Preliminary Examination in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History

Differences from 2021/22 to 2023/24

A

The subjects of the examination shall be under the supervision of the Board of the Faculty of Classics.

B

  • Every candidate shall offer four papers, as follows:

    • I.  Aristocracy and democracy in the Greek world, 550-450 BC

    • II. Republic to Empire: Rome, 50 BC to AD 50

    • III., IV. Two papers chosen from the following groups. No more than one paper may be chosen from each of groups A, B, and C.

      • A. Special subjects in archaeology:

        • 1. Homeric archaeology and early Greece, 1550-700 BC
          2. Greek vases
          3. Greek sculpture, c.600-300 BC
          4. Roman architecture

      • B. Special subjects in Ancient History:

        • 1. Thucydides and the west
          2. Aristophanes' political comedy
          3. Cicero and Catiline
          4. Tacitus and Tiberius

      • C. Ancient languages:

        • 1. Beginning Ancient Greek (not available to candidates with a qualification in ancient Greek above GCSE or equivalent)

        • 2. Beginning Latin (not available to candidates with a qualification in Latin above GCSE or equivalent)

        • 3. Intermediate Ancient Greek (not available to candidates with a qualification in ancient Greek above AS level or equivalent)

        • 4. Intermediate Latin (not available to candidates with a qualification in Latin above AS level or equivalent)

        • 5. Advanced Ancient Greek

        • 6. Advanced Latin

  • Each paper will be assessed by means of a three-hour written examination. Detailed specifications for each paper, including prescribed texts where applicable, will be published in the CAAH Prelims course handbook no later than Monday of Week 0 of Michaelmas Term in the calendar year preceding the examination.

    The Examiners may award a distinction to any candidate of special merit who has satisfied the Examiners in all papers at a single examination.

    Candidates who fail one or two of papers I, II, III, and IV above may resit only that subject or subjects at a subsequent examination; candidates who fail three or four papers will be required to resit all four papers at a subsequent examination.