The Colgate

Classicist

What’s new The Colgate Classicist

in Classics?
V o l u m e I I I , I s s u e 1 S p r i n g 2 0 0 9
• Colgate hosts
the Parilia The Classics faculty and staff on the
range, from left to right: Beth
• Students and MacKinnon, William Stull, Bryce
Walker, Chris Noble, Robert Garland
Faculty abroad

• Extended
Study in Rome
Safety First:
• Classics puts on The department retired to the
Bonney Hill trap shooting range
a show in the Vis
this past fall for an exercise in
-Lab team building, camaraderie, and
humility. To no one’s surprise
• Student Sum-
The Commander carried the day
mer Research
along with Beth Mac Kinnon
leaving Professor Walker and
the Esteemed Chair in their
wake.

Inside this issue:

Letter from the Chair
Letter from the 1
Chair
Newsletters drop into my mail- Over the years we’ve had a num- it’s hardly any secret that we de-
box from Classics Departments ber of young faculty who have pend so heavily on our temporary
Extended Study to 2
Rome
around the country but there’s no been with us for one, two or three faculty for keeping things going,
doubt in my mind that ours is the years (Pavlos Sfyroeras, Eric Casey, and we are each year scrambling to
Note from the 3
best. I say this not because I have a Deborah Beck, Leah Himmelhoch, ensure that we make the best
Centro
hand in its production but because Sabrina Grebe, Bryce Walker, Josh
News from the 3
Faculty it reflects more keenly the engage- Reynolds, and Chris Noble), and

Student award ment which the Classics faculty has each and every one of them has
4
winners with its students than any of its more than pulled their weight and

The Parilia competitors. Not that we’re in contributed beyond the call of
4
competition with anyone…. except duty. Indeed ‘Commander’ Stull (as
Murder on the Ides 5
that, well, I do happen to believe I have dubbed him) came to us that
that the experience of taking Clas- way – as a temporary hire who put
Student Summer 6
Research sics at Colgate University is trans- in an enormous effort for our
News from the 7 formative in a variety of ways. I say program before he was hired into
Alumni that without in any way tooting my a permanent position. It may be
Lectures and 7 own horn. I’m constantly amazed that I might be accused of being
Events, 2008-09 at how hard my colleagues work – ‘tired and emotional’ in saying all
including my temporary colleagues. this, but I really do believe it and
Professor Rood Takes Aim
 Page 2

Letter from the Chair, continued

temporary hire. Our program is Naomi, and Bill for all they’ve department; rather we’re a way

in such good heart in large part done for everyone out there of life. And though the cultural

because we’ve been lucky reading this as well as for me sky is certainly brighter than it

enough to employ classicists personally. They’re the back- was when I last wrote, we still

who are fired up with a passion- bone to the whole enterprise. I need the Greeks and the Ro-

ate desire to convey to others would also like to thank the mans as much as we and our

what they find so exciting them- maiores, especially Robert forebears did and do. I hope

selves. Murray and John Rexine, who you’ll continue to think of them

set us on this path and who (and us) from time to time, as
So stepping down from the we (and they) think of you, with
taught me, importantly, the mos
Chair (boo hoo) as I am about warmth.
maiorum. In conclusion, I firmly
to, I also want to thank Rebecca,
believe that we’re more than a

The Rome extended study group in the Colosseum

James Geary gets a CLAS 25o: Material Culture of Rome

quick bite to eat in
Pompeii from Robert
Bisnoff and Pompeii , by Rebecca Ammerman
In Spring 2008, I directed for
my first time the department's
extended study program to
Italy. The weekly seminar on-
campus taught during the se-
mester preceding the trip to
Italy offered ample time for
students to prepare a signifi-
cant piece of research on a
topic about ancient Rome that
they then shared with their
fellow students on-site in Italy.
Imagine listening to Kathleen
Cooney present the history of
how water was provided to
the ancient city of Rome while
hearing the roar of water
(which still is channeled to
Rome through an ancient aque-
duct) pouring into the Trevi
Fountain, or seeing before our
very eyes charred papyrus rolls
from the Villa of the Papyri
covered by the eruption of
Vesuvius while Justin Alimaras
talked about how they formed
part of a private library that
probably belonged to the fa-
ther-in-law of Julius Caesar.
(continued on page 8)

The Colgate Classicist

 Volume III, Issue 1 Page 3

A Note From Carl Ruggiero at the

ICCS (“The Centro”) in Rome

Few things can perhaps top one’s appreciation for the great works than immersing oneself in the places in
which they were composed--reading Suetonius’ Life of Nero among the ruins of the Domus Aurea, hearing
lines from Aeneid performed in the theater of Taormina beneath the shadow of Mount Etna, walking up the
Palatine through the ruins of the Flavian palaces, for a vista of Rome during the early morning . Such have been
my experiences while studying with Duke’s Inter Collegiate Classics Center in Rome. “The Centro,” or so it
is affectionately dubbed, is located across the Tiber river from Rome’s historic center in a quiet residential
area on the Janiculum Hill.

All students at the Centro are required to take the double-credit course titled The Ancient City. It is undoubt-
edly the core of the program’s experience. Twice a week professors lead half-day trips to locations in the city
as well as one full day excursion usually to sites outside of Rome. We’ve traveled to Lavinium, the historic site
founded by Aeneas, and the spectacular sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia at Praeneste. Two week-long field
trips to Sicily and Campania are other components of the Ancient City course. Having traveled extensively to
Greek sites around the island, we recently returned from Sicily to spring break—part of which I spent explor- Carl plays Aeneas in Rome last
spring with Michael Fingerhut as
ing the ruins of Athens. We will be traveling down the coast to Pompeii at the end of April.
Anchises and Justin Alimaras as
Students are also expected to take two additional courses, at least one of which must be either Greek or Ascanius
Latin. I am currently taking a course on Suetonius’ Life of Nero, focusing on the author’s literary style and
qualifications as a biographer.

News from the Faculty

Rebecca Miller Ammerman has been
appointed Whitehead Professor at the
American School of Classical Studies at
Athens for the current academic year
(2008/2009). The position entails teaching a
graduate seminar on "Ritual and Archae-
ology" as well as the opportunity to travel
on numerous fieldtrips to archaeological
sites and museums throughout Greece and
along the western coast of Turkey. At the
marvelous library of the American School,
in addition to preparing site reports for
fieldtrips and classes for my seminar, I have
been continuing my research on the terra-
cottas from Metaponto with a special eye
towards the worship of Pan.
John Gallucci, of the Department of Ro-
mance Languages, has thoroughly enjoyed
teaching Latin 202 this spring, and has rel-
ished initiating students into the varied
pleasures of reading Vergil’s Aeneid.
Robert Garland is still Chair of the De-
partment and still Division Director of the
Humanities, though this is his final semester
in both roles. He has now finished deliver-
ing his 36-lecture course entitled Greece
and Rome: An Integrated History of the An-
cient Mediterranean for the Teaching Com-
pany, which was one of the most rewarding
professional experiences of his career.
Other scholarly endeavors include the
recent publication by Greenwood of a
second edition of Daily Life of the Ancient
Greeks. His first book, The Greek Way of
Death, just appeared in a Japanese transla-
tion. Introducing New Gods has just been re-
issued by Cornell as a paperback. He has
written an article on miracles in the Greco-
Roman world. He is currently writing a
book on Hannibal, ‘one of history’s greatest
failures,’ as Garland puts it, ‘whose life
epitomizes the terrifying disparity between
hope and achievement.’ Garland also ad-
mits, with his characteristically disarming
candor, that without some pretensions to
research he would have gone bonkers long
ago.
Though he didn’t teach any courses in the
Fall due to his administrative duties, he is
currently involved in the Extended Study
program to Athens, which he will be teach-
ing alongside Naomi in May. He also had a
delightful experience guiding alums, included
Classics alums, round the new Greco-
Roman galleries in the Metropolitan Mu-
seum of New York in January 2009.
Naomi Rood received tenure this past
year (huzzah!) in the midst of taking over
for Professor Stull in teaching the recently
devised capstone seminar along with a
panoply of Greek and Latin courses, which she
has very much enjoyed. This spring she will be
leading the Extended Study program to Athens
along with Professor Garland.
William Stull a.k.a. ‘The Commander’ is on
leave this spring, but has briefly appeared to
enthrall sold-out crowds playing Julius Caesar.
Chris Noble arrived at Colgate this past fall,
and since that time has completed his Ph.D. at
Princeton, as well as given a talk on his work
on the Neoplatonist philosopher Plotinus at
the American Philological Association meeting
in Philadelphia and the Humboldt Universität
in Berlin. But closer to home, at the seminar
table in the Classics Center, he has been
catching up with old friends – Thucydides,
Plato, and Aristophanes – and getting to know
a very impressive cohort of majors. He will
miss them all as he sets off this May for a post-
doc in Germany.
Bryce Walker has thoroughly enjoyed his
second trip around as a member of the de-
partment. As he departs for a tenure-track
position at Sweet Briar College he will re-
member with great warmth his days at Col-
gate and will miss his students almost as much
as they will lament the departure of his dog
Bananas from the halls of Lawrence.
 The Parilia 2009: We Must Protect this House
Page 4

This year Colgate hosted the after the festival on April 21 to with a rough cut of “Murder
fourth annual undergraduate the Roman god of Shepherds, on the Ides” in the Vis-Lab,
Classics conference known as Pales. This festival also cele- which was enough to send the
the Parilia. The other brates the origin of Rome. venerable Dr. Curley from
schools in attendance Skidmore into paroxysms of
were Skidmore, Un- In lieu of sacrifices and purify- laughter.
ion, and Hamilton ing rituals we gathered instead
College. This confer- for a splendid day of presenta- The afternoon paper sessions
ence had previously tions by our students. The first were held in the Ho Lecture
been held at these round of papers got underway room in Lawrence and the day
institutions and this in the Clark room, followed by culminated in dinner at Merrill
was the year for Col- lunch in the Hall of Presidents. House.
gate to host the event. After lunch it was time to
amaze the students and faculty (continued on page 8)
The Parilia is named of our neighboring institutions
Emory Creel explains
a typical Roman meal
before ”Murder on
the Ides”

Right: Professor
Walker’s Ro-
man Satire class
poses with visit-
ing speaker
Ralph Rosen

Congratulations to this year's award winners!

Classics Department Award for Excellence: J. Curtiss Austin Latin Prize:

TBA Fall ‘09 Ally Dall

Nate DelPrete

Baldwin Greek Prize: Ryan Joyce

TBA Fall ‘09 Newton Lloyd Andrews Prize:

Susan Anderson

William Fitzgerald

The Colgate Classicist

 Volume III, Issue 1 Page
Aeneas Reborn
by Liddy Kang ‘09
The heavens turn, and darkness falls upon my chest.
And from my dreams, late Hector calls on me to fight.
I grasp my arms and wrap my cuirass ‘round my breast
And throw myself headlong amidst the Trojans’ plight.
O, from my dreams, late Hector calls on me to fight.
I hack and slash my way towards the royal gate
And throw myself headlong amidst the Trojans’ plight,
Although I notice that for Troy, it was too late.
I hack and slash my way towards the royal gate,
Yet noble Priam’s trunk lies nameless in the sand
And since I notice that for Troy, it was too late,
I bolt with family in back and gods in hand.
While noble Priam’s trunk lies nameless in the sand,
The Grecian flames watch Trojan ashes in their wake.
I bolt with family in back and gods in hand;
What does not flee, the adversaries make to take.
The Grecian flames watch Trojan ashes in their wake.
O come what may, and I will head across the sea.
What does not flee, the adversaries make to take.
I stand as one of fate’s unwilling refugees.
O come what may as we are heading out to sea.
I’ve grasped my arms, have wrapped my cuirass ‘round
my breast.
We stand together, fate’s unwilling refugees.
The heavens turn, and darkness rises from our chests.
5
“Murder on the Ides”
By Joe Eakin and Bryce Walker
Using a mixture of live actors, audio, & visual effects, the Classics Department per-
formed selected scenes from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in the Ho Tung Visualization
Lab, a full dome immersive theater environment. The assassins (or liberators) were
played by Ryan Gross ‘10(Casca), Robert Bisnoff ‘09(Cassius), and Professor Walker
(Brutus). Cathy Reed ‘10 played Caesar’s wife Calpurnia, while Professor Stull wowed
the audience in the title role of Julius Caesar. Although constrained by a limited re-
hearsal schedule Professor Garland drew the most out of his actors with his usual wit
and charm while simultaneously recording an unforgettable narration for the production.
Joe Eakin amazed both cast and audience with his ability to employ both digitized scenes
from the Regia, Caesar's home, the Roman Forum, and Pompey’s theater (where Caesar
was assassinated). Through this combina-
tion of effects he took the audience back
to Ancient Rome in 44 BCE. The pro-
gram lasted about 45 minutes and con-
tained three scenes from Shakespeare's
Caesar and four narrations by Professor
Robert Garland, all set to stunning audio
and visual effects. Emory Creel prepared
traditional Roman food for the audience
before and after the performance. The
production ran for 2 nights before sold
out crowds! The cast subsequently re-
corded the scenes in front of a green
screen in the Case-Geyer Library, and
this performance can now be seen inte-
grated with the effects as a vis-lab pres-
entation. The department is looking for-
ward to a similar production next year.
 Page 6

Student Summer Research, by Raffaella Dietz

Professor Ammer-
man at the Corycian
cave of the Pan and
the nymphs
The Influence of Horace,
Catullus, and Lucretius on
the Thematic and Linguistic
Development of the Spanish
Golden Age Poets Góngora,
Garcilaso and Herrera
My independent sum-
mer research project set out to
answer the following question:
in what ways--themes, words,
and syntax--and to what extent
did Latin Golden Age literature
(70 B.C.-14 A.D.) influence the
development of Spanish Golden
Age poetry (1500-1700)? The
purpose of my research was
thus to analyze Spanish and Latin
Golden Age literature in order
to explore the similarities be-
tween them in regard to lyrical
themes, topoi, syntax, and lan-
guage used during the respective
Golden Age period in each lan-
guage and to notice acutely the
debts owed by Spanish authors
to the Classics. More specifically,
it involved an in-depth compari-
son of Spanish and Latin litera-
ture to determine the thematic
and linguistic influences that the
poetry of Horace, Catullus and
Lucretius may have had on the
development of Luis de Gón-
gora’s, Garcilaso de la Vega’s
and Fernando de Herrera’s
poetry. As a means to this end,
the initial
stages of this
project in-
cluded care-
fully reading
and analyzing
poetry by
Góngora,
Garcilaso,
and Herrera,
with six
weeks allot-
ted for me-
ticulous
investigation
into what
Lucretian,
Horatian, and Catullan themes,
words, and syntactical structures
each of these Spanish authors
may have borrowed from their
linguistic predecessors. The
subsequent four weeks were
spent consulting databases and
scholarly dictionaries, investigat-
ing significant secondary sources of arriving at the same idea inde-
on concepts and ideas relevant pendently or through his con-
to this study, contacting several temporaries. Most importantly,
scholars on the subject, and however, this project allowed
synthesizing all information into me to establish close connec-
a 52- page research paper. tions between my two concen-
trations, Spanish and the Clas-
This summer re- sics, in many interesting and
search project was both a valu- insightful ways, which is very
able and an enjoyable experience exciting and very important to
for me mainly because of some me.
of the really exciting discoveries
that resulted from my work: the
highly probable Lucretian bor-
rowings from book II of De
Rerum Natura in Garcilaso de la
Vega’s sonnet xxxiv; the several
important Lucretian sub-themes
that constitute the larger,
more encompassing Horatian
theme of Beatus Ille imitated
and translated in many Spanish
Golden Age poems; the imita-
tion of Latin syntactical struc-
tures in Góngora’s poetry; the
high frequency with which
adaptations of the Horatian
themes “pone me...,” the ship-
wrecked lover, human life as
navigation, and carpe diem
appear in Garcilaso’s and
Herrera’s poetry; and the
plethora of specific linguistic and
thematic connections between Raffaella Dietz ex-
Spanish and Latin Golden Age plaining the archi-
authors in general. In the proc- tecture of Ha-
ess of studying these relation- drian’s villa
ships, I learned more about the
diverse forms in which Classical
works may have been available
to the Spanish reader during the Note from the Centro,
16th, 17th and 18th centuries --
manuscripts in the Latin lan-
guage, a translated copy, an continued from page 3
anthology, or a commentary--
and the numerous ways (e.g.
As a third class, I am taking Renaissance
translation, imitation, and emula-
tion) the Spanish poets may have and Baroque Art History. Friday morn-
attempted to incorporate Classi- ings and afternoons are spent on a field
cal topoi, words, and syntactical trip with this class led by the Professor
patterns into their writing. immersed in the art of the city of
Rome—an experience which exceeds
Furthermore, by fo- the limits imposed by classroom teach-
cusing on thematic and linguistic
ing. I encourage any and all interested
borrowings from multiple au-
thors in each language at the and serious students of the Classics to
apply. It has truly been a rewarding
same time, my research also
increased my awareness of the experience, deepening my understand-
many intricacies one encounters ing of both the material culture of an-
in proving that a Spanish author cient Roman as well as risotto, gelato,
actually borrowed a specific idea and limoncello.
from a Classical author instead

