Ancient Rome – Discentes

Research

An Examination of Severan Women and Their Power in the Royal Family

Posted on April 9, 2023May 14, 2023by Discentes

An Examination of Severan Women and Their Power in the Royal Family
By Anna Komisarof

The Severan dynasty controlled Rome from 193 to 235 CE following a seizure of the state by Septimius Severus. A North African native, Septimius Severus tried to emphasize the legitimacy of his dynasty throughout his rule. However, the failure of the male line and short marriages by later emperors meant that the legitimacy of the Severan dynasty came from the maternal side, as women were the most constant figures within the royal family…

Articles

Virtual Rome and Rome Reborn®: The Latest Developments in the Architectural Documentation of Rome

Posted on April 2, 2023May 7, 2023by Discentes

Virtual Rome and Rome Reborn®: The Latest Developments in the Architectural Documentation of Rome
By Lily Nesvold

Have you ever wished you could walk around Rome during ancient times? Well, now you can. Recent technological developments—new software that allows for more accurate recording of ancient structures—have enabled architectural documentation of the Roman Forum to reach new levels with virtual three-dimensional reconstruction…

Articles

The Roman Sweet Tooth

Posted on February 13, 2022May 20, 2022by Discentes

The Roman Sweet Tooth
By Angela Nguyen

The concept of dessert emerged after the end of the Roman Republic and overall, Ancient Roman desserts were simple and had multiple varieties such as fruit mixtures and baked goods. Many types of fruits were available, but sugar and honey were not always accessible. Popular fruits included…

Articles

The Hero’s Journey

Posted on October 1, 2021May 20, 2022by Discentes

The Hero’s Journey
By Lily Nesvold

As a modern, musical interpretation of Virgil’s Aeneid, “The Hero’s Journey” is an instrumental track created using GarageBand, a digital audio workstation, combined with Renderforest, a music visualizer service. I created this piece as my final project for CLST-143, “Great Books of Greece and Rome,” taught by Professor Alison Traweek…

Research

Carro cura carere

Posted on August 25, 2021May 20, 2022by Discentes

Carro cura carere
Re-evaluating the Roman Carrus
By David Picker-Kille

I. Introduction
As an aspiring classical archaeologist with an interest in Roman land transport, the recent groundbreaking discovery of the four-wheeled “chariot” at the Villa Giuliana north of Pompeii has highlighted for me the presence of an issue of translation between English and Italian that parallels a phenomenon of increasing influence and focus within my research of ancient Roman vehicle types and their corresponding Latin terminology…

Translations

Virgil’s Rumor and “Fake News”

Posted on March 3, 2021May 20, 2022by Discentes

Aeneid 4.173-188
By Ryan Cooper

Few would dispute that misinformation and the media are in a spotlight of attention right now, and I’ve often thought about Virgil’s depiction of Fama in Book IV of Aeneid, and just how closely related his image is to that of the rumors and misinformation of the current world…

Research

Acting Onstage and Off

Posted on February 24, 2021May 20, 2022by Discentes

Acting Onstage and Off
An Analysis of the Role Theatrical Performances Played in Nero’s Popularity
By Lily Nesvold

I. Introduction
Tyrant, murderer, debauchee, monster, rapist—just a small selection of the dreadful words that have been used for thousands of years to characterize Nero and his controversial reign. There is no doubt that Nero committed some truly horrific acts, of which perhaps the most unconscionable was the assassination of his mother, Agrippina. But has Nero been unfairly deemed a bad emperor, detested by all in his time…

Articles

The Stages of Grief

Posted on February 3, 2021May 20, 2022by Discentes

The Stages of Grief through the Lens of Catullus 101
By Lily Nesvold

There is no easy way to cope with the death of a loved one. Regardless of the circumstances, the devastation that those affected must face is seemingly insurmountable. Personally, I have dealt with the unfortunate passing of my grandfather and great aunt, both of which were great losses for my family. What provided me comfort in these difficult times, however, was turning to those who understood my situation for consolation and support…

Translations

Blinded by Love

Posted on December 30, 2020May 20, 2022by Discentes

Catullus 83
By Lily Nesvold

Overall, I took quite a few liberties in translating this poem. I did keep consistent with the tone of Catullus’ poem by employing a low language register, and I used many derogatory words to emphasize Catullus’ frustration. However, I decided to insert a parenthetical statement after the first two lines to emphasize Catullus’ hatred for Lesbia’s husband. Today, calling someone a “jerk” is so universal in the English language—the reader can instantly assess his character…

Articles

Barbarians: Ancient History, Reimagined

Posted on December 26, 2020May 20, 2022by Discentes

Barbarians: Ancient History, Reimagined
A Review of the New Netflix Series
By Sara Chopra, Margaret Dunn, and Olivia Wells

As the three Articles Editors of Discentes, each of whom happens to focus on a different aspect of the ancient world—Sara reads classical languages and literature, Margaret studies classical civilizations, and Olivia dedicates her work to Mediterranean archaeology—we decided to watch Barbarians ourselves and share some of our own thoughts on the popular series. Should Barbarians be the next show on your winter break Netflix binge list? Our answer—yes. Read our full review of its first season below to learn why…