Sunday

Sunday 16Feb2014

George Clooney advocated the return of Elgin Marbles in a rather off-the-cuff remark in response to a journalist. If only he has his morning Nespresso, as it now dominates over the promotion on his new film, Monuments Men.

Sunday 16Feb2014

An amazing discover of a school from the Roman era was made in Egypt, which surely must highlight the importance of proper preservation in Egypt:

A very important petition highlighting the importance of Classical Civilisation as a subject was written last week. It has been sent to The Sunday Times and it remains to be seen if it will be published next Sunday:

Some excellent poetry here, well worth a read:

The case of the Apollo statue, allegedly found in the sea of Gaza, goes on. At least it didn’t go beyond eBay…:

George Clooney’s comment at Berlin Festival supporting the return of the Elgin Marbles has caused ripples. If you do read the articles (and the poll) below, we recommend having a look at the comments:

  • “Bill Murray backs George Clooney over Elgin Marbles” BBC News: http://ow.ly/twJ5e 
  • “George Clooney needs to look to his own marbles, says Boris Johnson” London Evening Standard: http://ow.ly/tz6rw 
  • Poll: “Is George Clooney correct? Should Britain return the Elgin marbles?” The Guardian: http://ow.ly/tz9kl 
  • “Tiffany Jenkins: Parthenon marbles should stay” The Scotsman: http://ow.ly/tEwVq 

If it is to be built, HS2 could lead to the unearthing of much antiquities, from the Roman era or otherwise:

  • “HS2 – what to expect: The biggest dig for ancient treasures and prehistoric beasts in UK history” Bucks Herald: http://ow.ly/ttTUY 

Insciption found in modern Iran:

New findings reveal differing messages from the nudes of the two sexes in Roman mosaics:

  • “Research analyzes the cultural construction of nudes in Roman mosaics.” HeritageDaily: http://ow.ly/tz9BS 

As new history is created in war, history is lost by the cowardly extremists:

  • “The destruction of the idols: Syria’s patrimony at risk from extremists” The Independent: http://ow.ly/tA203 

But there is good news for preservation in Varna:

  • “Bulgaria’s Roman Baths to Be Restored – Varna Mayor Pledges” Novinite: http://ow.ly/tu5BZ 

A new exhibition at the Isle of Wight:

A Simon Armitage play “The Last Days of Troy” is going on stage at Manchester from May:

Mary Beard delivers an important lecture on “The Public Voice of Women” with reference to antiquity from Penelope onwards. The lecture will be made available soon:

 

 

How not to release a ground-breaking and genuine piece of new:

It was Valentine’s Day (and I hope you did remember, if you needed to):

 

Sunday’s Supplements – blogs, comments and other occasional pieces

 

“Saving the Villa of the Mysteries” On conservation. Can we excavate more of Pompeii? Archaeology: http://ow.ly/twvVO 

“Winter Olympic oddities are the real heroes at Sochi” by @LASwiftClassics. #Sochi Conversation: http://ow.ly/twwty 

“Ancient Rome’s fraudulent foreign students” by Peter Jones. The Spectator: http://ow.ly/tA1jB 

“What Emperor Augustus left us” by Roderick Conway Morris. The Spectator: http://ow.ly/tCqop 

Review by Andrew Worley of “”Travels in Elysium” by William Azuski” Origins: http://ow.ly/txy04 

“Do you see what I see?” on The Body Sphere. Ancient perception of colours with Mark Bradley. ABC: http://ow.ly/tEw1l 

“Virgil on Twitter” by Andy Keen (with apologies to Virgil, Book IV). Keener Classics: http://ow.ly/twcyX 

“New Sappho: not for Valentine’s Day!” Argonauts and Emperors blog: http://ow.ly/tzaxJ 

“The Romans, Just Wars and Exceptionalism” by Shadi Bartsch. HuffPost – The Blog: http://ow.ly/tFwe3 

“The Latest Scheme for the Parthenon” by Mary Beard. The New York Review of Books (paywall): http://ow.ly/tDCon 

“Review: Clouds” The Tab London: http://ow.ly/tBcGo 

“Romans in Clackmannanshire, Part II”  by Adrian Murdoch. Bread and Circus blog: http://ow.ly/3h8Pxu 

“Succession and the Aurei of Mark Antony, 13/02/14” Coins at Warwick: http://ow.ly/tBelv 

“Janet Glassbrook: The Mysterious Miss G and the Case of the Roman Brothel” TrowelBlazers: http://ow.ly/tz7pK 

“Language-Focused Summer Programs in Italy and Greece” American Philological Association: http://ow.ly/tzMae 

For your diary…

Finds from Crossrail excavations now on display:

 

And in Spanish/Y en español:

“La larga noche de verano de los etruscos” El País Semanal – EL PAÍS: http://ow.ly/tFvSV 

“La USC suma a Euclides y Platón a su colección de clásicos del pensamiento” La Vox de Galicia: http://ow.ly/tEwqH 

“El Templo Romano abre de nuevo y amplía el horario de visitas” El Dia de Córdoba: http://ow.ly/tEwen 

“La excavación en la villa romana de la Sagrera se prolongará hasta mayo” La Vanguardia: http://ow.ly/twvC9 

“La muerte de un hombre justo (V)” por Aristides Minguez. Papel de Periodico: http://ow.ly/tEwwO 

“El abastecimiento al ejército romano durante el Imperio (I)” Tempora: http://ow.ly/trlst 

“Los gálatas (II): ¿tribu o Estado?” Tempora: http://ow.ly/tu7to 

“El secreto de sus ojos” Sobre referentes clásicos de canción del rapero Shé. Secretos de Argos: http://ow.ly/twxbk 

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Sol Day

Sol Day 09Feb2013 – tot desperanda Gove duce et auspice Gove (1)

The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP

There is compelling evidence that there is a need for an increase in Classics teachers across the state and private sector. Classics is in boom, in particular in the state sector. Against this backdrop Gove announced:

And I can announce today that their work will be complemented by Professor Christopher Pelling from Oxford University – who will be leading a brand-new project in collaboration with several universities to develop top-quality professional development for non-specialist teachers of classics in state schools. His work will help state school students compete on equal terms with privately educated students for university classics places.

