Online advanced reading seminars
Text-based seminars
In these once-a-week 90-minute seminars, our teachers choose Latin and ancient Greek texts that they find particularly interesting. Each seminar will consist of reading and discussion in the original language, led by the teacher but to a considerable extent shaped by the students’ response to the text. These highly participative sessions will appeal to those who wish to work on their reading and/or speaking fluency. The cost of each of the seminars is £270.
2023 Autumn term
Oct 2-Dec 3
Oct 2-Dec 3
Enrolment deadline Sep 24
Cicero Series, Part I:
Cicero, a ‘new man’ in Rome
with Krasimir Ivanov
Mondays 5-6:30 pm
Women-Only Seminar:
Emotions in ancient literature
with Dr Melinda Letts
Tuesdays 5-6:30 pm
The Fantasy Genre in Greek Literature:
True Histories (Verae Historiae)
by Lucian of Samosata
with Oroel Marcuello Gil
Tuesdays at 7:30-9 pm
Renaissance and neo-Latin reading course
with Iván Parga Ornelas
Thursdays 4:30-6 pm
Introduction to Plato’s Ethics, Part I
with Pierre Gorsky-Mièze
Thursdays 6-7:30 pm
2024 Winter term
Jan 8-Mar 10
Jan 8-Mar 10
Enrolment deadline Dec 31
Cicero Series, Part II:
Cicero, political animal
with Krasimir Ivanov
Mondays 5-6:30 pm
Women-Only Seminar:
Letters from mythical women - Ovid’s Heroides
with Dr Melinda Letts
Tuesdays 5-6:30 pm
Introduction to Plato’s Ethics, Part II
with Pierre Gorsky Mièze
Thursdays 6-7:30 pm
How Latin writers of all ages perceived the Arabs and the Middle East
with Mark Tomov
Fridays 6-7:30 pm
2024 Spring term
Apr 15-Jun 16
Apr 15-Jun 16
Enrolment deadline Apr 7
Cicero Series, Part III:
Cicero, defender of the Republic
with Krasimir Ivanov
Mondays 5-6:30 pm
Women-Only Seminar:
Speaking of myself - glimpsing Cicero and Pliny the Younger through their letters
with Dr Melinda Letts
Tuesdays 5-6:30 pm
Ancient Musical Theory
Thursdays 5-6:30 pm
Introduction to Plato’s Ethics, Part III
with Pierre Gorsky-Mièze
Thursdays 6-7:30 pm
The Orientalists
with Mark Tomov
Fridays 6-7:30 pm
Autumn term
October 2-December 3, 2023
CICERO’S LIFE AND THE POLITICS OF LATE REPUBLICAN ROME, PART I:
CICERO, A ‘NEW MAN’ IN ROME
CICERO, A ‘NEW MAN’ IN ROME
with Krasimir Ivanov
Mondays 5-6:30pm UK time, October 2-November 27, 2023
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.
WOMEN-ONLY SEMINAR: EMOTIONS IN ANCIENT LITERATURE
with Dr Melinda Letts
Tuesdays at 5-6:30 pm UK time, October 3-November 28, 2023
There are comparatively few women in the Latin speaking field, a fact that has nothing to do with ability and everything to do with opportunity. This seminar, led by Melinda Letts, aims to help redress the balance by giving women the opportunity to practise speaking Latin with each other in a mutually supportive environment. Designed for women who are fairly confident readers of Latin and specifically want to begin or develop their speaking ability, the seminar will encourage discussion of students’ response to the texts rather than primarily teaching grammar, though grammatical guidance will be given whenever it is needed.
The texts for this term have been chosen from a variety of authors and genres including love elegy, mourning poetry, and epistolary, historical and philosophical prose. All of them deal with human emotions: love, hatred, fear, grief, consolation, depression, elation, and more, presented in contrasting pairs per fortnight. The first part of each seminar will include an introduction to the author and genre concerned.
THE FANTASY GENRE IN GREEK LITERATURE:
TRUE HISTORIES
(VERAE HISTORIAE )
BY LUCIAN OF SAMOSATA
TRUE HISTORIES
(VERAE HISTORIAE )
BY LUCIAN OF SAMOSATA
with Oroel Marcuello Gil
Tuesdays at 7:30-9 pm UK time, October 3-November 28, 2023
ἵνα μὴ μόνος ἄμοιρος ὦ τῆς ἐν τῷ μυθολογεῖν ἐλευθερίας, ἐπεὶ μηδὲν ἀληθὲς ἱστορεῖν εἶχον – οὐδὲν γὰρ ἐπεπόνθειν ἀξιόλογον – ἐπὶ τὸ ψεῦδος ἐτραπόμην εὐγνωμονέστερον· κἂν ἓν γὰρ δὴ τοῦτο ἀληθεύσω λέγων ὅτι ψεύδομαι.
