1. Introduction -- 2. The artistic background -- 3. Plato: the arts and education -- 4. Plato: mimesis -- 5. Plato: poetry and inspiration -- 6. Plato: art, beauty and philosophy -- 7. Aristotle: introduction to the Poetics -- 8. Aristotle: catharsis -- 9. Aristotle: the shape of tragedy -- 10. The Hellenistic age -- 11. Aesthetics in the Roman Empire -- 12. Plotinus