Classics

Media Assistance: Neil Schoenherr News Writer; Assoc. Record Editor nschoenherr@wustl.edu (314) 935-5235

Department Chair: Susan Rotroff (rdlamber@artsci.wustl.edu) Department Secretary: Cathy Marler (cmmarler@artsci.wustl.edu)

Home Page: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~classics/ Location: 201 January Hall Telephone: (314) 935-5123

The Greek and Latin languages and the formative cultures of the ancient Greeks and Romans are vital areas of instruction and research in the Department of Classics at Washington University.

Researchers in the department are currently exploring a variety of aspects of this rich cultural heritage, advancing and refining our knowledge of the Greek and Roman past. In the Department of Classics, continuing research addresses such issues as the nature of early Greek epic and the little-understood history of its interpretation in Antiquity, as well as Greco-Roman education and intellectual and political history. In both the Department of Classics and the Department of Art History and Archaeology, researchers study the material culture of the Greeks and Romans, excavating the ancient remains of Ithaca, the island of Odysseus, and, at the other end of Greece, analyzing and publishing the monuments and pottery of the Athenian agora, the ancient civic center. Classical archaeologists at Washington University have also worked at such major ancient sites as Thebes, Sardis in Asia Minor, and Carthage in North Africa.

News Stories & Tip Sheets:

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Bowersock to give the Biggs Lecture Ancient history scholar Glen Bowersock to speak on 'Globalization in Late Antiquity' (http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/11433.html) April 1, 2008 -- Ancient history scholar Glen Bowersock will give the Biggs Lecture in the Classics on "Globalization in Late Antiquity" for the Assembly Series at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 10 in Steinberg Hall Auditorium.

Archaeologist Colin Renfrew explores how we become human Colin Renfrew expands our understanding of cognitive archaeology in Assembly Series lecture (http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/8943.html) March 2, 2007 -- Eminent British archaeologist Lord Colin Renfrew to speak on cognitive archaeology and how we become human, at the Assembly Series, 4 p.m., March 22 in Graham Chapel.

Writer, philosopher Gass to speak for Assembly Series William Gass will discuss the power of metaphor for Biggs Lecture in the Classics (http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/6787.html) March 17, 2006 -- Celebrated fiction writer and essayist William H. Gass will present the John and Penelope Biggs Residency in the Classics Lecture for the Assembly Series at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 30 in Graham Chapel. The lecture, titled "Metaphor," will explore the true essence of metaphors and their connection to language and creativity.

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Faculty Experts:

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Ryan K. Balot Assistant Professor of Classics (http://news-info.wustl.edu/sb/page/normal/15.html) Ryan Balot Download Balot's areas of reseach interest include Greek history and Greek political thought, particularly in relation to the classical Athenian democracy. His most recent book is titled Greed and Injustice in Classical Athens. Expertise: Athenian democracy, Greek history, Greek political thought Direct contact: (314) 935-4770 / rkbalot@artsci.wustl.edu

Catherine Keane Assistant Professor of Classics (http://news-info.wustl.edu/sb/page/normal/12.html) Keane Keane is a general classicist with a broad interest in ancient Greek and Latin language, literature and culture. Her research focuses on the comic genres and ancient attitudes about literature in society. She works mainly in Roman satire and its relationship to Roman culture. Expertise: Greek comedy, Homer, Roman poetry, antiquity, literary criticism, literary history, satire Direct contact: (314) 935-5198 / ckeane@artsci.wustl.edu

Robert Lamberton Chair of the Classics Department (http://news-info.wustl.edu/sb/page/normal/14.html) Robert Lamberton Download Lamberton's research interests include Greek epic and the history of its interpretation, ancient literary hermeneutics and late antiquity. His most recent book was titled Plutarch- Essay on the Life and Poetry of Homer. Expertise: Greek epic, interpretation, history, Classics, literature, Homer Direct contact: (314) 935-8587 / rdlamber@artsci.wustl.edu

Susan Rotroff Jarvis Thurston and Mona Van Duyn Professor in Humanities (http://news-info.wustl.edu/sb/page/normal/16.html) Susan Rotroff Download Rotroff is a classical archaeologist whose main interests lie in Greek archaeology, particularly the archaeology of ancient Athens. She is a member of the research staff of the Agora Excavations, which have been exploring the civic center of ancient Athens. She is an expert on Greek ceramics, especially ... Expertise: Greek archeology, Greek art, ancient Athens, pottery Direct contact: (314) 935-5183 / srotroff@artsci.wustl.edu

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St. Patrick's real life more fascinating than the myths The New York Times and 9 others April 26, 2004 -- "It seems that I've become something of a celebrity in recent years," the Romano-British churchman Patricius observed near the end of his long career, perhaps foreseeing the extravagant emerald mantle that would be wrapped about him by the cult of St. Patrick. In this lively and lucid biography, Philip Freeman, who teaches classics at Washington University in St. Louis, draws on the saint's surviving letters, including the eloquent "Confession," to glean personal details of Patrick's life and fit them into what is known of early Irish history. "Driving the snakes out of Ireland, entering contests to the death with pagan Druids, using the shamrock as an aid to explaining the Trinity -- all these are pious fictions created centuries later by well-meaning monks," Freeman writes. "The true story of Patrick is far more compelling than the medieval legends." Patrick was neither Ireland's first Christian nor the country's first bishop. Patrick apologized for his lack of learning, for writing Latin "as if it were a foreign language," but he enriched his faith by bringing to it a race of stern confessors and exuberant artists.

More News:

Plutarch (Yale University Press, 2001) (http://record.wustl.edu/2002/09-06-02/author.html)
Sept. 2002 - Written around 100 A.D., Plutarch's Lives -- a collection of biographies about ancient Greeks and Romans -- has shaped perceptions of the accomplishments of the ancient Greeks and Romans for nearly 2,000 years. In the engaging and stimulating book Plutarch, Robert D. Lamberton, professor and chair of the Department of Classics in Arts & Sciences, introduces both general readers and students to Plutarch's own life and work.

Robert D. Lamberton's clear and ambitious goals lead to constant improvements in the classics department (http://record.wustl.edu/2002/02-08-02/washington_people.html)
Feb. 2002 - Five out of eight ain't bad. Especially when you're talking about attendance at the prestigious Ivy League schools. "Yes, I guess I could be accused of collecting Ivy League addresses," says Robert D. Lamberton, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Classics in Arts & Sciences. "I used to make a joke of that, actually. I was an undergraduate at Harvard, I have a Ph.D. from Yale, and I have taught at Columbia, Princeton and Cornell. I'm only missing three." And while Lamberton says he enjoyed his time spent on the East Coast, he'd much rather be right here.

Contact Information Contact Information • Susan Rotroff Department Chair rdlamber@artsci.wustl.edu (314) 935-5123 Secretarial Contact • Cathy Marler Department Secretary cmmarler@artsci.wustl.edu (314) 935-5123 Related Information Related Links: • Classics resources (http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/classics.html) • Dept. of Classics Web site (http://artsci.wustl.edu/~classics/index.php) Related Groups: