# Classicist Dopers, check in here **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 5, 2001, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classicist-dopers-check-in-here/96983 "2001-12-05T04:44:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classicist-dopers-check-in-here/96983/21 "2002-03-12T16:56:30Z")
**RaCha’ar** , I really loved your uptempo rockin’ rhythm on “What’d I Say”, but even better was your deeply soulful crooning in “Georgia On My Mind”. Now those are the real classics. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classicist-dopers-check-in-here/96983/22 "2002-03-12T17:35:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Oo, CalMeacham, a book on mythology? I wants I wants I wants! This is Cal’s book. [_Medusa: Solving the Mystery of the Gorgon_](http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=0KJYP6MWFP&mscssid=W26VSEG4JXUN9LXCM0DLL4CGJAH9BKN5&isbn=0195124316) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classicist-dopers-check-in-here/96983/23 "2002-03-12T20:17:15Z")
I’m not sure I’m really a Classicist, but I have a BA in Classics (Latin), an MDiv (Greek and Hebrew) and almost a PhD (Greek Latin Greek Hebrew Greek and Old Church Slavonic). I’ve been slogging away at Gregory of Nazianzus since last fall, and one day hope to be able to just read it at sight. Most of my reading is in the theologians: Augustine, Paulinus of Nola, Ambrose (compare his De Oficiis with Cicero’s some time!), Luther, and Melanchthon in Latin, and the Cappadocians (Basil’s Holy Rule, Nyssa’s Life of Moses, Nazianzus’ orations), Chrysostom, Gregory Palamas, Athanasius, John of Damascus, and Photius in Greek. Plus the Bible in various languages. I did get through some Cicero, Livy, various Platonic dialogues, and some Herodotus. And I think Cal’s book looks fascinating. Do I count? ---
**Author:** ![tullius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tullius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullius)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classicist-dopers-check-in-here/96983/24 "2002-03-12T21:40:34Z")
Tullius reporting in – undergrad degree in Classics (1980) with a concentration in Medieval Studies. The particular program I was in was a good way to combine Latin and Greek with modern languages (mainly French and Italian). I thoroughly enjoyed the courses and have absolutely no regret about my choice of studies. I only wish I could have fit in more languages while still in school. Although currently practicing law (the fate of over half the Classics majors in my graduating class, it seems), I’ve managed to reread Homer or the Aeneid every few years (they keep getting better) and to work my way through works I never read in college, like many of the Greek tragedies. I recently started reading the _Thebaid_, based on Dante’s high opinion of Statius, but can’t say I share his view. (Rather than read a “knock-off” of Vergil, I’m inclined to go back to the real thing again.) What Latin and Greek works are other “former” Classicists reading? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classicist-dopers-check-in-here/96983/25 "2002-03-13T02:58:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Oo, CalMeacham, a book on mythology? I wants I wants I wants! I can never have too many books on mythology. Whose mythology do you focus on? Is it retelling or interpretation? Here’s my website: [www.MedusaMystery.com](http://www.MedusaMystery.com) . I’ve got a few lectures coming up (as you can see in the Anouncements section). I’m branching out into other myths – Orion and Phaethon. ---
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classicist-dopers-check-in-here/96983/26 "2002-03-13T03:40:19Z")
d00d! I completely forgot about this thread. Thanks for the links, **UncleBeer** and **Cal**. hmmm, updates: I disliked _Misopogon_, mostly because, in my own immortal words, “Julian is a whack job.” _The Caesars_ was more interesting, but Julian’s still a whack job. With five weeks left to finish writing my thesis, I’ve only just changed it to pursue the art of graphical storytelling in ancient Greece, with less of an emphasis on modern-day graphic novels. I’m not going to grad school, not yet, but we’ll see. w3rd. Thanks for resurrecting the thread, **Tenebras**. Oh, and good luck **Maeglin!** ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classicist-dopers-check-in-here/96983/27 "2002-03-13T15:19:40Z")
Julian is a bit of a nut, but a brilliant, interesting nut. I am fascinated by his life and his accomplishments. But I suppose it isn’t for everyone. Especially those with traditional taste. 😉 No word yet from grad school…could be today. As for what I am reading now, well, I am bouncing between Seneca and Boethius. Perhaps to quell my anxiety about my future. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classicist-dopers-check-in-here/96983/28 "2002-03-14T17:31:23Z")
Oooh… so next quarter I’m taking an Imperial prose class, in addition to all that silly math junk… I’m excited. It’s going to be Pliny and Tacitus. Never read any Tacitus, I’ve heard he can be somewhat non-transparent? Anyhow, we shall see. Also, where are you guys all going to grad school, best case scenarios, here? Tenebras ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classicist-dopers-check-in-here/96983/29 "2002-03-15T15:31:04Z")
Best and only case scenario is Columbia, in NYC. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classicist-dopers-check-in-here/96983/30 "2002-03-15T15:36:52Z")
**RaCha’ar** , you referred to graphic novels - have you read either Pressfield’s “Gates of Fire” - fictional retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae, or McCullough’s “Masters of Rome” series? (starts with Gaius Marius in “the First Man in Rome”). Both are great reads… ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classicist-dopers-check-in-here/96983/31 "2002-03-15T15:51:05Z")
Sorry - after re-reading my last post, it may be confusing - the two books I referred to are straight novels, not graphic novels. My point is that they are great (IMHO) retellings of key historical events… ---
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classicist-dopers-check-in-here/96983/32 "2002-03-15T21:00:31Z")
If anyone is in the Richmond, VA area, allow me to cordially invite you all to the dusk-to-dawn reading of _The Odyssey_ at the University of Richmond, tonight at 7:30 in the Whitehurst Living Room. We did this last year (except then it was the _Iliad_) and it’s a blast, trust me. **WordMan** , I’m not familiar with either of those books. Although if you want another retelling of Thermopylae, try Frank Miller’s _300_, the graphic novel rendering of the story. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classicist-dopers-check-in-here/96983.md?page=1)