‘In order not to be the only one missing out on the freedom to tell stories, having nothing true to relate (for I had experienced nothing worth mentioning) I turned gladly to untruths; indeed the only true thing I shall say is that I am telling untruths.’
Luc. VH, 1.4
The intersection of Homeric inquiries, interstellar voyages, fluid sexualities, and plenty of sarcasm, characterises the literary milieu surrounding Lucian of Samosata. Eclipsing his contemporaries in brilliance and precocity, Lucian stands as an eminent figure within Ancient Greek literature. This seminar endeavours to establish conceptual bridges between Lucian and his predecessors, as well as those who followed in his narrative tradition: Thomas More, Jules Verne, Ursula K. Le Guin, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling.
Over the course of these nine sessions, we will read various excerpts from Verae Historiae including the proem, the journey to the moon, the interior of a whale, the conversation between Lucian and Homer, and the Island of Dreams. Moreover, we will collectively reflect on the theoretical and literary foundations of the fantasy genre in both the ancient and modern worlds. We'll conclude with a reading of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, translated into Ancient Greek by Dr. Andrew Wilson.
The approach we take will depend on the number of participants and their interests. This seminar also aims to enhance the active competence of participants in Classical Greek, both in written and spoken forms. We might engage in writing exercises as well.
This seminar is intended for intermediate and advanced students.
RENAISSANCE AND NEO-LATIN READING COURSE
with Iván Parga Ornelas
Thursdays 4:30-6 pm UK time, October 5-November 30, 2023
Latin language and literature have a rich and enduring history that goes beyond the dissolution of the Roman empire. From the Middle Ages to the Renaissance and even today, people across the world have used Latin to write literary, philosophical, political, and scientific works of great significance. In order to introduce students to post-classical Latin literature, this reading course will focus on the writings of Renaissance or Early Modern authors. The course is designed both for scholars of these periods who wish to improve their Latin for academic purposes, as well as for enthusiasts of the language who seek a wider understanding of the history of Latin literature.
Classes are primarily taught in Latin, and they are meant for advanced or intermediate students who have already learned the grammar and can read, but still struggle to do so fluently and without a dictionary. It is recommended to have some experience with spoken Latin, but this is not required. As such, students with a firm grasp of the language, even if they do not have previous experience with the active method, are warmly welcomed and encouraged to participate in this learning experience.
The readings have been selected so as to cover several geographical areas, and literary genres: Some of the authors that will be read include Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) (1304-1374) Antonio Becadelli ‘Panormita’ (1394-1471), Laura Cereta (1469-1499), Erasmus of Rotterdam (1469 c. – 1535), Joachim du Bellay (1522-1560).
INTRODUCTION TO PLATO'S ETHICS, PART I
with Pierre Gorsky-Mièze
Thursdays 6-7:30 pm UK time, October 5-November 30, 2023
Plato is not a fan of Athenian democracy. The speakers jostling for position in the agora seek to persuade rather than teach. Appearance takes precedence over truth. For Athens to continue to prosper, Plato sees only one solution: to devote his energy to the development of citizens. Not as a sophist, but as a philosopher. What are the definitions of and relationships between virtue, emotions, reason, happiness, duty? How should we live, according to Plato?
Sometimes Plato’s arguments can seem scattered or disjointed. Is there an underlying logical system to his method? What is it that Plato is aiming at in his earliest dialogues?
Plato's later works see him start to diverge from the ideas of his master, Socrates. To what degree does Plato preserve Socrates as a historical figure, and to what degree is Socrates a prop for Plato’s own agenda?
In our first seminar we will work through extracts of some of Plato’s earliest dialogues, Protagoras, Gorgias, and Meno.
Seminar II (Winter Term) and Seminar III (Spring Term) will cover extracts of The Republic and excerpts from Plato’s other later works.
This course is intended for those who have completed their study of Greek grammar and wish to work on their reading and speaking fluency. Each week students will receive a document summarising the vocabulary, grammar and syntax of the excerpts studied, simplified grammar and syntax examples, and a writing exercise that will serve as a basis for discussion at the beginning of the next class. This seminar is limited to 6 students.
Winter term
January 8-March 10, 2024
CICERO’S LIFE AND THE POLITICS OF LATE REPUBLICAN ROME, PART II:
CICERO, POLITICAL ANIMAL
CICERO, POLITICAL ANIMAL
with Krasimir Ivanov
Mondays 5-6:30pm UK time, January 8-March 4, 2024
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.