(See longer extract of Gove’s speech on our blog: Gove: Professional Development for non-specialist teachers of Classics.)

In other words, there will be a new project, led by a top academic at a top university, to allow students from the state sector to compete on equal footing with the students from the private sector for university places in Classics. Yet this is a small passage in a very, very long speech. It announced a policy, but did not detail it. For us Classicists and for Pelling especially there may be compelling evidence for Classics to be provided: provided by quality teachers, provided for a variety of reasons, provided equally across the sector. But did the Secretary of State made equipped with this knowledge? Perhaps he spoke to Boris for evidence, perhaps not, but the Secretary of State has form in trumpeting his ideology on the simple argument of tradition. We would do well to see his motives and reasoning by engaging in a popular past time of Classicists: close textual analysis.

The first half of the text refers to how the initiative is university led. This is politically important to show that Gove is engaging top academics and facilitating outreach; it is also important considering schools and, in particular, A-levels are preparation for a university courses. In the same section of the speech Gove announced : “we’re working with world-renowned, world-class Russell Group universities and Professor Mark Smith of Lancaster University to reform A levels – ensuring they provide students with the knowledge and skills they need for the demands of university study.” This leaves you in no doubt what types of universities Russell Group members are; I hope you are not reading this from Birkbeck, Royal Holloway, Reading or Swansea, Kent. Mark Smith has the honoured for being named because he is from Lancaster, a 1994 group-university. This is akin to saying “all the experts and Mark there…”

The collaboration of such high-end universities in the Classics project allow joint-up thinking as the universities participating are preparing their future students; they can also help allay the criticism of bias against the private sector as, as you read in the final sentence, this is to ensure an equal starting point when applying to Classics courses at university (and we know that all Classicists at school go on to become Classicists at university, don’t we?). Is this a policy to aid the ailing departments of Classics across the higher education institutions of the land? It does certainly no harm, in the sense that Classics department across the land might now be able to report a better ratio of state:private intake. But the final sentence quoted above hints more at reducing the gap between state and private schools or, as most of the media reported it, making state schools like private schools.

So what sort of Classics teachers do state schools have. The article implies that non-specialists Classics teachers will be given professional development. It would be great if any readers can direct us to statistics showing the background of teachers offering Classics in schools as whilst there are statics on offer for demands of teachers, whilst we know there is a shortfall of teachers from teacher training course (JACT Bulletin, 2013), there does not seem to be figures on how that shortfall was met. In my travels I have met a department of  several MFL teachers teaching Key Stage 3 Latin. In one department of 1.3 people, 1 of whom wanted a career change and became the Head of Classics from the Head of Music; he began the department from scratch and built up the department sufficiently to draft in an English teacher with a qualification in GCSE Latin. I know the English teacher would like to be re-trained but can find no opportunity, can this project help? Or more pertinently, how many teachers are seeking a subject change and how many are quite satisfied with their allocation of year 7s and 8s?

This, we are also to know, is a project for the benefits of state schools. Gove went on to say: “Academics of this calibre are serious about the need to give state school students the extra level of stretch and challenge that privately educated students enjoy through extra coaching and preparation.” The assumption can only be that private school non-specialists are automatically equipped with such stretching abilities, or perhaps that there are no non-specialists in private schools. Time will tell if teachers in the private sectors are to compose, Ovid-style, addresses to the doorman begging them to let them into these professional development sessions. The decision is a strange one for readers of the last JACT Bulletin (2013) who might recall that 70% of the posts advertised in TES in the year 2011-12 were in the independent secondary sector, 83% if primary independent posts are also included; the decision is not a strange one for all who are politically minded. Gove could have said independent schools (and academies) could hire unqualified (i.e. non-QTS) teachers, and indeed 41% of independent schools did according to the same article in JACT Bulletin.

So what is the motive behind this initiative? I am not sure. It is a step in the right direction and, anecdotally, I know there are teachers who would be very interested in courses if they are recognised to provide the same opportunities to products of PGCE Classics courses at the end of the course. The announcement was made in a section where many similar initiatives intended to boost the quality of education in the state sector is announced, and the stated method for this is to make schools in the maintained sector more like private schools. By this close textual analysis and by reference to the contemporary setting, the conclusion is that Gove is interested in traditional schools for modern maintained schools.

We will come back with a second installment, published not on a Sunday, to analyse how this initiative relate to the education landscape for Classics.

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Sunday

Sunday 09Feb2014

Gove, Sappho, tweeting Pope. So much in this weekend’s edition of “Sunday”.

