Dr. Kyle Jazwa and Michael Freeman's "Ancient Science and Technology" course was recently awarded a David L Paletz Innovative Course Enhancement Grant for this year's Ancient Science Fair. Students will reconstruct ancient technologies and technological processes, including ancient alchemy, aqueducts, Mayan chocolate, Greek slings, and much more! read more about Ancient Science and Technology course is awarded a David L Paletz Innovative Course Enhancement Grant »
Research Travel Award Winner (Undergraduate): Summer 2019 Thanks to the Duke Classics Department, this summer I was able to complete some research necessary for my senior honors thesis at the Vatican Film Library at Saint Louis University. My senior honors thesis is centered on a copy of an English translation of Suetonius’ De vita caesarum in the Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library here at Duke. This translation is a limited edition (only 300 copies printed) from 1930 and features a dozen… read more about Gretchen Wright: Suetonius’ De vita caesarum at the Vatican Film Library, St. Louis University »
Research Travel Award Winner (Graduate): Summer 2019 This July, I spent a week at the Conventiculum Dickinsoniense in Carlisle, PA learning to speak Latin. Fellow graduate student Clinton Kinkade and I stayed with the rest of the participants at Dickinson College, where we attended seminars, played games, and had conversations—all in Latin. On the morning of the first day, all the participants took a pledge to speak only in Latin with one another throughout the duration of the program, even at meals and after hours. Though… read more about Tori Lee: Conventiculum Dickinsoniense learning to speak Latin, Carlisle, PA »
Research Travel Award Winners (Undergraduate): Summer 2019 For two weeks in August Katherine and Cordelia attended the Paideia Institute's Living Greek in Greece Program in Selianitika, Greece. The Paideia Institute invites students during this program to study classical languages through speaking, as though they were modern languages. Twice a day we met with our class, guided by a resident Paideia instructor, and we talked in Ancient Greek about the text we were reading, about life in Greece, and about our everyday lives… read more about Katherine Owensby & Cordelia Hogan: Paideia Institute's Living Greek in Greece Program, Selianitika Greece »
Research Travel Award Winner (Graduate): Summer 2019 The department’s generous research funding this summer allowed me to continue to participate in the Vulci 3000 Archaeological Project as a Trench Supervisor, under the supervision of Prof. Maurizio Forte. Every season the excavation uncovers important and tantalizing new details about the urban center of this Etruscan and Roman city. While the tombs around Vulci are famous for their rich and evocative grave assemblages of ceramics, jewelry, and artwork, the urban fabric… read more about Antonio LoPiano: Vulci 3000 Archaeological Project, Vulci Italy »
On Sept. 16, 2019 Prof Boatwright spoke at Elon University on the Jewish Revolts against Rome. read more about Boatwright speaks at Elon »
Dr. Kyle Jazwa recently returned from Greece where he studied unpublished clay architectural fragments from several sites, including Rouf (Attica), the Athenian Agora, and Dimini. He also visited the Netherlands where he continued his experimental archaeology collaboration with Dr. Caroline Jeffra ("Tracing the Potter's Wheel," at the University of Amsterdam). They made several more Early Bronze Age roofing tiles and performed numerous tests to determine the effects of straw temper on the "wet strength" of clay pastes. read more about Kyle Jazwa Spent the Summer Studying (and Making!) Ancient Greek Architecture »
A team from three Universities (Duke, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and Universidad de Castilla La Mancha) led by Prof. Jiménez completed in August an intensive field survey of the Roman camps near Numantia (Renieblas, Spain, 2nd-1st c. BCE), with the generous support of the Gerda Henkel Foundation (https://www.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/en/). The project combined traditional archaeological methodologies, such as the analysis of historic maps and photographs, with the use of Geographic Information… read more about Prof. Jiménez obtains new data in the field to create a digital plan of the Roman camps near Numantia (Renieblas, Spain) »
