Classics & Ancient History » Classics News and Events (tag [rhetoric])

The Art of Veiled Speech, from Antiquity to Modern Times: 1st May 2025, 4pm

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 11:59:00 GMT

Subtexts are all around us. In conversation, business transactions, politics, literature, philosophy, and even love, the art of expressing more than what is explicitly said allows us to live and move in the world. But rarely do we reflect on this subterranean dimension of communication. Words don't just say what they say, and often we can understand (as listeners) and convey (as speakers) more, or something else entirely, than what is expressly said. Every day, we send out double-meaning messages and decipher those sent to us by others, without even taking notice. Greco-Roman rhetoric provides invaluable theoretical tools for thinking about this phenomenon, notably with the rhetorical notion of “figured speech”. History offers striking examples of the use of innuendo in ancient and modern political contexts. In personal and public life, veiled speech has many functions, including diplomatic, poetic, humorous and polemical. It also raises difficulties, as it carries the risk of misunderstanding. Criteria can therefore be proposed to remedy uncertainty and guarantee interpretation.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 19:49:36 GMT

Dr. Caroline Petit awarded the quinquennal Médaille de Chénier

Fri, 24 May 2019 08:57:00 GMT

In March 2019, Dr. Caroline Petit was awarded the Médaille de Chénier of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres (Paris), for her book Galien de Pergame ou la rhétorique de la Providence. Médecine, littérature et pouvoir à Rome, Brill, 2018. This quinquennal award distinguishes a book of significance in the field of Greek language and literature.

New publication: Caroline Petit, Galien de Pergame ou la rhétorique de la Providence

Tue, 25 Sep 2018 16:45:00 GMT

Out in September 2018: Caroline Petit’s book, Galien de Pergame ou la rhétorique de la Providence: Médecine, littérature et pouvoir à Rome is the first comprehensive study of the role of rhetoric in Galen’s œuvre. Physician to several Roman emperors and author of the most impressive body of works in antiquity up to AD 350, Galen created a compelling figure of authority through his medical and philosophical works. The book analyses the range of Galen’s rhetorical mastery through five chapters, studying in turn Galen and the Hellenic tradition, Galen’s demonstrative and refutative tactics, the role of enargeia in Galen’s descriptions and narratives, his ‘hymn’ to Nature in his main anatomical work, De usu partium, and finally autobiography and self-portrait in his œuvre.

Classical Texting- "Prudens Simplicitas: The Decline of Simplicitas"

Fri, 15 Dec 2017 10:42:49 GMT

Martina Russo, PhD candidate in the Department of Classics and Ancient History at Warwick, has published on the concept of simplicitas in Latin Literature. Read it here.

Odysseus and Aeneas: Precedents to Machiavelli’s Prince?

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 09:44:04 GMT

Read Matthew Smith's Classical Texting blogpost on Machiavelli, Homer, and Virgil's multi-talented leaders here.

Classical Texting, "Deep Thinking: The EdStone and Beyond"

Tue, 17 Jan 2017 09:57:53 GMT

Dr David Fearn writes about monumentalisation in ancient and modern thought in "Deep Thinking: The EdStone and Beyond". See here: https://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/classicaltexting/

Trump, Hesiod and Truth

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 14:04:55 GMT

New blog from the Classics and Ancient History Department about Classical Texts, follow link below: http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/classicaltexting/

New publication: C. Petit on 7th c. Alexandria

Wed, 02 Dec 2015 09:08:40 GMT

An article exploring medicine in late antique Alexandria, based on medical and hagiographic texts of the 7th c. AD.

Caroline Petit, ‘Alexandrie, carrefour des traditions médicales au 7e s.: Les témoignages de Sophrone de Jérusalem, Alexandre de Tralles, Paul d’Egine, Stéphane d’Alexandrie et Jean d’Alexandrie’ in J.-P. Caillet/B. Dumézil/S. Destephen/H. Inglebert (eds.), Aux origines des saints patrons, Paris, Picard, 2015, 287-307

Histories of Freedom of Speech

Fri, 20 Nov 2015 08:51:23 GMT

Students and visiting academics took part in a debate on Histories of Freedom of Speech, Ancient and Modern.

Dr Suzanne Frey-Kupper introduced the event, part of the Humanities Research Centre's Warwick 50 celebration, by highlighting two anniversaries, the 50th anniversary of the University of Warwick and the 75th anniversary of the war-time Coventry Blitz.

Aristophanes' female characters Mika (Maheen Rizvi) and Lysistrata (Sasha Desai), as performed by Warwick undergraduates, demonstrated the problems of free speech within Athenian democracy, our first taste of the complications of ancient free speech. Thomas Matthews-Boehmer and Emma Johnson, directors of our undergraduate Classics plays, spoke about the complications of transferring Aristophanes' comedies, with their ancient ideas and humour, to the modern stage.

Our guests Prof Paul Cartledge, Dr Katie Fleming and Prof Robert Fine each spoke briefly about the history of free speech, from Athens to the present day, Socrates to Charlie Hebdo, demonstrating that it has always been a problematic and contested idea; Dr Dan Orrells then chaired a lively discussion between the panellists and students in the audience.

Highlights and more pictures from the event via Storify