 

Sunday 09Feb2014

The news that is probably going to affect us, who are already Latinists, most:

  • “Forthcoming in Fall 2014: The Digital Loeb Classical Library®” Harvard University Press: http://ow.ly/tmgcx 

The news that is probably going to affect those who will be Latinists, and all who will be the future of the nation:

  • “Gove: Professional Development for non-specialist teachers of Classics” Classics Collective: http://ow.ly/tewAd 
  • “Helping Latin in State Schools” Classics at Oxford: http://ow.ly/tex4X 
  • “Gove: Classics lessons to help state pupils compete for university places” The Daily Telegraph: http://ow.ly/tf2an 

And some observations on the Gove plan, not least by Chris Pelling, the man to head the project:

And Latin is going well in Oregan in the US:

And Latin is going well in the Muslim world:

The Sappho now revealed, queestions start coming:

Nor is the provenance of the Apollo of Gaza certain…:

  • “Vernon Silver on the “Apollo of Gaza”” Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues: http://ow.ly/tdfjf 
  • “Sam Hardy on Variant Stories About Discovering the Apollo of Gaza” Portable Antiquity… Issues: http://ow.ly/tnfIU 

An underwater church?:

  • “Greek Mystery of a “Lost Church” in Ancient Greek city Nicaea” Greek Reporter Europe: http://ow.ly/tfRQh 

Reservation effort on the Side:

Recurring vandalism activity at a Gallo-Roman site at Treignes, Belgium:

“Archaeological findings in industrial zone to be removed to make way for warehouse” in İzmir. <Hurriyet>: http://ow.ly/tkTrs 

“George Clooney says Britain should return ancient monuments to Greece” <ekathimerini>: http://ow.ly/tqq2d 

Pope tweets:

  • “Latin’s the perfect language for a tweet, or even an emailum” The Daily Telegraph: http://ow.ly/tnftH 
  • “Pope’s Latin tweets are a roaring success” The Local: http://ow.ly/tioaS 
  • “Pope’s Latin tweets attract more followers than Arabic tweets” Al Arabiya News: http://ow.ly/tmyKz 
  • “There’s new life for a dead language as Papa Franciscus tweets ad infinitum” The Times (paywall): http://ow.ly/tmyOV 
  • Read: “Pope’s Latin Twitter feed is pumping new life into a dead language” The Australian: http://ow.ly/tmyTo 
  • “Le succès inattendu du Pape en latin sur Twitter” Le Figaro: http://ow.ly/tiod2 
  • “Daniel Gallagher: «Traducir mensajes del Papa al latín es más fácil que del argentino al español»” ABC: http://ow.ly/tqLUc 

A special mosaic goes on show at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire:

  • “Picture Gallery: Spectacular Roman mosaic found in Israel shows ancient animal paradise” Culture24: http://ow.ly/toIo9 

Summary from the conference which heard academics share ideas and practices of using digital means to aid ancient language teaching at universities:

Listen back to a great introduction to the Phoenicians:

In an anniversary year, can you help with an Augustus survey?:

  • “Fancy taking part in some Augustus-related research?” Commemorating Augustus: http://ow.ly/toJaI 

Also in the news:

Mary Beard is the interviewee in The Times´main Saturday interview, but this spawned subsequent coverage that focused on only one small part of the interview, unfortunately:

  • “Saturday interview: Mary Beard” The Times (paywall): http://ow.ly/tqpEF 
  • “Me and Kate: the record straight” The storm in the vessel… A Don’s Life: http://ow.ly/tqUXV 
  • And many other national press articles on Beard’s comment on the Duchess of Cambridge.

Sunday’s Supplements – blogs, comments and other occasional pieces

A really interesting features article on mnemonics:

The ways of myth, mythology:

Joan Breton Connelly, author of “The Parthenon Enigma,” discusses the book:

A Roman comparison of, or innovation on, Sappho’s poem:

Have you been to all these amphitheatres?:

“The Villa Borg – images of a reconstructed Roman Villa in Saarland (Germany)” by Carole Raddato. FOLLOWING HADRIAN http://ow.ly/tfRci 

Recommended article:

“British Museum – Greek and Roman Sculptures” A video. Vimeo: http://ow.ly/tqLWb 

“Scenes of Ovid’s love stories in art” OUPblog: http://ow.ly/tqVBA 

“Eros, sophrosyne, myth and the Hippolytus” Classics in Sarasota blog: http://ow.ly/trkg4 

“Why does Q almost always go with a U?” Good QUestion… The Week http://ow.ly/tfS3J 

“Giving the gift of ancient tongues” by Prof Christopher Pelling. The Sunday Times: http://ow.ly/tqV5L 

“The Classics Czar, Michael Gove, and Civilization” by Edith Hall. The Edithorial: http://ow.ly/tqql8 

“Argonauts and hobbits” by Helen Lovatt. Argonauts and Emperors blog: http://ow.ly/toJtB 

And in Spanish…

“Teatro greco y romano en la red” El Faro de Vigo: http://ow.ly/tmgNV 

“La muerte de un hombre justo (IV)” por Aristides Minguez. Papel del Periódico: http://ow.ly/tqLQ6 

“El abastecimiento al ejército romano durante el Imperio (I)” Tempora: http://ow.ly/trkSn 

“Daniel Gallagher: «Traducir mensajes del Papa al latín es más fácil que del argentino al español»” ABC: http://ow.ly/tqLUc 

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Sol Day

Sol Day 02Feb2014 – It’s a small world

The Classics community is a small world. This statement might seem unsubstantiated and I will do little to substantiate it over this blog post, but this is where I shall start my post, because you must have heard these words vel sim before. Everyone knows everyone in the Classical world, or something like that.

Recently, we hear news that the Joint Association of Classical Teachers (JACT) is consulting about a merger with the Classical Association (CA). You can read about it here, and by now the representatives of both organisations would have met. One wonders what the conversations would have been: a shared goal of spreading Classics? You keep your annual CA and I keep my Bryanston? A joint Twitter feed? A joint campaign to bring Latin onto the National Curriculum? Collective outreach effort? A seamless transfer from A-Level Classics to degree-level Classics? It may even be sharing the Senate House office? Have a single secretariat? Ensure one pool of money is used effectively across the board?

I hope you will forgive me in that the suggested topic above is meant as a light-hearted enactment of the meeting of the organisations. It seems to me that JACT is serious in its consideration of merging with the Classical Association. Such a merger would represent the union of a professional organisation representing schoolteachers with a broad-based association serving those with any degree of interest in the classical world.

