~ This Day in Ancient History
ante diem vii kalendas februarias
- Sementivae or Paganalia (day 1) -- Sementivae was a festival of sowing which was actually a moveable feast (although I'm not sure of the moveability criteria; I'm guessing that the first day falls between January 24 and 26). By Ovid's time it appears to have been coincident with Paganalia, which also obviously has some rural aspect to it. It appears to have been a two-day festival with an interval of seven days between (corrections on this welcome ... my sources seem muddled on this one)
- 97 A.D. -- martyrdom of Timothy
::Wednesday, January 26, 2005 4:47:10 AM::
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~ Nuntii Latini
Pensionarii in Russia reclamitant (21.1.2005)
Mense Ianuario ineunte condiciones pensionariorum in Russia ita renovatae sunt, ut gratuita medicamenta et itinera tollerentur atque commoditates habitationis, electricitatis telephonique deminuerentur.
Compensatio menstrua pro commodis sublatis definita nimis parva esse aestimatur.
Iracundia inflammati pensionarii in variis Russiae partibus contra regimen vehementer reclamitaverunt.
Tuomo Pekkanen
Nuntii Latini, Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE)
(used with permission)
::Wednesday, January 26, 2005 4:33:30 AM::
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~ d.m. David Bain
From the Times:
THE Greek scholar David Bain spent most of his academic career in the University of Manchester, from his appointment as a lecturer in 1971 to his early retirement as Professor of Greek in 2001. He did not always find the university or its ways congenial, but he served it with distinction, inspiring affection in generations of students for the excellence of his Greek teaching, his wide learning and his acerbic sense of humour.
Bain was a proud product of the Scottish education system. He was born in Carlisle in 1945 but grew up in Melrose in the Borders and attended Galashiels Academy. From there he went to St Andrews in 1963. He gained a first in Greek and Latin, then moved to St John’s College, Oxford, as a postgraduate in 1967, where he completed his doctorate under the supervision of the Regius Professor of Greek, Hugh (later Sir Hugh) Lloyd-Jones. His early work was on drama, both tragedy and comedy. His book Actors and Audience, a Study of Asides and Related Conventions in Greek Drama (1977) has become accepted as one of the classic studies of the “grammar” of ancient dramatic technique. His next book, Masters, Servants and Order in Greek Tragedy (1981), while more limited in scope, succeeded in illuminating some controversial passages through the study of dramatic conventions. His commentary on the Samia of Menander (1983) was the first in English on the play.
Bain had recall of all the lines in Greek drama and in Latin comedy, and an extensive knowledge of theatre history in general. Long after he had moved on to other topics he displayed an effortless ability to get to the essentials of books about Greek drama in the magisterial reviews he continued to write. These, often masterpieces of prose which drew for parallels on wide reading outside classical scholarship, are witty as well as learned, and not infrequently devastating.
From the mid-1980s Bain developed very different interests. First he turned to the language in which sexual acts and parts of the body and other indecencies were described in Greek. He was completing a book on Greek aischrologia (foul or ill-sounding language) at the time of his death, but had already published widely on the subject in articles, perhaps most notably Apotropaic Farting (1986) and Six Greek Verbs of Sexual Congress (1991).
He later became interested in magic, and produced definitive work on the text and interpretation of the Cyranides, a late Greek compilation on the magical properties of stones, plants and animals. He also left a commentary in handwritten form on Lucian’s Alexander. His published papers number about 150.
Bain was urbane and cultured, and possessed a prodigious general knowledge. He had taken part in Top of the Form, University Challenge and with great success in the radio programme Treble Chance. He was also, however, given to a Victor Meldrew-like irascibility. He had no time for some modern developments in classical studies, such as the teaching of literature in translation, the vogue for inattention to linguistic detail and the obsession with literary theory. If forced to contemplate such matters he would be rendered incoherent with annoyance.
A bon vivant, Bain was a familiar figure in parts of Manchester, where he had a wide circle of friends. He carried his laptop about in a Sainsbury’s bag, and would often produce it in public places such as restaurants and get down to work, making notes from a book or perusing an examination script, such was his devotion to scholarship.