The Colgate Classicist

Volume III, Issue 1 Page 7

News from the Alumni
Ashli Baker ‘99: “I am happily living in Seattle
pursuing my PhD in Classics at the University of
Washington. I’ve been doing an abundance of
teaching for the last several years and am cur-
rently teaching a class on Greek and Roman
literature in translation – which is great
fun. Most of my research has focused on the
Ancient Novel – both Greek and Roman. I’ll be
moving on to dissertation phase soon and plan
to write on Apuleius’ Metamorphoses, a text I
first read as an independent study back-in-the-
day at Colgate with Pavlos. I think often about
my adventures in Classics at Colgate – especially
reading Greek with Professor Garland and trav-
eling Italy with Professor Ammerman. I had a
wonderful time seeing Professor Ammerman
and meeting current Colgaters in Rome last
spring. I still remember the amazing fried fish
and gelato we shared. I send my best to all my
Colgate friends!”
Alasdair Glendhill ‘95: “Greetings from Pitts-
burgh. It has been just over 250 years since this
city was founded as an edge of the Empire town,
just one verse in the hundred years' war be-
tween Great Britain and France. My path to
Western Pennsylvania began 20 years ago when
I landed at the pier in New York. Then, I could
not know that the Fates would carry me
through the Classics Department at Colgate.
Now, as I cast my mind's eye back over time,
my imagination forms a picture of snows melting
down outside, while mid term exams are heat-
ing up inside Lawrence Hall. There I developed
the cunning intelligence that not only avoids
falling icicles but also dropping grades in Greek.
Here in the middle of my story a classical educ-
tion still serves me well as a husband, father and
recycler of scrap metals. I hope that our paths
will cross on campus in the not too distant
future so that I can sing for you a few more
verses. The Odyssey continues.”
Melanie Kiechle ‘03: “I am currently a PhD
candidate in American history at Rutgers Uni-
versity in my fourth year of study. Recently I
defended my proposal for a dissertation on the
role of smells and odor perception in the devel-
opment of the urban environment, circa 1840-
1900. My research is taking me in many inter-
esting and malodorous directions, so that I often
wish the opposite of Catullus’s guest: deos roga-
bis totum ut te faciant, Fabulle, nasum.”
Willem Hartong ‘97: I have noticed that the
die is cast. I crossed the East river five years
ago traveling south from Boston and has since
settled in Brooklyn NY. I operate out of this
hub as a musician and songwriter who travels
frequently all over the country to perform to
rock and roll venues with my band Breaking
Laces. When at home I tend to my newly ar-
rived daughter who came care of his wife of
four years and fellow Colgate Alum, Sarah Jay-
cox. Although I was tempted to follow strict
Roman tradition in naming my daughter Billina
Primera, we decided on Amelia instead. With
the docket becoming full, I still find time to
read Latin on occasion. I have been working my
way slowly through Ovid’s Ars Amatoria. When
I find the gaps between reading have become
too long I hear this line in my head “Militiae
species amor est; discedite, segnes!” (II. 233).
Whitney Clark ‘07: “I have spent the past 352
workdays (give or take) as a Teach For America
corps member teaching second, third, and
fourth grade students. In between breaking up
fistfights and settling arguments over which
pencil belongs to whom, I have had the pleasure
of watching my kids beg for more silent reading
time, sit enthralled as I tell them the story of the
Odyssey, and compete with one another over
who will end the year on a higher reading
level. We have classroom pet of sorts – a
stuffed frog names Socrates Jr., who knows
everything, including who insulted whom behind
Ms. Clark’s back. My students are hysterical –
Kemara called Johnny “worm head”, Michael
told me he can’t eat cinnamon rolls because
they make him break out (he’s 10), and Destiny
and Cody threw geometric solids at each other
because they were fighting during a math lesson.

