Tianhao Luo 1. Introduction When I hear the noise of grass mowers outside my room, I know it is a noise. When I hear a Mozart symphony in a concert hall, I know it is a performance, or instantiation, of a musical work. However, what if a grass mower is rumbling while the concert is […]
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 […]
A New Look at Zosimus’ New History
By Alexander Larrow
The New History of Zosimus has frequently been neglected and disdained by modern historians, with assessments of his work typically ranging from mediocre to incompetent or even malicious.
Myth, Ritual, and the Mind: Decoding the Homeric Hymn to Apollo
By Devin Casano
Ostensibly, The Homeric Hymn to Apollo — a collection of two poems composed around the sixth century B.C.E. (Scanlon) — records the tale of its eponymous deity’s birth and the inauguration of his sanctuary at Delphi.
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.
The Silver Bow: Iliad 1.33-52 Translation
By Noah Apter
The opening lines of the Iliad could not capture the essence of the text more. The imagery of Apollo storming down from Olympus, the rattling of the arrows on his back, and the audible twang of the silver bow all give rise to immense feelings of dread, fear, and despair.
Caesar Crossing the Rubicon
By Ellis and Riley Glickman
One snowy afternoon in 2021, two sisters made a joke about the name of their family’s Jeep Rubicon, which led to this collaboration. In this triptych, the artists reimagine the iconic scene of Caesar crossing the Rubicon.
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
England’s Ancient Roman Public Bath Remains: A Glimpse of Early Roman Ingenuity
Ruins of an Ancient Hypocaust “This isn’t the hypocaust at the Stabian Baths, but it is a good example of what they look like. You can see the pillars which supported the floor, and the remains of the floor. The arch at the rear of the room was where the furnace was, and where the […]