1985. It is the study of the civilisations of Ancient Greece and Rome and you can do it from First to Sixth Year in the school.  It has the same status as all other subjects in terms of points for the Leaving Certificate.  Many St. Andrew's students go on to study it at university.  It involves Legends, Drama, Art and Architecture, Archaeology, History and Philosophy.  There is no language content.

The subject has a great range of topics from which the class and teacher can choose those of particular interest to them.  At Junior Certificate level, a sample of what we do includes Homer's Iliad - the original story set during the war between Greece and Rome; Pompeii - the story of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. which left an extraordinary time-capsul of life in Ancient Rome; Socrates - the story of one of the first great philosophers and his extraordinary life and death; Athens in the 5th century B.C. when democracy, history, drama and western art all began.  Other possible choices are the Roman Army; The Life and Times of Julius Caesar, The Aeneid by Virgil; Roman Comedy and others.  In the examination, students must answer on five of these topics.

At Leaving Certificate level, there is a variety of topics to choose from.  The most favoured ones tend to be the life of Alexander the Great, Greek Art and Architecture; Greek Drama, Writers of the Augustan Age and The Odyssey by Homer and The Aeneid by Virgil.  The student of Classical Studies covers a great range of areas of study and particularly develops skills of research and essay writing.  As a subject it greatly encourages analytical thinking and independence of thought.  It contributes hugely to your understanding of key aspects of Western Civilisation and is most enjoyable.