Lectures and Events for 2008–2009

September 16
November 20
Robert Garland, Colgate University
Jonathan Price, Tel Aviv University
“Why Read Homer?”
“Fact, Fiction and Notoriety: The Art of Reading Ancient Jewish
Part of the CORE 151 “Why Read?” Series
Inscriptions”

Ocober 30
December 3
David Teegarden, SUNY Buffalo
Chris Kelk
“Tyrannicide, Mobilization, and the Survival of the Athenian Democracy: a
Study in Collective Action” “Classical Translation”

November 12 March 26

William Stull, Colgate University Dan Hooley, University of Missouri

“Why Read Vergil?” “Once Upon a Time: Stories in and of Satire”

Part of the CORE 151 “Why Read?” Series

April 9

November 18 Ralph Rosen, University of Pennsylvania

Robert Parker, Oxford University “Roasting, Boasting, and the Varieties of Greek Invective”

“What is a Greek God?”

The Colgate Classicist The discipline of classics engages the student and scholar

Bryce Walker, Editor in an investigation that is extraordinarily broad in range of

bwalker@mail.colgate.edu subject matter and span of time—the cultures and civiliza-

tions of the Mediterranean from the prehistoric era down
to the fall of the Western Roman empire in the fifth cen-
Department of the Classics tury A.D. The Department's aim, in both teaching and

Colgate University research, is to discover, interpret, and preserve knowledge

Lawrence Hall 05 of antiquity; such knowledge, we believe, is both intrinsi-

13 Oak Drive cally fascinating and indispensable to an understanding of

Hamilton, NY 13346 Western civilization and the human condition more gener-
ally. We are therefore committed to the proposition that
classics should occupy a central place in the liberal arts
curriculum of the University.
Chair: Robert Garland
Admin. Assistant: Beth MacKinnon
Phone: (315) 228-7276
Dept. Fax: (315) 228-7172

Rome Extended Study,

continued from page 2

More playfully, Gi Young Lee's moving descriptions of different

gladiatorial gear and combat strategies inspired some students to
reenact a fight in the amphitheater at Pompeii.
A special moment was, of course, our visit to Cumae where in the
suggestive setting of the "Cave of the Sibyl" we were able to read
again those familiar verses of Virgil that describe Aeneas' own adven-
turous descent into the underworld.

Parilia 2009 at Colgate,

continued from page 4
Giving papers for Colgate were the three seniors involved in thesis
projects: Susan Anderson, Nate DelPrete, and Ryan Joyce.

The department would like to give a special thanks to Beth

McKinnon for all the work she did in helping organize this year’s
Students from the Rome study group inves- event, going above and beyond her customary duty of keeping the
tigate the cave of the Sibyl department operating smoothly.