Love Conquers All? Reading Desire in Ancient Roman Literature

Sarah McCallum
Fall 2025
Tuesday |  
2 PM - 4 PM
September 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2025
Course Format: Hybrid
Location: Main Campus
Tuition: $135

In this course, we will explore the ancient Roman conception of desire (amor) as a problematic and perilous emotion. An examination of fascinating philosophical and poetic literary sources will introduce us to a range of important Roman authors and their unique perspectives. We will also consider the cultural and historical factors that shaped each author’s approach to the subject of desire. The rich and complex evidence we encounter will also invite us to contemplate our own ideas about desire and our enduring connection to the ancient world. Whether you are new to the study of the ancient world or are an experienced enthusiast, this course promises to be an exciting and enriching exploration of desire … a “big idea” in the past and the present!

Registration Opens Online:
Monday, August 4, 2025, at 8 AM (AZ Time)

Required Reading

No textbook is required. Selections from the following Roman authors will be provided electronically: Catullus; Cicero; Lucretius; Propertius; Tibullus; Ovid; Horace; Vergil.

Meet Your Instructor

Associate Professor

Sarah McCallum is Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Classics. She specializes in Roman poetry and is the author of Elegiac Love and Death in Vergil’s Aeneid (OUP, 2023). Her research explores the evolution of literary tradition in ancient Rome. She is a 2024 recipient of both the College of Humanities Distinguished Teaching Award and the UA Provost Award for Innovation in Teaching.

Location

POETRY CENTER
Dorothy Rubel Room
1508 E Helen
Tucson, AZ 85721
United States

Located on the SE corner of Helen Street and Vine Avenue, one block north of Speedway and three blocks west of Campbell Ave.

Street map image of Poetry Center

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