Ancient history professors from around the country joined us to celebrate 125 years of Classics education at the University of Birmingham.
As part of the University’s 125 celebrations, the Department of Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology hosted “Classics 125”, a one-day event to mark one hundred and twenty-five years of Classics teaching at the University of Birmingham. The Arts Building’s Main Lecture Theatre was filled to capacity with an audience comprising Classics teachers and school pupils from the Birmingham and West Midlands area, current University of Birmingham undergraduate and postgraduate students and staff, University of Birmingham alumni, and members of the general public, were treated to three sessions celebrating the past, present and future of Classics at the University.
“Birmingham Past” saw Dr Christopher Stray (University of Swansea), Professor Stephen Harrison (Corpus Christi College, Oxford), Professor Judith Mossman (University of Coventry) and Dr Henry Stead (University of St. Andrews) explore the history of Classics teaching at the University of Birmingham, focusing on the role that E.A. Sonnenschein (Professor of Greek at Mason College and University of Birmingham, 1883-1913), Louis MacNeice (Assistant Lecturer in Classics, 1930-1936), E.R. Dodds (Professor of Greek, 1924-1936), and George Thomson (Professor of Greek, 1936-1970) played in making the study of Classics more accessible to undergraduates who had not had the opportunity to study Latin and Greek language before entering the tertiary system. Birmingham is proud to carry on this tradition.
“Birmingham Present” saw the writer, BBC Radio 4 broadcaster, and alumna of King Edward VI High School for Girls at Edgbaston, Natalie Haynes, reflect on her experiences in making a career out of studying Classics, and opening up the discipline to a more diverse audience. Peter Sommer told the story of how his Study Tour module – still a firm feature of Birmingham’s offer – to Greece and then following in the footsteps of Alexander the Great in Turkey while studying for his MPhil in Ancient History and Archaeology at Birmingham opened up new vistas which led him to a career in broadcasting with the BBC and then founding his own successful travel company. Dr Polly Stoker (University of Winchester) reflected on her experiences as a local non-grammar school student under the tutelage of Dr Elena Theodorakopoulos and the late Dr Niall Livingstone, and how they and the department instilled in her and her fellow students a sense of intellectual curiosity and creativity and a confidence in own abilities as a Classicist. Professor Patrick Finglass (University of Bristol) revealed the impressive number of Professors of Classics produced by King Edward’s School, Birmingham, including himself and the University of Birmingham’s own Professor Hugh Houghton.
The final session, “Birmingham Future” saw Professor Alice Roberts deliver a lecture entitled “The Persistence of Ritual”. The audience were treated to more than a few spoilers from her forthcoming book, Domination: the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of Christianity.
Classics 125 left all aware of both the long history of the discipline at the University – in fact one of the founding departments – and the vibrancy of the study of Classics at Birmingham today. We hope that the GSCE and A level students who attended our celebration will soon join us in helping to ensure that this history and vibrancy continue for at least the next 125 years. Reflecting on the event, Dr Andrew Bayliss, Head of Department of Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology, said: "As the current Head of Department, it was an honour to join with current faculty and students, alumni, and future students, in celebrating the long history of the study of Classics at the University of Birmingham. It is a privilege to play a small part in continuing the legacy of Classics at the University."
Associate Professor in Greek History
Biographical and contact details for Dr Andrew Bayliss, Associate Professor in Greek History at the University of Birmingham.