Prof. Tolly Boatwright will present an illustrated talk, "Imperial Women of Rome," in Stonington, CT, Sept. 8, 2019. read more about Upcoming talk by Duke professor, in CT »
In what has started to become a semester-opening tradition, a bunch of classics graduate students spent a relaxing evening together at the ballpark watching the Durham Bulls. Grads enjoying a game at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. read more about Grad Student Outing to the Ballpark »
Research Travel Award Winner (Undergraduate): Summer 2019 For ten days this summer I was in Athens with Professor Sheila Dillon and her research team in the Athenian Agora. Professor Dillon’s research focuses on portrait statuary in the Agora, and she also leads the Digital Athens project in the Wired! Lab. I was a member of this project during my last two years at Duke, working with a GIS (geographic information system) software product, ArcGIS, to visualize the changes in Ancient Athens by digitizing and georeferencing… read more about Evangeline Marecki: Digital Athens, Athens Greece »
Gretchen Elise Wright is an English and Classical Civilizations double major with a Latin minor. She studied abroad for a semester at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome (ICCS) program administered by Duke. She graduates in May 2020. Read full article read more about Student Stories, Gretchen Wright on ICCS Rome: New Friends and New Experiences »
Curtis Lee is majoring in History with minors in Political Science and in Classical Civilization. He spent one summer abroad with Duke in Greece. Curtis graduates in May 2021. Read full article read more about Student Stories, Curtis Lee: On the Move in Greece »
For Maurizio Forte, professor in Duke’s Department of Art, Art History and Visual Studies, there is plenty to teach his students in the classroom. But some lessons are best taught in the windblown countryside of central Italy. For the past six summers, Forte has brought Duke students to the Vulci archeological excavation site to use traditional techniques and cutting-edge technology to examine what was once an Etruscan and Roman city. “It’s great to bring students to the excavation where we can teach something you can’t… read more about Where the Scholarly Work Takes Them »
Duke Research Blog published an article by Anna Gotskind regarding her experience working on the Vulci 3000 Bass Connections team. Read full article read more about Vulci 3000: A High-Tech Excavation »
Research Travel Award Winner (Graduate): Summer 2019 For insights into the Roman military, what better places to visit than the legionary fortress Carnuntum (Austria) and the Roman forts along Hadrian’s Wall (Britain)? This summer, equipped with funding from the Research Travel Award, I was able to visit these two superlative Roman military sites and several others in Austria and Britain. Inspecting inscriptions at the archaeological depot of Carnuntum My first goal was to inspect… read more about Adrian Linden-High: Slavery in the Roman Army, Austria & Britain »
Last week, William Johnson presented an invited paper, "The Dead Sea Scrolls: A Classicist's View" at a conference entitled "The Dead Sea Scrolls and Ancient Media Culture" at St Mary's University, Twickenham, London. On his way to London, Johnson spent time at Vindolanda with Alex Meyer (PhD Duke 2012) and Elizabeth Greene (PhD UNC 2011). read more about William Johnson presents paper at Dead Sea Scrolls conference »
Congratulations to the CLST class of 2019. This year we had 6 graduates; Evangeline Marecki (AB), Elizabeth Needham (AB), Makaila Christensen (MA), Alex Fowler (MA), Melissa Huber (PhD), and David Stifler (PhD). To see more pictures please visit our Facebook page. From left to right); David Stifler (PhD), Elizabeth Needham (AB), William Johnson (CLST Department Chair), Evangeline Marecki (AB), and Melissa Huber (PhD) (not pictured Makaila Christensen (MA), Alex Fowler (MA))… read more about Congratulations to the Class of 2019 »
Prof. A. Jiménez worked last December on a photogrammetric study and a LiDAR map of the Roman camps near Numantia (Renieblas, Spain 2nd-1st c. BCE) with Profs. J. Bermejo (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid), D. Hernández and M. A. Moreno (Universidad de Castilla La Mancha). She has just been awarded two generous grants from the Gerda Henkel Stiftung and Duke’s Arts & Sciences Council to go back to the field with her team this summer and complete the field survey using terrestrial scanners in selected areas of the site.… read more about Prof. Alicia Jiménez receives grants from the Gerda Henkel Stiftung and Duke’s Arts & Sciences Council »