JACT was founded in 1963, at a time was not in crisis, but crises. The abolishment of Latin as a requirement to enter the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge (realised slightly differently in each of the universities) coupled with the rise of comprehensive school are sparks in a world where classrooms were still obsessed in the grammar-translation-or-bust model. This is a world before Cambridge Latin Course, and that has been around for a while. The crises, the sparks, the triggers for schools to drop classical subjects. JACT was meant to reinvigorate that, and it achieved a varying degree of success over the years – yes Latin did not make it into the National Curriculum when it was established, but it did not fall off the cliff either.

William Thompson, a Lecturer in Classical Method at the University of Leeds (a department recently under threat of closure), was one of they key figure in establishing JACT, as was John Sharwood Smith of the Institute of Education (an organisation that no longer offers Classics):

Thompson had tried to persuade the CA to increase its subseciption which had remained unchanged from five shillings since the Association’s foundation and to transform itself into an organisation that would support teacher of schools Classics. Sharwood Smith had been involved in moves to expand the functions and to change the name of the ARLT [Association for the Reform of Latin Teaching].

Martin Forrest, Modernising the Classics (Exeter, 1996), p.16.

Given the proposed merger now, perhaps one could reach two conclusions – that the CA has taken up the mantel of promoting teaching of Classics in school and so this function, which JACT has performed valiantly recently, can be done collaboratively, and; there is no threat to Classical teaching and indeed it is very healthy.

Classics, on feeling, is not doing too badly in secondary education but can it still do better? Can the jobs of Classics teachers be made easier still? The inset days that JACT organises have been beneficial but does it seek other way of allowing idea sharing or crowdsourcing between teachers? It must be noted that in a world with organisations such as the Classics Library for sharing ideas, Classics for All for promoting Classics in general and in schools, The Iris Project for introducing Classics to schools that do not offer any Classical subjects beforehand, Oxford’s outreach effort for outreach effort (seemingly across the whole of United Kingdom) to existing school Classics department and the Classics in Communities project for advice and encouragement in increasing uptake of Classics at primary level, the Joint Association of Classical Teachers is slightly hidden in their midst.

Yet there must be a role for an organisation to Classical Teachers. It should be noted that last year Classics PGCE was almost left off the list of subjects for which bursary will be given to trainee teachers; now trainee teachers is set to gain the top tier of support as supposed to the second tier current trainees enjoy. In times where curriculum is frequently altered, a professional organisation such as this should be there to ensure that it is changed for the better. It could be argued that Gove was inherently interested in having Latin, Greek and Ancient History in the list of subjects measured by EBACC, but what about Classical Civilisation? What of the consultation to introduce an element of Englist-to-Latin composition at GCSE?

Which brings me back to the small world of Classics. I have recently attended some inset days for teachers and conferences for the academia. It is easy to recognised that there are different circles that Classicists move in, circles that are dictated by shared interests or aims. Classics teachers are often busy, but call an inset day with advice on teaching and they come together. The outlook of Classics teachers is different to that of the academics and the questions at inset days are more pragmatic than those of Classical conferences, reflecting their teaching needs.

In the recent eGreek and iLatin conference organised by the Open University (see Storify of the conference here) there were a lot of academics teaching ancient languages keen to share their eIdeas (or iIdeas?). Interestingly, there were a few attendees from the world of secondary education too. James Robson from the Open University was able to present on OU’s e-learning platform and it was useful to know, but there are also a lot of other projects based on existing websites and e-learning environment that was useful to share. In amongst the conversations, there have been some talk for collaboration – why don’t all the university collaborate their efforts and experience? There would be obstacle, of course – unique selling-point for the university which developed it, hard to get funding – but it is for the benefit of those who work within the Classics circle.

Indeed, should there not be collaboration at a school level too? The event, which was aimed at higher education, attracted professionals from the secondary education. This shows there are demands for such events aimed at secondary education too. It is also inherently the case that secondary education, with its set exam curriculum, generally different course books and time demand, has different realities to the pedagogy in higher education. The question is who will take up the mantel for organising such events? Not only on e-learning, but on informing formal curriculum, bringing alive Greek Art and Architecture through museums and web sources, teaching using TPRS or the inductive method, maximising school trips.

To do that,  we need a facilitator, a facilitator to make the world of Classicists and specifically of Classics teachers even smaller. At the moment, the Classics Library seems to perform that role best. Perhaps it is in this guise that JACT must decide whether it wishes to boldly take up a mantel to make the work of Classics Teachers lighter, or to quietly lie hidden in the big tent of the Classical Association. But let’s be clear – even if the latter path is chosen, the needs of Classical teachers will not vanish.

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Sunday

Sunday 02Feb2014

The discovery of Sappho’s papyrus dominated the Classics newsphere and spread onto mainstream media this week – you will find many articles on the news below. In amongst all that there are much news on artefacts and museums.

We hope the weather has been good to you. Below you can see (courtesy of the Americal Institute of Roman Culture) how high the river level is at Rome.

Sunday 02Feb2014

The Institute of Classical Archaeology at Leipzig seems to be under threat:

  • Leipzig: Institut für Klassische Archäologie fällt Sparzwang zum Opfer Archäologie Online: http://ow.ly/sXKyy 

The Crosby Garrett, after brining much benefit to Carlise, is now sitting next to the Ribchester Helmet at the British Museum:

  • “Roman war games: helmets from Crosby Garrett and Ribchester” on show in BM until 27Apr. British Mus.: http://ow.ly/t5s5t 
  • “Interest in Crosby Garrett Roman helmet gives Carlisle economic boost” Cumberland News: http://ow.ly/ta9Le 

As a gigantic head goes on show at Chichester’s multi-million pounds museum:

  • “Welcome to Britain: Largest Roman sculpture to show its face at Chichester Novium” Culture24: http://ow.ly/t5tq9 

In another museum, the Roman Empire: Power and People exhibition is oversubscribe on its first weekend:

  • “Video: Queues outside Norwich Castle Museum for first weekend of Roman Empire exhibition” Norwich Evening News: ow.ly/tczMk

Hadrian’s Wall gets a new visitor building that combines an information centre with a youth hostel:

  • “Hadrian’s Wall £11.2m visitor centre final design unveiled” BBC News: http://ow.ly/sXWJ5 

New exhibition opens at Chicago:

Not under a car park:

In the name of development? Or a deliberately divisive move?

