Latin Online Seminars

Bestiae et Homines (Part 1)

With Natalia Čepeláková
Mondays 3-4 pm UK time, Sep 29-Nov 30, 2025

In this seminar, we shall explore the role of animals in the lives of the ancient Romans. The Romans employed a wide variety of animals for many different purposes: in military and civilian contexts, for transport and protection, for divination and entertainment. While there are numerous descriptions of familiar creatures, such as the dog, we also encounter accounts of the phoenix, the unicorn, the manticore, and other fantastical beasts. All of this we shall examine through readings from ancient Latin literature and epigraphic evidence.

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Cicero and Historiography

With Krasimir Ivanov
Mondays 4:30-6 pm UK time, Sep 29-Nov 30, 2025

The standard approach to historical events is to examine the decisions of a variety of different players from the perspective of posterity, sometimes at many centuries’ remove. Attention tends to focus on politics, major battles, and broad socio-economic trends.
Another way of looking at history is to narrow the focus by zooming in on one person’s life. Here, the interest lies in the depth of the individual’s thoughts, the critical moments of their life, their dedication to their duties, and so on.
This time, however, why not do something different and enjoy the fruits of both approaches? In this seminar we will take the life of Cicero as the basis of our discussions, but rather than talking only about him we will ask who he was close to, what his connections were, who his rivals and his enemies were, and why life brought them together. What happened? How did things turn out? What came to pass?
Above all in these classes we hope to get a sense of the upheavals of the times, their spirit, their hopes, battles, joys, and disappointments. Our aim will be to try and understand what it was to be born at that moment in history, to grow up, be educated, live, and die at that time. Let’s try and live, with Cicero, through the final act of the famous concordia ordinum.
In this first part of the series we will look at how the Romans expanded their interests to the extent that Rome became the capital of almost the entire known world, and how the seeds of its fall were sown. We will try and get a sense of the effort involved in bringing up one’s children, earning a living, and so on. We will look at how the Romans organised their domestic and military lives, where Cicero fits in to the first part of this century, and how he took his first steps on the cursus honorum.
This seminar is suitable for students who have completed their Latin grammar studies and are ready to examine one of the most important original Latin authors we have.

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Roman Women (Part 1): Famous and Unknown

With Natalia Čepeláková
Tuesdays 3-4 pm UK time, Sep 29-Nov 30, 2025

In this seminar, we’ll explore the lives of Roman women from the earliest days of Roman history through to the end of the Republic. We’ll look beyond the often-biased perspective of literary sources and draw on archaeological and epigraphic evidence to gain a fuller picture of what their lives were really like. Along the way, we’ll examine a wide range of materials — from texts and inscriptions to archaeological remains — and consider both the remarkable stories of exceptional women and the everyday experiences of those less well known.
This seminar is intended for women only.

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Bestiae et Homines (Part 2)

With Natalia Čepeláková
Mondays 3-4 pm UK time, Jan 12-Mar 13, 2026

In this seminar, we shall read and discuss medieval texts that concern themselves with animals. In what contexts do the authors engage with the theme of animals? What elements do they inherit from the classical tradition? And is there a place for fantastical creatures within Christian literature? We shall seek answers to these and other questions relating to both real and imagined beings. This seminar forms the second part of a series on animals, though students can attend any one part or any combination of parts if they wish.

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Roman Women (Part 2): Famous and Unknown

With Natalia Čepeláková
Tuesdays 3-4 pm UK time, Jan 12-Mar 13, 2026

Roman Women: Famous and Unknown
In this seminar, we’ll explore the lives of Roman women during the early Empire. Historical sources speak of women involved in the political life of the Empire — supporting their husbands, pursuing their own intrigues, or becoming political tools in the hands of men. Along the way, we’ll examine a wide range of materials — from literary texts and inscriptions to archaeological evidence — and consider both the remarkable stories of exceptional women and the everyday experiences of those less well known.
This seminar is intended for women only.

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Latin Prose Composition

With Christian Costa
Day and time TBC

Do you want to improve your understanding of the style of the great Latin authors?
Try writing like them!
We offer an intensive and practical seminar, during which we will deeply analyze the techniques and stylistic principles of renowned Latin prose writers such as Cicero, Sallust, Tacitus, and other masters of Latin prose. The goal of the course is not only to passively understand their writings but to acquire the necessary skills to emulate their style through targeted composition exercises.
The program will include:
Paraphrasing and stylistic variation exercises, to adapt modern texts or sentences from ancient authors to various Latin registers.
Free and guided composition, using tools such as Meissner’s phraseology and suggestions from manuals like Lo stile latino and Sintassi latina by Gandino, enriched with direct references to Cicero’s passages and those of other classical authors.
Analysis of syntactic and semantic structures, with specific exercises for the correct use of complex constructions like the conditional sentence, indirect discourse, and subordinate clauses according to the classical model.
Expansion of active vocabulary through practical exercises based on the use of the dictionary and the comparative analysis of synonyms and authentic Latin expressions.
Active translation and back-translation as a method to consolidate the practical application of syntactic and stylistic rules.
The instructor will guide each activity with care and precision, adapting explanations and exercises to the level and specific needs of the participants. The exercises will be designed to be not only useful but also engaging and stimulating, allowing students to learn while having fun.
Prerequisites: It is recommended that you have completed the reading and study of Familia Romana, as the seminar will be conducted entirely in Latin.

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Bestiae et Homines (Part 3)

With Natalia Čepeláková
Mondays 3-4 pm UK time, TBC

During the Renaissance, new empirical knowledge about animals began to emerge; nevertheless, writers continued to draw on classical traditions in their descriptions. In this seminar, we shall explore texts of various genres—both literary and scholarly—that concern themselves with animals. We shall read scientific treatises alongside a panegyric to a much-cherished little dog, learn how to tell a genuine unicorn horn from a fake one, find out how many different terms were used to refer to the giraffe, and much else besides. This seminar forms the third part of a series on animals, though students can attend any one part or any combination of parts if they wish.

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Roman Women (Part 3): Famous and Unknown

With Natalia Čepeláková
Tuesdays 3-4 pm UK time, TBC

In this seminar, we’ll explore the lives of Roman women during the late Empire. This period — known for the madness of emperors, military campaigns, and the persecution of Christians — produced a striking variety of women: politicians and scholars, notorious criminals and Christian martyrs. We’ll examine a wide range of materials — from literary texts and inscriptions to archaeological evidence — and consider both the remarkable stories of exceptional women and the everyday experiences of those less well known.
This seminar is intended for women only.

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