Classics & Ancient History

In this course, Professor Edward Harris (University of Durham) explores Lysias’ speech Against Simon, a case apparently concerning a fight between two men over a boy, Theodotus. In particular, we think about the rule of law in ancient Athens, the...

In this course Dr Andrew Sillett (University of Oxford) explores Cicero’s Pro Caelio, his speech delivered in April 56 BC in defence of Marcus Caelius Rufus. In the first lecture, we think about how Roman criminal trials work. In the second...

In this course, Dr Matthew Nicholls (University of Oxford) explores the reign of the fourth Roman emperor, Claudius. In the first module, we think about Claudius’ family background and the unlikeliness of his route to power. After that, in the...

In this course, Professor John Wilkins (University of Exeter) provides a provide introduction to the comedy of Plautus, with a special focus on two plays in particular: The Brothers Menaechmus and The Swaggering Soldier. After a brief introduction...

In this course, Professor Matthew Nicholls (University of Oxford) explores the reign of the first Roman emperor, Augustus. Across twenty-one lectures, we consider a range of issues including: (i) the historical sources for reign of Augustus and...

In this course, Dr Matthew Nicholls (University of Oxford) explores the reign of the third Roman emperor, Gaius, also known as Caligula. After a brief introductory module, we begin by thinking about the sources for Gaius’ short reign, his family...

In this course, Dr Rosie Wyles (University of Kent) provides a close reading and analysis of Aristophanes' Acharnians, focusing in particular on the prescribed material for the OCR A-Level in Classical Greek. All passages are presented in the...

In this course, Professor Christopher Whitton (University of Cambridge) explores the Boudican Revolt (60 or 61 AD). It will be particularly useful for those reading the ‘Inspiration for the fight’ (Boudica … finivit) set text for OCR Latin GCSE...

In this course, Dr Andrew Sillett (University of Oxford) explores four ‘personae non gratae’ from Roman history: Pythius (from Cicero’s De Officiis), Sempronia (from Sallust’s Bellum Catilinae), Clodia (from Cicero’s Pro Caelio) and Regulus (from...

In this course, Professor Llewelyn Morgan (University of Oxford) explores the Echo and Narcissus episode from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. It will be particularly useful for those the ‘Echo and Narcissus’ set text for OCR Latin GCSE (J282). In the first...

In this course, Dr Armand D’Angour (University of Oxford) explores the intellectual figures active in 5th- and 4th-century BC Athens known as the Sophists, as well as the figure of Socrates, who may or may not be considered one of their number. In...

In this course Professor Richard Seaford (University of Exeter) explores the social, cultural and philosophical influence of the invention of money and the widespread monetisation of Greek society in the mid- to late 6th century BC. In the first...

In this course Professor Christopher Whitton (University of Cambridge) explores Books 13-14 of Tacitus’ Annals, focusing in particular on Nero’s murder of his mother, Agrippina. In the first lecture we introduce Tacitus and the Annals in general,...

In this course Professor Llewelyn Morgan (University of Oxford) explores Juvenal’s Satires. In the first lecture we provide an introduction to Roman satire as a literary genre, including the contributions of Lucilius (2nd century BC), Horace (65-8...