  • “Historic Roman terraces face threat from the building of Israel’s separation barrier” The Daily Telegraph: http://ow.ly/t5rb7 

A piece on a remarkable underwater discovery off the Gaza strip, or is it?:

  • “Hamas’s Ancient Bronze Statue, the Apollo of Gaza” Businessweek: http://ow.ly/tabIJ 
  • “Vernon Silver on the “Apollo of Gaza””Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues: http://ow.ly/tdetr

Bad weather might be destructive. In this case, it took away the surface and revealed a graffito underneath in Pompeii (articles in Italian):

  • “Pompei, a rischio iscrizione elettorale” ANSA: http://ow.ly/tbZOB 
  • “Pompei, il maltempo non fa solo danni: spunta slogan elettorale del 79 d. C.” Il Mattino: http://ow.ly/tc7vt

Trailer – “Pompeii Super Bowl TV Spot” Den of Geek: http://ow.ly/tbZQn 

Fundraiaing: “The Oracles of Troy by Glyn Iliffe” Help to get a book published. Kickstarter: http://ow.ly/tcAph

Sappho:

Sunday’s Supplements – blogs, comments and other occasional pieces

You can read today’s Sol Day piece by us, “It’s a Small World”, on JACT and meeting the needs of Classics teachers, here.

“Sarah Bond: Do You Think That’s A Bad Sign? : Birds and Omens in the Roman Empire” Dorothy King’s PhDiva: http://ow.ly/t0gN6 

“Archaeologists Unearth What May Be Oldest Roman Temple” NPR: http://ow.ly/t5qkH 

“The secret history of the Parthenon” New York Post: http://ow.ly/sXWPF 

“Heroic hairstyles, or, did Hector have a mullet?” by Laura Swift. APA: http://ow.ly/sYrFS 

“Turning toward the public” on Classics and the history of outreach, by Joy Connolly. APA: http://ow.ly/sYrwY 

“What Lies Behind Pythagoras’ Theorem” by Neel Burton. Psychology Today: http://ow.ly/taSk5 

“The Roman Hunt” by Daisy Dunn. History Today: http://ow.ly/t0jaG 

“‘Twitter Ye Not’” by the Classics Department at Norton Knatchbull school. The Classics Library: http://ow.ly/t2Nly

“The Myth of Orpheus and Eurydice: Its Reception” The Classics Library: http://ow.ly/t2SI2 

“Latin Verse Composition in English Schools, 1500-1900” The Classics Library: http://ow.ly/t2Qbx 

“Plato in Polish philosophy and literature (1800-1950)” The Classics Library: http://ow.ly/t2PZX 

“Finding the ancient and its meaning in a modern North American city” The Classics Library: http://ow.ly/t2O2T 

“How important was Horncastle to the Roman empire?” Horncastle News: http://ow.ly/tcA8R

“Is any word untranslatable?” The Guardian: http://ow.ly/tab7L 

“Hackney, Sappho, and Bravery” by Edith Hall. The Edithorial: http://ow.ly/tbYGE 

“My Best Teacher by Mary Beard, Classicist” by Mary Beard. Times Education Supplement: http://ow.ly/taRRT 

Y en español:

“El secreto de la peste que tumbó al Imperio Romano” Materia: http://ow.ly/t2T23 

“Coriolano, de héroe de guerra a traidor a la patria” National Geographic España: http://ow.ly/taRBI 

“Decían griego, pero pensaban nazi” EL PAÍS: http://ow.ly/taS2v 

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Sunday

Sunday 26Jan2014

So it has been a busy week, another year older in an age where age becomes irrelevant. I wonder if it is the same for the Crosby Garrett Roman helmet? It’s work at the Tullie House is done, for now, and it will be exhibited at the British Museum. But it may yet return… watch this space.

Sunday 12Jan2014

The Crosby Garrett helmet has left Carlisle for London. In its time in the North West it has drawn visitors from everywhere:

Should we free up sponsorship to help upkeep of heritage in Italy and Greece?

One flood that has been beneficial:

On the proposed merger of the Joint Association of Classical Teachers (JACT) and the Classical Association (CA), with link to a consultation:

Gruesome child sacrifice of the Carthaginians:

  • “Carthaginians sacrificed own children, archaeologists say” The Guardian: http://ow.ly/sQjgy 
  • “Ancient Greek stories of ritual child sacrifice in Carthage are TRUE, study claims” Daily Mail: http://ow.ly/sWfoZ 

Ancient Roman Infanticide Didn’t Spare Either Sex:

  • “Ancient Roman Infanticide Didn’t Spare Either Sex” Discovery News: http://ow.ly/sXKaK 
  • “Ancient Roman Infanticide Didn’t Spare Either Sex, DNA Suggests” LiveScience: http://ow.ly/sXKdO 

“Take a sneak peak at rehearsals in our promotional video!” UCL Greek Play blog: http://ow.ly/sNT8a 

“Bringing Latin to life for Spalding students” Spalding Guardian: http://ow.ly/sNTO8 

“(Extract from) Education: Foreign Language Teaching: Hse of Lords Question for Short Debate” JACT: http://ow.ly/sNXxf 