Now Cicero is on his way. He has met many people, including both Scaevolae, Apollonius of Rhodes, Pomponius Atticus, Julius Caesar, and more. He spends time in Sicily, and starts to become famous at Rome for his rhetorical skill. This is the period when he makes his political choices, continues up the cursus honorum to the consulship, its highest point, and has dealings with a wide range of people. Should he defend Catiline or attack him? Will he ally himself with the most powerful men of the age, or should he leave the triumvirs as he flees the attacks of Clodius Pulcher, at a time when it seems everything is going wrong for him?
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.
WOMEN-ONLY SEMINAR: LETTERS FROM MYTHICAL WOMEN – OVID’S HEROIDES
with Dr Melinda Letts
Tuesdays 5-6:30 pm UK time, January 9-March 5, 2024
There are comparatively few women in the Latin speaking field, a fact that has nothing to do with ability and everything to do with opportunity. This seminar, led by Melinda Letts, aims to help redress the balance by giving women the opportunity to practise speaking Latin with each other in a mutually supportive environment. Designed for women who are fairly confident readers of Latin and specifically want to begin or develop their speaking ability, the seminar will encourage discussion of students’ response to the texts rather than primarily teaching grammar, though grammatical guidance will be given whenever it is needed.
Ovid’s Heroides consist of 21 elegiac poems, most of which take the form of letters written by women of ancient myth and legend who have suffered in love to the men who have variously deserted, disappointed, deceived or otherwise mistreated them. Examples include Penelope writing to Ulysses, Briseis to Achilles, Phaedra to Hippolytus, Dido to Aeneas, Deianeira to Hercules, Ariadne to Theseus, Medea to Jason, and Hermione to Orestes. Each poem purports to present love from the woman’s point of view; among the things we will discuss in this seminar is the extent to which the male poet has, or could hope to have, understood the perspective of a woman on the receiving end of male desire in societies where women were relatively powerless. Taking one poem per week, we will also spend part of each seminar revisiting the myths themselves and noting other well known representations of the stories.
INTRODUCTION TO PLATO'S ETHICS, PART II
with Pierre Gorsky-Mièze
Thursdays 6-7:30pm UK time, January 11-March 7, 2024
Plato is not a fan of Athenian democracy. The speakers jostling for position in the agora seek to persuade rather than teach. Appearance takes precedence over truth. For Athens to continue to prosper, Plato sees only one solution: to devote his energy to the development of citizens. Not as a sophist, but as a philosopher. What are the definitions of and relationships between virtue, emotions, reason, happiness, duty? How should we live, according to Plato?
Sometimes Plato’s arguments can seem scattered or disjointed. Is there an underlying logical system to his method? What is it that Plato is aiming at in his earliest dialogues?
Plato's later works see him start to diverge from the ideas of his master, Socrates. To what degree does Plato preserve Socrates as a historical figure, and to what degree is Socrates a prop for Plato’s own agenda?
Seminar II (Winter Term) and Seminar III (Spring Term) will cover extracts of The Republic and excerpts from Plato’s other later works.
This course is intended for those who have completed their study of Greek grammar and wish to work on their reading and speaking fluency. Each week students will receive a document summarising the vocabulary, grammar and syntax of the excerpts studied, simplified grammar and syntax examples, and a writing exercise that will serve as a basis for discussion at the beginning of the next class. This seminar is limited to 6 students.
HOW LATIN WRITERS OF ALL AGES PERCEIVED THE ARABS AND THE MIDDLE EAST
With Mark Tomov
Fridays 6-7:30 pm UK time, January 12-March 8, 2024
In this seminar we will explore what authors writing in Latin throughout history thought of Arabic culture, Islam and what is now known as the Middle East, and how these views changed over time. We will examine the various misconceptions and prejudices about the East held by these authors. Among the texts that will be read are poetic excerpts, prose tracts, and translations from the Arabic, made from Antiquity up to the Enlightenment, that deal with Europeans’ notion of Arabs, Middle Eastern poetry, Islam, and so on. The course will include authors such as Horace, Embrico of Mainz and William Jones, among others.
Classes will involve reading excerpts and discussion, commenting on the quality of the author’s Latin (this can be expected to vary depending on the period when the text was written), their style, and possible reasons for their having espoused one misconception or another. This course is intended for those who have a good grasp of Latin grammar and wish to work on their reading and speaking fluency.
Spring term
April 15-June 16, 2024
CICERO’S LIFE AND THE POLITICS OF LATE REPUBLICAN ROME, PART III:
CICERO, DEFENDER OF THE REPUBLIC
CICERO, DEFENDER OF THE REPUBLIC
With Krasimir Ivanov
Mondays 5-6:30 pm UK time, April 15-June 10, 2024
The standard approach to historical events is to examine the decisions of a variety of different players from the perspective of posterity, 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!
