Research Areas
¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Classics offers instruction in the full range of classical studies: language and literature, history, art and archaeology, and philosophy. Chronologically our faculty’s interests range from the Bronze Age to late antiquity—and even the reception of classical culture in later periods. Potential students are well advised to consult the individual Bios and CVs of our faculty members, since many have significant teaching or research interests besides their main fields.
¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Classics provides strong coverage of Greek and Latin literature with three Hellenists (John Gibert, Lauri Reitzammer, and Yvona Trnka-Amrhein) and three Latinists (Andy Cain, Jackie Elliott, and Carole Newlands). Tyler Lansford crosses disciplinary boundaries between Roman history and Latin literature. Reina Callier coordinates our Latin Teaching Program. Three professors make up our excellent art and archaeology team: Beth Dusinberre, Sarah James, and Dimitri Nakassis. Working closely with these are the department’s ancient historians: Peter Hunt and a Roman historian, Isabel Köster. In addition to our strong overall coverage, we also have several areas of unusual strength:
- No fewer than two professors (Cain and Newlands) have significant research interests in late antiquity.
- Both Professors Gibert and Reitzammer focus on Greek drama of the fifth century.
- Two of our professors (Elliott and Newlands) specialize in Roman poetry.
- Work in Greek philosophy finds support in two professors in the Philosophy Department (Dominic Bailey and Mitzi Lee).
- Our faculty also provide expertise in several fields of study that few other departments of Classics are able to provide: Beth Dusinberre is an expert in Achaemenid Persia; Jackie Elliott focuses on early fragmentary Latin; Sarah James’s specializes in Hellenistic material culture; Peter Hunt is an expert on the topic of ancient slavery; Yvona Trnka-Amrhein specializes in Greek literary papyrology, and Dimitri Nakassis is an expert in Mycenaean Greek.