Excavations at Ilkley:

  • “New excavations take place at Ilkley’s Roman fort” Bradford Telegraph and Argus: http://ow.ly/sQoMW 
  • “Dig gets under way to find out more about Ilkley’s Roman past” Ilkley Gazette: http://ow.ly/sXeJH 

“Ingleby Barwick Roman villa: Rich history goes on public display” <Gazette Live>: http://ow.ly/sTcHr 

Sunday’s Supplements – blogs, comments and other occasional pieces

“Diagnosing Mental Illness in Ancient Greece and Rome” The Atlantic: http://ow.ly/sXMf7 

“Prado Museum analyses the rise, evolution and decline of the subject of the “Furias”” Art Daily: http://ow.ly/sNWhk 

“Alexander’s Visit to Troy” The Second Achilles: http://ow.ly/sQkN9 

“Penelopiad” A poem with video. Vimeo: http://ow.ly/sOdWr 

“How women’s wisdom was lost” by Bettany Hughes. The Guardian: http://ow.ly/sYrkY 

Watch: “The Dark Side of Democracy, with David Pritchard” Classics Confidential: http://ow.ly/sVyZx 

“The secret history of the Parthenon” New York Post: http://ow.ly/sXWPF 

“I Liked It So Much I Bought The Publisher” by Neville Morley. Sphinx: http://ow.ly/sQku2 

“The Unofficial Ancient Roman Monster Survival Guide” Latin Language blog: http://ow.ly/sVttf 

“La barbe ne fait pas le philosophe… la sandale d’Empédocle, si !” Le Monde: http://ow.ly/sVviJ 

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Sunday

Sunday 19Jan2014

Here we present last week’s news in Classics, and it seems to have been a week rich in archaeology.

Sunday 19Jan2014

Those blood-thirty Romans and the skulls that they left behind:

  • “Gladiators or Roman battle trophies?” On blood-thirsty findings in London. The Independent: http://ow.ly/sAlk6 
  • “London skulls reveal gruesome evidence of Roman head hunters” The Guardian: http://ow.ly/sB0uR 
  • “Skulls suggest Romans in London enjoyed human blood sports” Natural History Museum: http://ow.ly/sI1v8 

“Turkey’s archaeology doyenne dies aged 98” Hurriyet Daily News: http://ow.ly/svAhk 

On the return of the Riace Bronze warriors to their refurbished home and its effect on the local economy:

“Pick up a Roman Emperor at Bellmans auction” Midhurst and Petworth Observer: http://ow.ly/sJzrg

“Shock after Pompeii relic put up for sale on eBay” The Local: http://ow.ly/sy2rU 

“Ancient Roman Coins realises $1,700,000 at New York Auction” Yareah: http://ow.ly/sAeDw 

“British Museum gets record 6.7m visitors for 2013” BBC News: http://ow.ly/sAkG7 

On the upcoming “Roman Empire: People and Power” exhibition at Norwich Castle Museum:

  • “One careless Roman.. one Norfolk wonder find” Norwich Advertiser: http://ow.ly/sJumt 
  • “Photo gallery: 15 things you didn’t know about the Romans” Eastern Daily Press: http://ow.ly/sJz8w 

 

“The Last Days of Troy” from 10Jun, Shakespeare’s Globe. http://ow.ly/sy6no 

“Classics Taster Day” for yr10s+11s interested in Classics degree. 21Feb, Balliol College, Oxford. Booking required by 25Jan. http://ow.ly/su8Ao 

“Can Privatization Save the Treasures of Ancient Greece?” TIME: http://ow.ly/sI1h0 

Sunday’s Supplements – blogs, comments and other occasional pieces

“11 Colorful Phrases From Ancient Roman Graffiti” Mental Floss: http://ow.ly/swftJ 

“Top 10 Classical Musicals” by Juliette Harrisson Pop Classics: http://ow.ly/sJtHE 

“Sarah Sands: A Roman hero can still teach us about politics” London Evening Standard: http://ow.ly/sAhXU 

“My new book: the opening rounds” by Mary Beard. A Don’s Life: http://ow.ly/sJv4L 

“London’s Best Ruins” Londonist: http://ow.ly/sB0re 

“Atlantis Insider Special” #Atlantis behind-the-scenes. BBC America: http://ow.ly/sxZ7o 

“Ancient Roman Movies in 2014 and Beyond Latin Language and Culture Blog: http://ow.ly/sAjUe 

“Features: My Experiences of Stoicism by Helen Rudd” Stoicism Today: http://ow.ly/sI1ww 

“My Experience of Stoicism: Part Two, by Helen Rudd” Stoicism Today: http://ow.ly/sJsO9 

“Byzantine insularity in the early Dark Ages” Roger Pearse: http://ow.ly/sIXJR 

And in Spanish/y en español:

“Papirólogos descubren nuevos versos atribuidos a Safo” Portal Clásico: http://ow.ly/sIXBI 

“Toledo, la Roma española” ABC: http://ow.ly/sw5wZ 

“Clau-Clau-Claudio ¿Un emperador despreciado por la historiografía?” Tempora: http://ow.ly/sJvyA 

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Sunday

Sunday 12Jan2014

I hope everyone was not too affected by the weather in the last week. Here is the round-up of Classics news from the first complete week of January.

