Games and Festivals: A. G. Leventis Ancient Worlds Study Day 2022
Warwick Classics Network A. G. Leventis Ancient Worlds Day 2022
'Games and Festivals' - Resources
The Warwick Classics Network A. G. Leventis Ancient Worlds Day 2022 tookplace on Wednesday 29th June with the general theme of 'Games and Festivals' to tie in with the Commonwealth Games 2022 which take place in the summer of 2022 in Birmingham and surrounds (including some events here on campus at Warwick!). The focus for this event took the topics covered in the Classical Civilisation and Ancient History GCSE and A-level curricula and expanded upon these, looking especially at links to ancient games and festivals, drawing on our lecturers' specialities and interests.
Prof Michael Scott – ‘The Gritty Realities of the Ancient Olympics’
Prof Michael Scott outlines the realities of attending and competing at the ancient Olympic Games, an experience not unlike attending Galstonbury... You can download the PowerPoint of the talk here.
Dr Francesca Modini – ‘The Edge of Glory: Pindar and the meaning(s) of victory'
Dr Francesca Modini here gives an introduction to the victory odes of Pindar and discusses why we should still read him and what he has to say to us today about victory. You can download the PowerPoint of the talk here.
Dr Xavier Buxton – ‘Poetry contests at Greek ‘athletic’ festivals’
Dr Xavier Buxton discusses another side of contests in the ancient Greek world, that of musical and poetic contests at Greek games such as the Olympics and Pythian Games. PowerPoint will be uploaded soon.
Prof David Fearn – ‘Athletic politics - Alcibiades and Athenian performance culture’
In this fascinating talk, Prof David Fearn gives a contemporary edge to the ancient Marmite man, Alcibiades. Love him or loathe him, his actions around the Olympics of 416BC are discussed in the light of Politics, competitive culture and much more. You can download the PowerPoint of the talk here.
Dr Elena Giusti – 'Epic athletics - Anchises’ funeral games (Aeneid 5)'
Dr Elena Giusti discusses the funeral games of Achises in Book 5 of the Aeneid, emphasising the correspondences to the Iliad over that of the Odyssey and discussing the mirrored structure of Book 5. You can download the PowerPoint of the talk here.
Prof Zahra Newby – 'Greek festivals in the Roman Empire'
In the final talk of the day, our Head of Department Prof Zahra Newby discusses the development and transformation of Greek games and festivals down to and during the Imperial Period. You can download the PowerPoint of the talk here.