We are pleased to share the first volume of this Learning Module at the Kosmos Society: Introduction to Attic Greek.
This comprises a series of video presentations made by Leonard Muellner (Professor Emeritus of Classical Studies at Brandeis University) and Belisi Gillespie. They cover the content covered in two semesters of a college-level Introduction to Ancient Greek course. These videos are designed to be used in conjunction with the book Greek: An Intensive Course by Hardy Hansen and Gerald M. Quinn.
You can find the video playlist here.
If you are a member of Kosmos Society and are interested in joining a study group, or wish to sign up for Office Hour sessions with tutors please post in the forum.
This is a suggested syllabus for the first three units:
- Before You Start: Introduction to Greek, Alphabet, Accents, Basic Grammar
- Week 1: Start Unit 1
- Week 2: Unit 1 Continued
- Week 3: Start Unit 2
- Week 4: Unit 2 Continued
- Week 5: Start Unit 3
- Week 6: Continue Unit 3
- Week 7: Unit 3 Continued
- Week 8: Review Units 1 to 3
- Appendix: Greek Dictionary Entries
Before You Start Week 1: Review of Alphabet and Intro to accents
References to numbered sections are in Greek: An Intensive Course by Hansen and Quinn.
Learn Ancient Greek | 1. Introduction to learning Ancient Greek (watch videos)
INTRODUCTION
Read in the book the following sections (pages 1–6):
1. The Greek Language;
2. The Greek Alphabet;
3. Rough and Smooth Breathing;
4. Long and Short Vowels;
5. Diphthongs;
6. Iota Subscript and Adscript;
7. Gamma Combined with Certain Consonants;
8. Classification of Consonants;*
9. Punctuation and Capitalization;
Introduction to the Greek Alphabet, with Joel Christensen
Intro to Homeric Greek: Alphabet (If you want to review)
You can download the document referred to in the video (PDF):
Greek Alphabet with Reference to Core Vocab Words
Intro to Homeric Greek: Diphthongs (if you want to review)
Pronunciation Practice: community-generated videos using Core Vocabulary terms—playlist of five videos:
Read in the book:
10. Accents (pages 6–10)
Related videos:
Learn Ancient Greek | 2. Introduction to accents
Learn Ancient Greek | 3. Unit 1: Basic English Grammar 1
(if you want review of subject, direct object, indirect object, and predicate)
Ancient Greek as an Inflected Language, with Graeme Bird (quick and general discussion about inflection and flexible word order)
————————
WEEK 1: Start Unit 1
Reading:
Section 13. Nouns: Overview (pages17–21)
Section 14. First-Declension Nouns (Nominative in -η or -α); (pages 21–24)
Related video:
Learn Ancient Greek | 4. Unit 1: First Declension Nouns
Reading:
Section 15: Second-Declension Nouns (pages 24–27)
Learn Ancient Greek | 5. Unit 1: Second Declension Masculine and Neuter
WEEK 2: Unit 1 continued
Reading:
Section 16. The Article (pages 27–30)
Section 17. Word Order (page 30)
Learn Ancient Greek | 6. Unit 1: The Definite Article and its Grouping function
Reading:
Vocabulary and Vocabulary Notes, (pages 31–34)
Related video:
Learn Ancient Greek | 7. Unit 1: Vocabulary Comments
WEEK 3: Start Unit 2
Reading:
Section 18. Verbs: Overview (pages 39–44)
Section 19. Principal Parts (pages 44–45)
Related video:
Learn Ancient Greek | 8. Unit 2: Greek Verbal System
Reading:
Section 20. Present Indicative Active (pages 45–46)
Section 21. Imperfect Indicative Active )pages 46–47)
Related video:
Learn Ancient Greek | 9. Unit 2: Present and Imperfect Active Indicative
WEEK 4: Unit 2 continued
Reading:
Section 22. Future Indicative Active (page 48)
Section 23. Aorist Indicative Active (pages 48–49)
Learn Ancient Greek | 10. Unit 2: Future and Aorist Active Indicative
Reading:
Section 24. Agreement of Subject and Verb (pages 49–50)
Section 25. Questions (page 50)
Section 26. Infinitives and Their Use (pages 50–52)
Section 27. Synopsis (page 52)
Related video:
Learn Ancient Greek | 11: Unit 2: Agreement, Infinitives, Questions
Reading:
Vocabulary and Vocabulary Notes (pages 53–57)
Related video:
Learn Ancient Greek | 12. Unit 2: Vocabulary
WEEK 5: Start Unit 3
Reading:
Section 28. Perfect Indicative Active (pages 61–62)
Section 29. Pluperfect Indicative Active (pages 62–63)
Section 30. Perfect Infinitive Active (page 63)
Learn Ancient Greek | 13. Unit 3: Perfective Aspect and Indicative Forms
WEEK 6: continue Unit 3
Reading:
Section 31. Subjunctive and Optative Moods – Present Subjunctive Active (pages 63–64)
Section 32. Aorist Subjunctive Active (pages 64–65)
Section 33. Present Optative Active (pages 65–66)
Section 34. Aorist Optative Active (pages 66–67)
Related video:
Learn Ancient Greek | 14. Unit 3: Forms of Optative and Subjunctive
Reading:
Section 35. Sequence of Moods (pages 67–68)
Learn Ancient Greek | 15. Unit 3: Concept of Moods in Ancient Greek
WEEK 7: Unit 3, continued
Reading:
Section 36. Purpose Clauses (pages 68–70)
Related video:
Learn Ancient Greek |16. Unit 3: Purpose Clauses
Reading:
Vocabulary and Vocabulary Notes (pages 71–73)
Related video:
Learn Ancient Greek | 17. Unit 3: Vocabulary
WEEK 8: REVIEW: UNITS 1 TO 3
SELF-CORRECTING EXAMINATION 1A
SELF-CORRECTING EXAMINATION 1B
APPENDIX
Decoding Ancient Greek Dictionary Entries, with Joel Christensen