By the way the Joint Association of Classical Teachers has a brand new website. Do visit: http://ow.ly/sk2dl 

Sunday 12Jan2014

“Ancient Mycenaeans Used Portable Grills at Their Picnics” LiveScience: http://ow.ly/spooM 

“Volunteers needed to dig deep at Roman fort” <Shields Gazette> http://ow.ly/soIRL 

It seems wine has let to Alexander’s downfall:

  • “Toxic wine led to Greek tragedy: NZ scientist” The New Zealand Herald: http://ow.ly/suxj2 
  • The academic paper: “Was the death of Alexander the Great due to poisoning? Was it Veratrum album?” Clinical Toxicology: http://ow.ly/suxCC 

“Restoring the Palace of Philip II at Aigai” Αρχαιολογία: http://ow.ly/stYjO 

“Greek architecture inspires Va student art project” The News Tribune: http://ow.ly/svwr1

“Classics Taster Day” for year r10s+11s interested in Classics, Archaeology and Humanities degrees. 21Feb, Balliol College, University of Oxford. Booking required. http://ow.ly/su8Ao 

Sunday’s Supplements – blogs, comments and other occasional pieces

“It’s All Greek” On the treasure trove of the shop It’s All Greek by the British Museum written by Caroline Lawrence. The History Girls: http://ow.ly/spoGq 

“Scappi’s Chestnut Torte and Polyphemus’ Song” naso’s song blog: http://ow.ly/svw3V 

“Poem of the week: Gerard Manley Hopkins translates Horace” The Guardian: http://ow.ly/sk0H7 

“Ancient and modern: Ovid on selfies” The Spectator: http://ow.ly/spovq 

“The Man Who Abolished Classics” by Edith Hall, on Theodosius I. The Edithorial: http://ow.ly/suXfs 

“Taken for Granted” Were the Romans really obsessed with frugality? Asks Neville Morley. Sphinx blog: http://ow.ly/svv3Y 

“Ancient libraries and their dangers” by Helen King. Wonders & Marvels blog: http://ow.ly/suxJq 

“Dura virum nutrix” The motto explained by Armand D’Angour. Armand D’Angour: http://ow.ly/suXDt 

“Zeus in China?” Beachcombing’s Bizarre History Blog: http://ow.ly/svwDh

“Roman Dining: You Are What You Eat” Latin Language Blog: http://ow.ly/suxN9 

“Top 10 Roman Forts in Britain” HeritageDaily: http://ow.ly/sk1Fp 

“How we made the Romans app for iPad, iPhone and Andoird” Guardian Professional: http://ow.ly/stYhs 

“Homer and Greek Epic” On self-learning epic. Teaching Yourself Latin and Greek – Notes of an Autodidact: http://ow.ly/stY8R 

“Roman mining in Romania” Looting Matters: http://ow.ly/skKbH  #ClassArch

“Walking Among the Etruscans” The Epoch Times: http://ow.ly/smCz2 

“Roman currency: How a cow became a coin” Daily Astorian: http://ow.ly/stYD1 

“Plautus on Immigration and Domestic Policy” by Peter Kruschwitz. Reading Latin – Latin Reading blog: http://ow.ly/su9KI 

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Sunday

Sunday 05Jan2014

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a festive season. It seems we here in the UK and those in the US, particularly attendees to the joint annual meeting of APA and AIA at Chicago, suffered greatly from inclement weather. Description of a Polar Vortex is enough to send a chill down anyone’s spine. Whether you need some diversion from the weather or are just interested in the going-ons in the Classical world, here is the round up of last week’s news in Classics.

嵌入永久的圖片連結

We happen to be marching past and found this poster.

Sunday 29Dec2013

It’s 2000 years since Augustus’ death… well not quite, as he did die in August. Expect much celebrations and events this year – Mary Beard has been to Rome to look at the flagship Augustus exhibition:

Rome Report also reported from the exhibition:

Michael Gove claims that students lack chronology, though with so much overlapping chronology between Greece and Rome I wonder if chronology would be a good guide there:

  • “Ancient history is all Greek to children today, claims Michael Gove” The Daily Telegraph: http://ow.ly/sa08G 

Latin is all going on in Anglia!:

Giraffe meat for dinner, anyone? On the diet of the poor (or “chavs” for Mail readers) in Pompeii:

The sea routes were used extensively by the Romans from the Pilars of Hercules past our channel to the North Sea, according to findings:

  • “Los arqueólogos confirman un importante comercio atlántico en época romana” La Vanguardia: http://ow.ly/saqBN 
  • “Archaeologists confirm existence of an important Atlantic trade in the Roman era” A translation of the article of the above link. ClassColl via La Vanguardia: http://ow.ly/satEZ 

“Centuries old tombs to remain under road” Hurriyet Daily News: http://ow.ly/sa0Ck 

“Roman aqueduct volunteers tap into history beneath their feet” Los Angeles Times: http://ow.ly/sbXRS 

“Roman sarcophagi unearthed at construction site” Anadolu Agency: http://ow.ly/se3g8 

“Ancient Greek Technology Exhibit in Chania” Greek Reporter: http://ow.ly/sbJIh 

“Archaeological Finds in Private Plot in Athens to Become Accessible to Public” Greek Reporter: http://ow.ly/se3Hs 

A crowdfunding campaign for preserving heritage has begun at Paestum.

  •  “Crowdfunding campaign for Italian heritage site” On Paestumanita. France 24 http://ow.ly/sdr6i 
  • “Une campagne en ligne pour sauver le patrimoine italien” On Paestumanita. France24 http://ow.ly/sdrum 

“Year in digs: How 2013 looked in archaeology” BBC News: http://ow.ly/saqy5 

“A Roman Village at the Edge of Empire: Ingleby Barwick’s rich heritage revealed in new report” Gazette Live: http://ow.ly/sb1qC 

“Syrian refugees stage Euripides’ ‘The Trojan Women’” Financial Times: http://ow.ly/shoGq 

“UC Research Uncovers How Ancient Artists Used Palace Floor as a Creative Canvas” University of Cicinnati: http://ow.ly/setrh 

“Tomb of chief beer-maker discovered in Egypt’s Luxor” Al-Ahram: http://ow.ly/sfuSO 

