The Mythical Edge of the World: Julius Caesar and His Exploitation of Britain

By Edward Tomlinson Introduction: Why Britain?  Throughout its history with ancient Rome, Britain experienced great continental influence. Britons interacted with the European mainland through contact with a Roman culture that saw unprecedented development over centuries. As time progressed, Britain’s importance grew. “From [Julius] Caesar onwards, Britain occupied a particular and significant place in the Roman […]

The Poetics of Athletics

By Eden Riebling
Gregory Nagy has lost count of how many times he has visited the Museum at Olympia. But during each visit he stares in awe at the broken sculptures that once graced the Temple of Zeus. In the second century CE, the traveler Pausanias saw those same statues in all their intact beauty, and his descriptions anchor Nagy’s intriguing and intricately argued new book.

Blues of Achilles

By Riley Glickman
On a Tuesday evening, September 17, 2024 to be exact, students and professors alike gathered in Claudia Cohen Hall for an event truly like no other. Organized by Professor James Ker and the UPenn Undergraduate Classics Advisory Board, the classical studies department welcomed Chicago-based singer-songwriter Joe Goodkin for a performance of his newest album: The Blues of Achilles.

Returning to the Aeneid at Cumae: Aeneas’ Visit to the Underworld

Over fall break, I had a top-ten life experience. My visit to Parco Archeologico di Cuma (Cuma Archaeological Park), located in the ancient city outside of Naples, Italy, transported me back to the eight years I spent studying Latin. With newfound knowledge from Dr. Tartaron’s Introduction to Mediterranean Archaeology course, I explored the secluded yet rich remains of the first Greek colony and its ties to Rome’s founding.
By Janet Pearce