Category Archives: Classical matters

Musica linguae, lingua musicae A talk given in Latin as part of a cultural panel at the Delphi Economic Forum, April 2022. The Latin text is given below the English. A recording of the event is here: I speak from … Continue reading →

Mostly printed in full; some redacted for reasons of space or preference (with links to online originals). 1. Ancient Philosophy (David Hoinski) 2. Australian Book Review(Julia Kindt) 3. The Telegraph(Nikhil Krishnan) 4. The Times (Patrick Kidd) 5. Wall Street Journal(Jamie … Continue reading →

The Frogs Chorus in Aristophanes Frogs: competing with Dionysus Dionysus is rowing across the lake of the Underworld to a steady rhythm when he is interrupted by the frog chorus, singing to the accompaniment of the aulos (a double pipe, … Continue reading →

                Kaineus Rising: A Trans Generational Myth Kaineus always knew he was meant to be a girl. Growing up amid the hills and vales of Thessaly in what is now northern Greece, he … Continue reading →

[An abbreviated version of a talk I gave to the Horatian Society in London in 2005, in which I take a critical view of the idea that poets and authors insert acrostic or other ‘codes’ into their works.] The profanum vulgus, … Continue reading →

The unexpected death (at the age of 77) on 13 July 2015 of Martin West, the greatest classicist of his generation,  has left a hole in the world of scholarship and philology. It also leaves me with a sense of profound … Continue reading →

Herodotus’ mentions of Heineken constitute a hitherto unsuspected instance of product placement in ancient Greek writing. In Histories 1.2.2, Heineken — εἵνεκεν in ancient Greek — is found in connection with the voyage of Jason and the Argonauts to Colchis. The implication is … Continue reading →

Reviews of The Greeks and the New from the following sources: Journal:                         Reviewer: 1. Runciman Prize Notice                 John Taylor 2. … Continue reading →