Sunday’s Supplements – blogs, comments and other occasional pieces

Happy New Year! A few things related to the beginning of the year:

“Roman Architecture” Online course with Diana Kleiner, from 16Jan. Coursera http://ow.ly/saumn 

“A Podcasting Approach to Greek and Latin Orality” Dickinson College Commentaries: http://ow.ly/shSv0 

“Aelius – Forgotten Prince” by Gareth Harney. ROMA INVICTA blog: http://ow.ly/sa0uF 

“Polo on Alexander on Polo” by Llewelyn_Morgan. On balls, and the Great. Lugubelinus blog: http://ow.ly/sbKjL 

“The Vomitorium Myth” On egresses. Alberti’s Window: http://ow.ly/sdHum 

“Paint It Black? Understanding Black Figure Pottery” Ancient History Encyclopedia: http://ow.ly/scyHr 

“The Hobbit in Latin: A Must Have Gift!” Latin Language Blog: http://ow.ly/sa0m8 

“Some notes on the bindings of ancient codices” Roger Pearse blog: http://ow.ly/sdqOp 

“Necropolis” On Roman burial sites. Lapham’s Quarterly: http://ow.ly/shVlN

“Book review: The Song of Achilles” blogged by Liz Gloyn. Classically Inclined blog: http://ow.ly/s8KBW 

“What’s in a Word? ‘Anesthesia’ From Ancient Greece to 1846, and Beyond” Pain Medicine News: http://ow.ly/shVdC

“Eighth Anniversary for Bread & Circuses” Happy anniversary! Bread & Circuses blog: http://ow.ly/scxRS 

“Plato’s Symposium” on In Our Time, with Angie Hobbs, Richard Hunter & Frisbee Sheffield. BBC iPlayer: http://ow.ly/sc9xch 

“23 Classical figures who are still alive” What those characters would be like in the modern world, by Andy Keen. Keener Classics blog: http://ow.ly/sbJAH 

“Grave Goods – Tom Holland.” A desert island-style interview with Tom Holland by Henry Rothwell. Digital Digging: http://ow.ly/seRd1 

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Sunday

Sunday 29Dec2013

It’s the doldrums for many things between Christmas and New Year, as it is in the Classics world. As we all recover from Christmas meals and turkey sandwiches, here is the round-up of news from last week, for the last time in 2013.

Sunday 29Dec2013

Matthew Nicholls on the traditions of Christmas time in Rome (the content of the articles are pretty similar):

  • “Whips, cloaks and parchment: the festive presents of ancient Rome” with Matthew Nicholls. The Guardian: http://ow.ly/s1AOD 
  • “Roman ‘Christmases’ were similar to ours” Phys: http://ow.ly/s1AXb 
  • “From Kindles to your Nan’s ugly sweater – Roman ‘Christmases’ were similar to ours” http://ow.ly/s3J0k 

There are more Christmas-related article via this link, in which we wished you a Merry Christmas:

New discoveries on how the Ara Pacis and the Obelisk of Montecitorio comlement each other in alignment:

An interactive method of teaching Latin by a priest:

  • “Neb. priest, students engage in Latin through conversation” Catholic News Agency: http://ow.ly/s2yo1 

Jospehine Balmer on the subtlety of translation and on how to present translated, fragmented text:

  • “Translation and subjectivity: the classical model” Oxford University Press blog http://ow.ly/s2EMD 

Dr. Ted Zorrow overseas an increase of uptake in Latin in his school with active and imaginative methods of teaching:

East Oxford Community Classics Centre is now offering A-level Latin to comprehensive students in Oxfordshire. Well done Dr. Robinson!:

  • “Pupils at comprehensive to study for an A-Level in Latin” Oxford Times: http://ow.ly/s6rQ1 

“Ancient Greek Gold Bracelet Sold in New York” Greek Reporter: http://ow.ly/s1Cii 

“Roman artefacts discovered at Rainham housing site” Romford Recorder: http://ow.ly/s2y8f 

“Roman Villa remains unearthed at Taylor Wimpey’s Emerson’s Green site” Easier property: http://ow.ly/s6RNw 

“Ancient Vineyards Found in Basque Country” Archaeology: http://ow.ly/s6tUM 

“Hallan estructuras originales del circo romano de Tarraco” (“Discovered: Original structures of Tarraco’s Roman circus”, article in Spanish) National Geographic España: http://ow.ly/s7q4p 

Sunday’s Supplements – blogs, comments and other occasional pieces

Review: “Atlantis: Touched by the Gods, Part Two” by Juliette Harrisson. The review of the final episode of season one. Pop Classics blog: ow.ly/s7Zcw

Quiz!: “Terry Deary’s Dangerous Days in the Roman Empire Quiz” The Daily Telegraph: http://ow.ly/s1Bry 

“Discovering a Roman city near Vienna” on Carnutium. Buenos Aires Herald: http://ow.ly/s1Bj0 

“Ancient Greece and Mental Disorders” Greek Reporter: http://ow.ly/s1CnS 

“5 Reasons Why Plato and Aristotle Still Matter Today” Publishers Weekly: http://ow.ly/s45nX 

“PLV Inscriptions (Birdoswald)” Per Lineam Valli blog: http://ow.ly/s7KuY 

“Travel to Sicily: Italy with a touch of Greece and Africa” Washington Times: http://ow.ly/s7GPa 

“Decline and fall of Rome’s cinematic empire: The end for Italy’s famed Cinecitta studios?” The Independent: http://ow.ly/s7pNq 

“Robin Osborne on the state of Open Access: Where are we, what still needs to be done?” with @RickyPo. http://ow.ly/s7ppm 

“I NEED A (working-class tragic) HERO” Edith Hall is holding out for a hero for her essay. The Edithorial: http://ow.ly/s7WeR

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