Greek Studies is devoted to the editing, interpretation, and reception of Greek literature. Combining linguistic and literary scholarship, it is also firmly oriented towards cultural studies, integrating the diverse expressions of ancient life. State, religion, philosophy, and art, together with Greek language and literature, constitute foundational pillars of European culture and remain central to the discipline.

At the Master’s level, students analyse major works of Greek literature and philosophy according to content, form, impact, literary and cultural theory, and cultural-historical significance. The field is shaped by the historical-critical method and encompasses texts from the beginnings of Greek literature (late 8th century BCE) to Late Antiquity (6th century CE).

Greek Studies at Basel is distinguished by strengths in Homeric epic, early Greek lyric, Attic drama (tragedy, comedy, satyr play), the Greek novel, the history of religion and mythology, literary criticism, pre-Socratic and Platonic philosophy, and linguistics. Building on its intellectual heritage (notably Nietzsche and Karl Meuli), the discipline embraces modern cultural theory, integrating anthropological, comparative, and literary-theoretical approaches (including metatheatricality, orality, performativity, speech-act theory, rituality, intertextuality, and narrative theory). Within this framework, particular attention is paid to the interdependence of Greek literature and religion. Additional focal points include reception studies, the history of scholarship, and the analysis of modern performances of ancient drama.

The Master’s study refines linguistic proficiency and deepens students’ knowledge of literature, alongside advanced philological techniques and methods. Ancient texts—including many foundational works of European literature—are studied independently in the original and interpreted collectively in light of current research. Literary-philological, historical-critical, religious-studies, and cultural-theoretical approaches are all brought to bear, alongside modern theory. Special attention is given to the contemporary relevance of Greek culture, for instance through the analysis of modern stagings of ancient drama.