Classics at the University of Otago

Ka pai, Tyler Broome (Otago BA(Hons) and MA and current PhD candidate at the University of Birmingham)! Excellent article!

US election: how Trump’s speeches echo Roman rhetoric and style from 2,000 years ago Roman writers set out a playbook for rhetoric but also worried about morals and power.

More news coverage about the amazing work Dan and his team are doing in Merida. (this time in English!)

University of Otago archaeology students digging into Spain's ancient Roman history Their finds from the ancient Roman colony so far include a bone die used for gaming, a carved bone hairpin, as well as some pottery pieces.

We are pleased to announce that we have been authorized to run a search for TWO permanent, full-time Lecturers in Classics to begin mid-2025.

For full details, please see the following links:
https://otago.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=2401068

https://otago.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=2401071

Pūkenga/Lecturer - Classics (Social History) Click the link provided to see the complete job description.

Some Otago Classics, Archaeology, and Geology students, postgrads, and graduates made it into the local news in Mérida, Spain today, where they're participating in Dr. Osland's excavation and field school project, digging in the Roman city.

14 estudiantes de arqueología de Nueva Zelanda se encuentran excavando en Mérida gracias a un proyecto de la Universidad de Otago 14 alumnos y alumnas neozelandeses procedentes de la Universidad de Otago, en Nueva Zelanda, excavarán en Mérida a lo largo de todo el mes de julio. Lo harán en el […]

https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/jun/18/oldest-wine-ever-discovered-in-liquid-form-found-in-urn-with-roman-remains?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR04B6vcHHWUsf3OR3_Zw5sn6ps0M5CF6xc-Shad6d9Vtt3hQ9AOgdAXcug_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw =1718721713

Oldest wine ever discovered in liquid form found in urn with Roman remains Reddish-brown liquid found in untouched 2,000-year-old Roman tomb is a local, sherry-like wine

Smithsonian interview with some of the team involved in winning the Vesuvius Challenge to read those amazing Herculaneum scrolls:

How Artificial Intelligence Is Making 2,000-Year-Old Scrolls Readable Again The innovative “Vesuvius Challenge” unlocked a mystery that had confounded archeologists for centuries

A really nice piece on BAHons and MA Classics student Scott Bezett, who will be graduating along with many other Classics students today. Congratulations to you all! Koia kei a koutou!

Graduate Scott Bezett daring to squiggle | University of Otago Scott Bezett will be the muscial act at his own graduation ceremony on 11 May.

The Otago Classics Programme has been authorized to run a search for a 2-year Teaching Fellow with a focus on Greek and Latin instruction (beginning 1 November 2024). Check out all the details here:

Teaching Fellow (Classics) Click the link provided to see the complete job description.

Very exciting news!

Vesuvius Challenge 2023 Grand Prize awarded: we can read the scrolls! The 2000-year-old scroll discusses music, food, and how to enjoy life’s pleasures.

We are saddened to report that Dr John Garthwaite (BA, Leicester; MA and PhD, Cornell) passed away on 9 January 2024. John retired in 2014 after decades of service as an extremely popular lecturer in Classics, teaching the Greek Mythology paper alongside his research specialisation in Roman literature. John was also a wonderful colleague and a steadfast Sunderland A.F.C. supporter. In keeping with his wishes, a private cremation was held and a private memorial gathering will follow. Messages can be sent to 18 Passmore Crescent, Maori Hill, Dunedin, 9010.

More exciting work at the confluence of classical languages, archaeology, and technology (including some AI): digital reconstructions of the text on carbonized scrolls from Herculaneum

Researchers use AI to read word on ancient scroll burned by Vesuvius University of Kentucky challenged computer scientists to reveal contents of carbonised papyrus, a ‘potential treasure trove for historians’

This evening's Otago Classical Association lecture is Prof. Simone Marshall's "As False as Cressid": Medieval and Early Modern Accounts of Troy, 6pm in Burns 2. All Welcome

Come join us Thursday 28 September at 6pm (Burns 2) for a free public lecture from Prof. Simone Marshall: "'As False as Cressid': Medieval and Early Modern accounts of Troy." Drinks and nibbles in the Humanities Common Room (Arts 1W9) from 5:30pm. All welcome

How often do you think about the Roman Empire? Our very own Gwynaeth McIntyre spoke to The Project last night about the current TikTok trend. https://fb.watch/nbcgRntCQT/

If you are wondering what all the fuss is about, why not check out our Pre-Xmas Summer School paper.

Beaten to the punch by our friends over at the Classical Association of Otago, come out to Burns 2 on Thursday (details below) to see our very own Ben Clarkson's public lecture!

This Thursday 24 August, the Classical Association of Otago is hosting a lecture by Ben Clarkson, PhD student in Classics at Otago, on "Exiles, Seers, and Charlatans: Theoklymenos and Odyssey 15". Lecture starts at 6pm in Burns 2. Drinks and nibbles will be served in the Humanities Common Room, 1W9, from 5:30pm. (Please note that due to a previous lecture in Burns 2, lecture theatre will only be available for early arrivals after c. 5:50pm)

Plenty of really cool stuff still hiding under Rome these days!

