Cambridge International AS & A Level

CLASSICAL STUDIES 9274/12

Paper 1 Greek Civilisation October/November 2024

1 hour 30 minutes

You must answer on the enclosed answer booklet.

* 2 0 3 1 1 5 7 2 4 0 *

You will need: Answer booklet (enclosed)

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer two questions in total:
Answer questions from one section only.
For each section, follow the instructions inside on which questions to answer.
● Follow the instructions on the front cover of the answer booklet. If you need additional answer paper,
ask the invigilator for a continuation booklet.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 50.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 8 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (EV) 348419
© UCLES 2024 [Turn over
 2

Section A: Alexander the Great

Answer Question 1 and either Question 2 or Question 3.

1 Read the passage and answer the questions:

Meanwhile, he himself set out by land and marched through the territory of the
Oreites. Here he endured terrible privations and lost great numbers of men, with
the result that he did not bring back from India so much as a quarter of his fighting
force. And yet his strength had once amounted to a hundred and twenty thousand
infantry and fifteen thousand cavalry. Some of his men died from disease, some of the 5
wretched food, some of the scorching heat, but most from sheer hunger, for they had
to march through an uncultivated region whose inhabitants only eked out a wretched
existence. They possessed few sheep and even these were of a stunted breed, and
the sea fish on which they subsisted made the animals’ flesh rank and unsavoury. It
was only with great difficulty that Alexander succeeded in crossing this region in sixty 10
days, but once he reached Gedrosia, he was immediately in a land of plenty, and the
satraps and local rulers provided him with all his needs.

(Plutarch, Alexander 66)

(a) (i) Why was Alexander returning to Persia after defeating King Porus? Make two points. [2]

(ii) Which city did Alexander capture on his return journey? [1]

(iii) Which two historical figures inspired Alexander to cross the Gedrosian desert? [2]

(b) ‘Alexander never cared about the well-being of his men.’

Using this passage as a starting point, explain how far you agree with this statement. [20]

[Total: 25]

EITHER

2 How far do you agree that Alexander was nothing more than a brutal and cruel conqueror? [25]

OR

3 How far do you agree that Alexander was a master in the use of propaganda to promote his
personal reputation? [25]

© UCLES 2024 9274/12/O/N/24

 3

Section B: Aristophanes

Answer Question 4 and either Question 5 or Question 6.

4 Read the passage and answer the questions:

DIONYSUS: Now you must each take hold of your pan, hold it steady, and recite
one line. Then, when I call ‘Cuckoo!’, you both let go. Ready?
AESCHYLUS: Ready.
EURIPIDES: Ready.
DIONYSUS: Right, say your lines. 5
EURIPIDES: ‘If only the Argo had never winged its way…’
AESCHYLUS: ‘The watery vale of Spercheius, where cattle graze…’
DIONYSUS: Cuckoo!
AESCHYLUS and EURIPIDES [letting go]: Right!
DIONYSUS: Look, this side’s going right down. 10
EURIPIDES: Why is it doing that?
DIONYSUS: He put in a river, like the wool merchants who wet their wool to
make it weigh more; whereas you with your ‘winged its way’…
EURIPIDES: Let’s try again. See what he can do this time.
DIONYSUS: Right, take hold again. 15
AESCHYLUS and EURIPIDES: Ready.
DIONYSUS: Fire away.
EURIPIDES: ‘Persuasion has no temple other than the word…’
AESCHYLUS: ‘Of all the gods, just Death it is that loves no gifts…’
DIONYSUS: Let go. Now, let’s see – this one again. You see, he put in Death, 20
the heaviest burden of all.

(Aristophanes, Frogs)
(a) (i) Who was Aeschylus? [1]

(ii) Where is this scene taking place? [1]

(iii) Why is it appropriate that Dionysus is judging this contest? Make two points. [2]

(iv) ‘take hold of your pan’ (line 1). What is the pan going to be used for? [1]

(b) How far is the humour in this passage typical of the humour used by Aristophanes elsewhere
in Frogs? Use the passage as a starting point for your answer. [20]

[Total: 25]

EITHER

5 ‘Comedy is always a fantasy world. We can learn nothing about Athenian life from it.’
How far do you agree with this statement? In your answer, you should discuss at least two plays.
[25]

OR

6 ‘In Lysistrata, characters contribute equally to the success of the play.’

How far do you agree with this statement? In your answer, you should discuss at least three
characters. [25]

© UCLES 2024 9274/12/O/N/24 [Turn over

 4

Section C: Themes in Greek Vase Painting

Answer Question 7 and either Question 8 or Question 9.

7 Study the image and answer the questions:

X Y

(a) (i) What type of pot is shown in the image above? [1]

(ii) Identify the use of this type of pot. [1]

(iii) Give the approximate date for this pot. [1]

(iv) Identify the figures marked X and Y. [2]

(b) ‘A heartfelt attack on the horrors of war.’

How far do you agree with this opinion about the narrative frieze on this pot? In your answer,
you should include discussion of both this scene and other scenes from this pot. [20]

[Total: 25]

© UCLES 2024 9274/12/O/N/24

 5

EITHER

8 ‘Scenes depicting heroes were more challenging to paint than those depicting women in domestic
scenes.’
How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer with reference to specific pots
depicting heroes and pots depicting scenes from the daily life of women. [25]

OR

9 ‘Red-figure artists were more creative storytellers than black-figure artists.’

How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer with reference to at least three
pots from each technique. [25]

© UCLES 2024 9274/12/O/N/24

 6

BLANK PAGE

© UCLES 2024 9274/12/O/N/24

 7

BLANK PAGE

© UCLES 2024 9274/12/O/N/24

 8

BLANK PAGE

Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2024 9274/12/O/N/24