The ancient Greek and Roman worlds have given us a heritage of extraordinary richness and diversity. Classical studies focuses on the texts, artefacts, images and ideas from these worlds, considering their interpretations and persistence across time, places and cultures.
 

Our academics

Specialisms within the academic team range from the Homeric epics and the monuments of ancient Rome to the portrayal of Cleopatra in films – just a flavour of the breadth of our course material and research topics. Members of the discipline regularly organise international conferences, and have been involved in major collaborative projects, such as the archaeological excavations at Mugello Valley in Tuscany, and the digital humanities Pelagios Project.
 

Our research

Classical studies at The Open University is known for its ambitious and supportive research culture. We are proud of our wide-ranging research on traditional literary, archaeological and historical topics. We also play a leading role in shaping new and interdisciplinary fields, such as digital humanities, material religion and the reception of classical antiquity.
 

How we work with others

We are home to The Baron Thyssen Centre for the Study of Ancient Material Religion, which supports cross-disciplinary work on the material, visual, and other sensory aspects of Greek, Roman and Etruscan religions. We host the Classical Reception Studies Network, bringing together others who share our interest in researching and teaching classical receptions. We produce high-quality bespoke resources for schools and other audiences – many of these are available on our Schools & Outreach page.
 

Find out more:

• Read more about studying with us
• Find introductory videos and free OpenLearn materials, including animations of Greek epic and drama, including Homer and Sophocles, on our Schools & Outreach page
• Visit The Baron Thyssen Centre for the Study of Ancient Material Religion website to listen to audio discussions about Greek, Roman and Etruscan religions
• Read staff and student profiles and the latest news from the department on our classical studies blog.

Banner image: Funky Stock - Paul Williams / Alamy; Inset image: Donald Cooper / Photostage