Ruins of ancient Nero's Theater discovered under garden of future Four Seasons near Vatican Rome’s next luxury hotel has some very good bones. Archaeologists said Wednesday that the ruins of Nero’s Theater have been discovered under the garden of the future Four Seasons Hotel.

Public lecture tomorrow evening in Burns 2: 6pm

🐈 How the domestic cat conquered Europe

This map tracks how our feline friends spread from their homeland in Western Asia, eventually reaching every corner of Europe with the help of the Greeks, Romans, and Vikings

🔗 from 2022 🆓https://buff.ly/3USq7Iu

On Tuesday 13 June, 6pm, Professor Greg Woolf (UCLA) will deliver a public lecture in Marama Hall: "The Women's Season" - full details in the attached poster, all welcome!

Here's a fun example of some the really important interdisciplinary work that classicists around the world are doing: https://www.newsweek.com/ptolemy-lost-manuscript-discovered-medieval-abbey-1790809 I don't know about "hidden manuscript" as that seems to imply that someone had intentionally secreted the thing away, but, you know, whatever sells clicks!

Ptolemy's lost manuscript discovered in book found in medieval abbey After years of work, researchers have uncovered a guide to constructing an ancient tool for tracing distances and the stars.

Our very own Dr Gwynaeth McIntyre kicks off this year's Otago Classical Association public lecture series this Thursday, 16 March, at 6pm, with "Commemorating the Past and Performing Power: Parades of Ancestors on Caligula's Coinage" - Burns 2 of the Arts Building, All Welcome!

With apologies for the late notice, we'll be hosting our first Classical Association of Otago event of 2023 this Thursday, with Dr Gwynaeth McIntyre's lecture on "Commemorating the Past and Performing Power: Parades of Ancestors on Caligula's Coinage". 16 March at 6pm in Burns 2, with drinks and nibbles to be served in the Humanities Common Room from 5:30pm. Full details and abstract in the poster, attached here.

Today 1 February we are thrilled to welcome lecturer Dr Chloe Borowska to the staff of Classics at the University of Otago Tēnā koe, Dr Borowska!

We are pleased to announce that we have been authorized to run a search for a permanent, full-time Lecturer in Classics to begin 2024. For full details, please see the following link:

Pūkenga/Lecturer in Classics (Greek History) Click the link provided to see the complete job description.

As the exam season starts to wind down, we would just like to remind students about the UBS' BuyBack programme, just in case you have any books that you don't want anymore (not that this would apply to any Classics books! 😉). Also, keep an eye out for used books for your papers for next year! There are copies floating around...

Wishing you all a great summer and we look forward to seeing you next year!

Congratulations to our 2022 Classics Honours students, both of whom submitted their research projects on Friday! It hasn't been the easiest year for this sort of work, but they stuck it out and earned themselves a nice break - just in time for Exams. Ka pai tō mahi

We don't like to brag (maybe), but sometimes we have to: please join us and the rest of the University of Otago in congratulating this year's Otago Teaching Award recipients, including our very own Dr Gwynaeth McIntyre! Dr McIntyre was already a highly-decorated teacher and supervisor, so nobody is likely to be surprised by this latest accolade, but it's still a huge honor and also a timely recognition of the fantastic work that she does for our Classics students. Ka pai Dr Mcintyre!

Humanities lecturers take out Otago teaching awards Humanities has accomplished something special, picking up all three Otago Excellence in Teaching awards presented for 2022.

On Thursday, Dr Joel Gordon will present some of his research on gods in games, in a lecture entitled "'Playing' Hercules: A hero's journey through 40 years of video games." OCA members will be pleased to note that 2022 marks the hundredth year since our Society was established, and it seems fitting that we welcome an Otago PhD to deliver an Otago Classical Association centenary lecture.

Lecture details: Thursday 22 September, 6pm, Burns 7 (Arts Building), University of Otago. Please refer to the attached image for additional specifics.

We had a great time welcoming students to campus and talking to them about Classics at Otago on Sunday and Monday this past week! Thank you to all the student volunteers who helped out and to Jen and the Otago Museum for letting us share some of their amazing collection with prospective students.

The Otago Museum just published this blog on Caligula's coins by one of our Honours' students as part of the assessment for CLAS444: From Augustus to Nero. Great work George!

https://otagomuseum.nz/blog/coins-minted-by-caligula-honouring-family-members

otagomuseum.nz

Check out this article in The Conversation by our former PhD student, Dr Charlotte Dunn (now Lecturer in Classics at the University of Tasmania). Awesome work Charlotte!

Siege warfare, polygamy and sacrilege: meet history's most outrageous king, Demetrius the Besieger Said to have been the first person to put his own head on a coin, Demetrius the Besieger is known for siege warfare, sacrilege, and extravagance.

Thursday 28 July from 6pm (Arts Building, Burns 1) the Classical Association of Otago will host Dr Mark Hebblewhite of Australian Catholic University for his lecture "The Bitter Tears of Dying Gods: Theodosius ‘The Great’, paganism and the politics of empire." Further details on the attached poster.

Public Lecture: Next Thursday 28 July from 6pm (Arts Building, Burns 1) the Classical Association of Otago will host Dr Mark Hebblewhite of Australian Catholic University for his lecture "The Bitter Tears of Dying Gods: Theodosius ‘The Great’, paganism and the politics of empire." Please join us for what promises to be a fascinating talk.