Professor David Bain, classicist, was born on July 3, 1945. He died of a heart attack on November 30, 2004, aged 59.
::Wednesday, January 26, 2005 4:29:36 AM::
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~ Judith de Luce Honoured
From the Miami Student:
Judith de Luce, department chair and professor of classics, was awarded the 2004 American Philological Association "Award for Excellence in Teaching" this past month in Boston.
De Luce, whose teaching style combines the use of technology with traditional techniques such as small group discussions and lectures, never imagined she would win awards for teaching.
"I’m just so excited about the award," she said. "It is just incredible."
While de Luce loved Latin in high school, she never planned to teach.
"I decided to teach because I found the field perpetually interesting," she said.
Despite the fact that professors have been teaching the classics for many years, de Luce has managed to adapt an exceptionally old field into one contemporary students relate to.
"Since the ‘50s the study of the classics has been on the cutting edge of technology," de Luce said. "With the better technology, came huge repositories of Latin and Greek materials."
The use of technology to enhance the way students learn is essential to de Luce. Not only does she create her own Web sites for every course she teaches, but she has used VRoma since 1997.
VRoma, a Web site that provides virtual communication for the study of the classical languages and civilizations, especially Rome, includes a MOO, a virtual environment with visual images and real time communication.
Through these resources, de Luce co-taught a course with a professor in Columbus. Though the students never met face-to-face, they wrote research papers and completed group projects over the MOO.
Sara Bulter, a professor of art history and friend of de Luce, is impressed with her teaching techniques.
"She is an inspiration in terms of using technology to enhance teaching and student learning," Butler said.
Butler believes technology adds a new dimension to teaching the classics.
"One of the major advantages of technology is access to original sources," she said.
De Luce has been an inspiration to her colleagues.
"Her enthusiasm has prompted me to think more about using technology for my classes," Butler said.
De Luce was also recently presented the College of Arts and Sciences "Distinct Educator Award."
She is extremely grateful for both awards.
"How often do you get recognized for something you never intended to do?" she said.
::Wednesday, January 26, 2005 4:28:38 AM::
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~ Consult the Sybilline Books!
From Ananova comes word (and photo) of a prodigium needing to be expiated:
Farmer Han Dianrong, 74, of Yantai city, Shangdong province, said he had never seen anything like it.
The lamb, one of four born to the same ewe, has four eyes and two mouths.
Mr Dianrong says both heads bleat together when the lamb sees people approaching.
The weight of two heads is too much for the lamb's neck so it has to be fed by bottle.
[yes ... it is a slow news day]
::Wednesday, January 26, 2005 4:22:05 AM::
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~ AWOTV: On TV Today
8.00 p.m. |HINT| The Forgotten Civilizations of Anatolia
Throughout the course of history, many great civilizations have flourished in the area we now identify as Turkey, which forms a natural bridge between Europe and Asia. Join us on a virtual tour of Gordiyon (also known as Gordium), the domain of King Midas, Hattusa, the famous Hittite capital with its spectacular royal citadel, and the later cities ruled by the Greeks during the days of the Byzantine Empire. Using state-of-the-art computer technology and the latest in archaeological exploration, we walk viewers through ancient sites along with the citizens of the time.
8.30 p.m. |HINT| Travels through Greece
By the 2nd century AD, Greece had long been steeped in myth, tradition, and a rich history that made it a major tourist destination even then. In this episode, we travel with a Roman senator as he journeys to artistic and cultural treasures of Greece, including Corinth's welcoming agora (the center of civic activity), the acoustically perfect Theater at Epidaurus, and the famous sporting competitions and chariot races of Olympia, as well as its majestic Temple of Zeus. Experience the cutting edge of archaeological exploration as we explore these celebrated ancient sites and see them as only the original inhabitants could.
HINT = History International
::Wednesday, January 26, 2005 4:18:56 AM::
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