Classics News
Curated by The Paideia Institute
The Benefits, and Pain, of a Latin Education
My mother could translate the dactylic hexameter of Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’ as if she were reading her grocery list.
Art & Archaeology

The Meaning of Ancient Greek and Roman Artisan Signatures
What did a signature mean in the ancient world, and how much can we trust what they seem to tell...

Ancient Golden Glass Unearthed During Roman Subway Construction
Subway construction in Rome has revealed a rare fourth-century golden glass depiction of Roma, the personification of ancient Rome. It’s...

Pestle or dildo? Six-inch wooden implement may be a Roman sex toy, say academics
Artefact may “be the first known sex object from the Roman Empire” according to new research.

Archaeologists Find 1,900-Year-Old Snacks in Sewers Beneath the Colosseum
Spectators at Rome’s ancient amphitheater enjoyed olives, figs, nuts and more...
History

Ancient astronauts and the very, very early Space Race
No engine? No problem! This is the story of the daring early days of rocket science.

Rome wasn't built in a day, but they sure had strong concrete
The Roman Colosseum is a giant, oval amphitheater built almost two thousand years ago. Despite its age and a 14th...

Psychedelics in ancient Greece: Death and rebirth during a renowned religious ceremony
Going back as far as 3,500 years ago in ancient Greece, followers of a cult to the goddess Demeter participated...

The Roman Empire Visualized in Infographics
It has become fashionable to compare the United States’ current disarray to that of ancient Rome. The parallels are easy...
Language

In Defense of Languages
In cutting languages, colleges undercut commitments to social justice and to translation, in the broadest possible sense, Jessica Blum-Sorensen writes....

Latin may help students bridge their native language with English
Researchers found that in teaching English learners -- students who aren't fluent in English and often come from homes where...

Emma Thompson donates £500 to former school’s fund-raiser to save Classical Greek lessons
Exclusive: Camden School for Girls uses Just Giving site to raise money to keep course going
Literature

‘Et Tu, Brute?’ Review: Latin Lovers
If only schoolmasters had given students this kind of book first, before all that rote learning about genitive and ablative...

The Ancient Greek Myths Retold
‘Gods and Mortals’ by Sarah Iles Johnston, ‘Arcadian Days’ by John Spurling and ‘Greek Myths’ by Charlotte Higgins.

Here’s Why Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” Is Popular Once Again
Gareth Williams’ new book explains why the classic poem is just right for our times.

Women, Witchcraft and Greek Myth
Brandeis University’s Joel Christensen examines women’s stories from ancient Greece to the recent past.
Philosophy

Opinion | Socrates Wants You to Tidy Up, Too
What reading an ancient Greek dialogue can tell us about the Marie Kondo craze.

Particle Accelerator Reveals Ancient Greek Medical Text Beneath Religious Psalms on Parchment
If you’re a history buff, you might not know much particle physics. But the two fields share more in common...

Is Democracy Broken? What Plato Would Have Said About Trump and Brexit
First Brexit, then Trump. 2016 was not a good year for modern Western democracies. In 2018, the consequences of these...

Leading private school uses Greek philosophers to teach pupils how to spot 'fake news'
Brighton College will begin using Greek philosophers to teach students how to spot fake news on social media as it...
Classics at Large

One of Ireland’s last Latin teachers has retired. Is it the end of the line for a ‘dead’ language?
Supporters insists it is a living subject that broadens cultural understanding and educational horizons.

The Benefits, and Pain, of a Latin Education
My mother could translate the dactylic hexameter of Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’ as if she were reading her grocery list.

Hits and myths: why has Hollywood abandoned ancient Greece?
Tolkien-inspired mythology has taken over our screens while a treasure chest of epic fantasy tales lies unused.

Girls Gone Greek
The most influential character on Showtime’s Yellowjackets is the one who goes unnamed: Dionysus.