Duke University awarded 21 distinguished professorships to members of its faculty May 2 at the annual University Distinguished Professors dinner. They are: -- Atila Abdulkadiroğlu, Garonzik Family Professor of Economics -- Jeremy S. Begbie, Thomas A. Langford Research Professor of Theology -- Emily S. Bernhardt, James B. Duke Professor of Biology -- L. Ebony Boulware, Eleanor Easley Professor of Medicine -- L. Catherine Brinson, Sharon… read more about Duke Adds 21 Faculty to Distinguished Faculty Rank »
Prof. Alicia Jiménez gave a paper at this year's Theoretical Archaeology Group conference at the University of Syracuse, NY (May 3-5, 2019). Alicia's presentation, in a session organized by Profs. Christopher Watts (University of Waterloo) and Carl Knappett (University of Toronto) on "Entangling Ancient Art", addressed questions of replication and invisibility of female bodies, using ancient Roman honorific statues as a case study. http://tag2019.maxwell.syr.edu … read more about Prof. Alicia Jiménez gives a paper at the Theoretical Archaeology Group conference »
Students taking the course Roman Spectacles (CLST 354) with Prof. Alicia Jiménez look at the bright side of (Roman) life during the re-release of Monty Python's Life of Brian at the Carolina Theater. For pictures of this event please visit our Facebook Page. read more about CLST 354 visits Monty Python's Life of Brian at the Carolina Theater »
Dr. Jazwa's "Ancient Athletics" course hosted an Ancient Olympics-inspired event on Wednesday. Champions were crowned (literally - with olive wreaths!) in the Stade (1-lap race), Diaulos (2-lap race), Hoplitodromos (armed race), Long jump, Javelin throw, Discus throw, and Pentathlon. All 80 students helped make the event a success. Each had a duty to build equipment, serve as "priests/priestesses," advertise the event, or take care of the logistics. The students all exceeded expectations! https://www.facebook.com/… read more about Duke's 1st Olympiad was a success! »
On April 14, faculty and students from Duke and UNC got together at William Johnson's house to read in performance a first finished draft of the new adaptation of Aristophanes' Birds by Peter Burian (professor emeritus, Duke). Feathers supplied by Shirley Werner (Scholar in Residence @ Duke). Cast: Al Duncan (UNC, Protagonist): Trustworth Emily Baragwanath (UNC, Deuteragonist): Goodhope; Poet; First Messenger; Herald; Prometheus; Heracles; Herald Claire Catenaccio (Duke, Tritagonist): Tereus; Priest;… read more about Birdland! by Peter Burian »
Duke's "Ancient Athletics" class will hold an Olympic competition in two weeks. Join us on Wednesday April 24 at Jack Katz Stadium, 1:30-2:30 PM and see students compete in the stade, long jump, discus, hoplitodromos, and more! read more about Join the "Ancient Athletics" class at an "Olympic" Competition »
Michael Steed, graduating senior at the NC School of Science and Math, after presenting his Senior Research project, "Biography and Epigraphy in Imperial Rome." His seems to have been the only humanistic project of more than 100 this year! Michael and Prof. Boatwright, his 2018-19 Research Project Mentor read more about CLST mentors NCSSM »
Professor Claire Catenaccio and the students of Greek 332 hang with our favorite flawed hero Heracles at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Heracles and the class of Greek 332 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC read more about Heracles! »
During Spring Break, Dr. Kyle Jazwa began an Experimental Archaeology collaboration with Dr. Caroline Jeffra, a Postdoctoral Research for the “Tracing the Potter’s Wheel” project at the University Amsterdam. Our project will reconstruct Mycenaean (ca. 1600-1050 BCE) ceramic roofing tiles to better understand production methods, cross-craft interaction in the Late Bronze Age, the identities of the producers, and the scales of production. In March, we made miniature examples to serve as models for our upcoming, scale… read more about Dr. Kyle Jazwa reconstructs Bronze Age roofing tiles with Dr. Caroline Jeffra of Tracing the Potter's Wheel »
David Stifler successfully defended his dissertation yesterday on “Lucian and the Atticists: A Barbarian at the Gates”. Congrats Dr. Stifler! read more about David Stifler defends his dissertation! »