Classics News and Events
New publication on Augustus in JRS
In March 2019, Dr. Caroline Petit was awarded the M茅daille de Ch茅nier of the Acad茅mie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres (Paris), for her book Galien de Pergame ou la rh茅torique de la Providence. M茅decine, litt茅rature et pouvoir 脿 Rome, Brill, 2018. This quinquennal award distinguishes a book of significance in the field of Greek language and literature.
Galen's Treatise 蟺蔚蟻峤� 峒�位蠀蟺委伪蟼 (De indolentia) in Context: A tale of resilience, edited by Dr. Caroline Petit, Brill, 2019
In 193 AD, Galen of Pergamum, physician to the emperors, discloses crucial information in a letter to an unnamed friend. This long-lost text was rediscovered in 2005 by a then PhD student, and has since generated more literature than any other Galen text. In the wake of Vivian Nutton's authoritative translation (2013), this collection of essays addresses some of the many facets of the text, shedding new light on Galen, Rome, and the reign of Commodus.
Arising from a Wellcome-funded conference, the book is open access, courtesy of Brill and the Wellcome Trust.
Out in September 2018: Caroline Petit鈥檚 book, Galien de Pergame ou la rh茅torique de la Providence: M茅decine, litt茅rature et pouvoir 脿 Rome is the first comprehensive study of the role of rhetoric in Galen鈥檚 舱耻惫谤别. Physician to several Roman emperors and author of the most impressive body of works in antiquity up to AD 350, Galen created a compelling figure of authority through his medical and philosophical works. The book analyses the range of Galen鈥檚 rhetorical mastery through five chapters, studying in turn Galen and the Hellenic tradition, Galen鈥檚 demonstrative and refutative tactics, the role of enargeia in Galen鈥檚 descriptions and narratives, his 鈥榟ymn鈥� to Nature in his main anatomical work, De usu partium, and finally autobiography and self-portrait in his 舱耻惫谤别.
New open access publication: Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project
Abigail Baker and Alison Cooley, 'Breaking through the language barrier – bringing 鈥榙ead鈥� languages to life through sensory and narrative engagement', Journal of Museum Management and Curatorship,
Abstract: Ancient inscriptions can be difficult to understand and off-putting to museum audiences, but they are packed with personal stories and vivid information about the people who made them. This article argues that overcoming the language barrier presented by these objects can offer a deep sense of engagement with the ancient world and explores possible ways of achieving this. It looks at examples of effective approaches from a range of European museums with a particular emphasis on bringing out the sensory, social, and narrative dimensions of these objects. It argues that inscriptions can change the way that museum visitors view the ancient world and empower them to interpret the past for themselves in new and creative ways.