We, the members of the Department of Classics at the University of Cincinnati, are committed to establishing a supportive, constructive, and equitable climate for all who share in the life of our department, including students, staff, faculty, and alumni. We firmly believe that the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to a rich and vibrant community in which all members feel respected and valued. In all aspects of academic life, from scholarship to pedagogy to community engagement, we aim to foster inclusivity through practical initiatives which affirm and reflect these principles. In support of these ideals, we distribute resources to the community on a monthly basis, promote inclusive pedagogy, and coordinate an annual MetaClassics speaker series which highlights self-reflective and intersectional approaches to making the field a more diverse and welcoming space. A joint committee of faculty, graduates, and undergraduates in Classics is dedicated to ensuring the proactive implementation of these initiatives.

Great Books from Ancient Greece

This course will introduce students to the most influential works of ancient Greek literature  written by authors such as Homer  Sappho  Sophocles  and Plato. Why do modern authors from Friedrich Nietzsche to Toni Morrison continue to be fascinated by these old books? What did they mean in their own time  and what do they mean to us today? This course will answer these questions and more by taking students on a journey back through time to the theaters  law courts  and drinking parties of ancient Greece. Reading and discussing a broad survey of different authors and genres  students will consider the influence that ancient Greek thought continues to have on modern society as well as the differences that separate us from the ancient world.

Fall 2023
Dylan Kenny
MWF 9:05 - 10:00 am
308 Blegen

The Punic-Roman city of Tharros on the western shores of Sardinia served as a critical node in the network of important trade routes between the coastal ports of Spain (and the Balaeric Islands), Carthage, and Massalia (now Marseille) from the 7th century BC through to about the 6th century AD.

The University of Cincinnati has recently begun new archaeological fieldwork at the site, best known for its rich tombs and grave goods of the Punic period. Our excavations are targeting the city itself - particularly its residential and retail quarters - to ask new questions about the socio-economic fabric of the Punic and Roman levels of the bustling port town.

Given that the urban history of Tharros has never been clearly articulated, a preliminary aim of our project is to identify the city's episodic growth spurts and to connect these developments to our broader understanding of economic and urban history. We are especially interested, moreover, in the social and structural making of the city, with questions about diet and urban consumption, social stratigraphy, and the motivations behind urban investment, as well as civic infrastructure, including the recycling of urban waste as construction material.

The project is directed by Prof. Steven Ellis in collaboration with the Soprintendenza per i Beni archeologici delle province di Cagliari e Oristano, the Area Marina Protetta Penisola del Sinis, and the Comune di Cabras.
Follow the project on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @UCTharros