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.
Returning from exile, Cicero hoped to find Rome the same city that he had left. But everything had changed …
We will marvel at how this ‘new man’ was recalled by the party of the elite in the hope that he could be the ultimate saviour of the Republic, and we will see how in the end his once commanding voice was silenced.
WOMEN-ONLY SEMINAR: SPEAKING OF MYSELF – GLIMPSING CICERO AND PLINY THE YOUNGER THROUGH THEIR LETTERS
With Dr. Melinda Letts
Tuesdays 5-6:30 pm UK time, April 16-June 11, 2024
There are comparatively few women in the Latin speaking field, a fact that has nothing to do with ability and everything to do with opportunity. This seminar, led by Melinda Letts, aims to help redress the balance by giving women the opportunity to practise speaking Latin with each other in a mutually supportive environment. Designed for women who are fairly confident readers of Latin and specifically want to begin or develop their speaking ability, the seminar will encourage discussion of students’ response to the texts rather than primarily teaching grammar, though grammatical guidance will be given whenever it is needed.
Cicero and Pliny are both well known for their correspondence. The multiple volumes of Cicero’s letters represent just one of the genres for which he is famous, while in Pliny’s case his ten books of letters are virtually all that remain of his writings. Each author's correspondence was preserved for different reasons: Pliny carefully arranged his letters for publication, while Cicero seems on the whole to have had no such expectation, writing for his friends rather than for posterity. We will read a selection of letters from each author, touching as much as possible on similar themes, and look at what the two authors reveal about themselves, their lives, their interests and their ambitions.
ANCIENT MUSICAL THEORY
Thursdays 5-6:30 pm UK time, April 18-June 13, 2024
Many learned Greeks wrote about music – Aristoxenus, Ptolemy, Aristides Quintilianus, to name but a few – but there are also Latin sources on which we can draw. What did the ancients consider music to be? What about musicians, harmony, consonance? How did music relate to poetry, oratory, theatre, and culture? What sort of songs were listened to? We will try and answer these questions in our seminars while reading excerpts from the Latin authors Censorius, Augustine, Marcianus Capella, and Boethius.
This course is intended for those who have a good grasp of Latin grammar and wish to work on their reading and speaking fluency.
INTRODUCTION TO PLATO'S ETHICS, PART III
With Pierre Gorsky-Mièze
Thursdays 6-7:30 pm UK time, April 18-June 13, 2024
Plato is not a fan of Athenian democracy. The speakers jostling for position in the agora seek to persuade rather than teach. Appearance takes precedence over truth. For Athens to continue to prosper, Plato sees only one solution: to devote his energy to the development of citizens. Not as a sophist, but as a philosopher. What are the definitions of and relationships between virtue, emotions, reason, happiness, duty? How should we live, according to Plato?
Sometimes Plato’s arguments can seem scattered or disjointed. Is there an underlying logical system to his method? What is it that Plato is aiming at in his earliest dialogues?
Plato's later works see him start to diverge from the ideas of his master, Socrates. To what degree does Plato preserve Socrates as a historical figure, and to what degree is Socrates a prop for Plato’s own agenda?
Seminar II (Winter Term) and Seminar III (Spring Term) will cover extracts of The Republic and excerpts from Plato’s other later works.
This course is intended for those who have completed their study of Greek grammar and wish to work on their reading and speaking fluency. Each week students will receive a document summarising the vocabulary, grammar and syntax of the excerpts studied, simplified grammar and syntax examples, and a writing exercise that will serve as a basis for discussion at the beginning of the next class. This seminar is limited to 6 students.
THE ORIENTALISTS
With Mark Tomov
Fridays 6-7:30 pm UK time, April 19-June 14, 2024
In this seminar we will read a number of Latin works by the so-called European Orientalists of different periods, covering various topics related to the Middle East. These authors had a multitude of opinions about the various peoples inhabiting the region (e.g. Arabs, Persians, Turks), and the aim of the class is not only to explore the different fields (e.g., poetry, medicine, theology, etc.) that interested the ‘Orientalists’, but also to give a glimpse of how they managed to examine and familiarise themselves with the East by learning its languages and cultures. Authors include William Jones, Levinus Warner, Jacobus Golius and others.
Classes will involve reading and discussing exemplary texts and commenting on the writers’ style. We will also discuss whether or not these authors’ ideas about the Orient are based on reality, and, if they are not, what might have led them to reach their false conclusions. This course is intended for those who have a good grasp of Latin grammar and wish to work on their reading and speaking fluency.