Cool stuff from the Vatican Library

Just thought I'd share. I kind of wish I could get a closer look at some of the manuscripts.

Slide Show: Treasures from the Vatican Library

Winter break reading begins

I haven't completely figured out what books I'm going to try to get through this break, but I have begun the first one on my list: War and the Iliad, containing two essays on the Iliad, by Simone Weil and Rachel Bespaloff, both written during the second World War.


I really enjoyed Christopher Benfey's introduction, and have read through the beginning of Weil's essay. Will post my thoughts when I've finished the book.


Any suggestions on other things I should try to read? Perhaps should go for something besides classical literature or criticism for once - Dostoevsky? Woolf? Pynchon? More children's fantasy novels?

Thank you, unnamed deity in the Greek pantheon with jurisdiction over finals week

It's over. Done. I could not be happier. 5PM on Thursday: cracked out and exhausted, but so glad. Drank a victory beer, cleared out my library desk, sat around Commons, showered (getting the feeling of library off of oneself is the most glorious thing), played beer pong, got slightly drunk, cried at Jen for an hour or two about boys and life (mostly induced by severe sleep deprivation I think), before passing out watching "Merlin." Yesterday, a lovely dinner with some absolutely lovely people at 3 Doors Down (oysters and beef carpaccio and risotto) before a trip to Pix for dessert and "Archer." Loki is the cutest with the new collar that Sarah has given him, complete with bells for the holidays. Early bed time on Jen's living room futon makes me a happy (well, at least well-rested) camper.


 I have five plus hours until I leave for the airport, and am sitting on Jen's couch, eating instant Pad Thai and petting Echo the cat, who is determined that my hair is a plaything and keeps trying to swipe at it with her paws. No obligations whatsoever, which means my brain is on vacation, and I've been watching really crappy movies on Netflix (and when I say really crappy, I mean really crappy). For the first time since August, there is no impending schoolwork looming over my day—an utterly bizarre experience. No Greek translations, no readings on agrarian reform in the 2nd century BCE, no esoteric philosophical topics to puzzle and stress over. Not really sure what I should do with myself - begin a translation of Pindar?


...JUST KIDDING LOLZ (...okay, maybe not...)

Halfway there!

Just finished my take-home Greek exam, which, surprisingly, made me feel a lot better. And in spite of sleep deprivation, anxiety, and not being as productive as I should have been, this past day is fairly indicative of one of the reasons why I do actually love Reed. Even though we're all in the same boat and under extreme duress, everyone has been wonderful - encouraging, commiserating, and working hard (not to mention the awesome dance break - Disney and Kanye!). This is going to sound trite, but, it's true, I don't think I would be able to survive this kind of a week anywhere else, without this community, without my friends.

mox moriar

Oh god oh god oh god oh god. I do not know how I am going to manage to finish all of this insane, intact, and grad-school-worthy. At least my library lobby study contingent has been awesome - songs, food, mutual exclamations of "WHY WORLD WHY," and being woken from naps (necessary).


If I don't finish this paper by 8AM, am screwed. I don't even know if I have time to study for my Greek and Latin finals. Am tempted to just take them as soon as I finish this paper. And then finish writing my Latin paper which will almost inevitably slay me.


I almost feel like I am slowly losing my mind. However, if I can finish everything this week, on time, and not have a psychotic break or existential crisis, I am so ready for anything else Reed has to throw at me.


AHHHHH

COINZ pt 2

I love using "propagate" in papers. Not to mention "break the yoke."Also I think I might be becoming a bit bonkers. OVERWORKED AND UNDERSEXED = worst feeling ever. Really wish this could be remedied. At least in a few days, the former will no longer be the case, although the latter will likely persist. Unfortunately.


I think this paper, if I can actually finish it, is going to be possibly one of the most interesting papers I've ever written. I'm proposing a new translation of a section from Appian that would completely eliminate any arguments over a certain aspect (re: coinage and a title) of Caesar's investiture in 44 BCE. Really exciting! Also really time-consuming to write. I just don't know when to stop when it comes to numismatic/historical background...

Fill in the blank: Ulrich von Wilamowitz-________

Classics department party was a blast. We watched ridiculous youtube videos (see below for an example), listened to music, and consumed delicious antipasti. Our Greek class proceeded to do our recitations - a success - and each received two printed/(fake-)bound copies of everyone's compilations. Sonia attempted to make it look like our very own Green and Yellow, which was absolutely adorable. She really is such a wonderful professor, and I hope beyond all hopes that she gets tenure. After that, Classics Jeopardy, for prizes. Despite not performing as well I'd hoped in the German Philology category, I left the event as the proud owner of a printed article from 1914 entitled "The Unity of the Enclitic NE." I've started reading it and boy, is it a gem - oh the prose, the prose! Only disappointing thing was that the champagne Erik brought was never opened, and thus Classics major drinking night did not happen. When I ran into Kirk later that evening, we decided that we're going to make sure this will actually happen at some point. Because really, Classics majors together in a pub? Who knows what kind of brilliant commentaries on ancient texts or embarrassing face-plants could happen?


One of the videos that Lindsay (and I) made the class watch. Ellen was particularly enthusiastic about the Macedonia/My Sharona one:



Currently, am endeavoring to survive the library. More on that boring stuff later.

Everyone should go watch "Jason and the Argonauts" right now.

Our final Greek class of the semester was, predictably, wonderful, even though I was so hungover that I was essentially incapable of rational thought. Sonia brought in lots of delicious Mediterranean food, which we availed ourselves to. And instead of translating or even talking about the Argonautica, we Netflix-Instant-ed "Jason and the Argonauts," an awesome and ridiculous film from the early 60s, WITH CLAYMATION MONSTERS! No joke - the special effects (intensely admired at the time) were created by the same guy who did the original "Clash of the Titans." After this class, however, "Jason and the Argonauts" will forever hold a place in my heart. Giant killer bronze statue! Blue harpies! Lots of short tunics! Medea wearing purple eyeshadow! And who could forget the FIGHTING SKELETONS?!?!!!

Cicero, you blow my mind

SO MUCH FATE AND CAUSALITY.

Tempus fugit? (Ridiculously clichéd, I apologize)

It has only begun to hit me that it is already the end of the semester. Two more days of class, but a massive amount of work that will probably trample me alive like Hannibal's elephants did to the Romans. (I simply adore those elephants - Polybius's account of the Second Punic War is actually fascinating and I highly recommend it).


I did have a meeting with Ellen today to discuss my Roman History paper that left me feeling much more confident and pleased about what I have been working on (an examination of the portrait coinage of Julius Caesar in the early months of 44 BCE before his death and its placement within the broader context of Caesarean self-representation). She was very supportive and approved of all my ideas and theories, gave me a couple things to think on, and then told me we should have dinner sometime and talk about numismatics. I always forget that Ellen is actually extremely kind and supportive under her very intimidating and imposing intellectual exterior. She's absolutely wonderful!


What is worrying me the most at the moment is my presentation for Latin tomorrow on Cicero's De Fato. The work is fragmentary, mildly incomprehensible (at least to a non-philosophical person like me), available to me in only one very literal (and even more incomprehensible) translation, and there are hardly any secondary works or commentaries written on it. To say that I am terrified would be an understatement. I've been trying for weeks to try to get this presentation rolling, but I just have no idea how to convey this extremely complex philosophical content in simple and understandable English prose. WHY CICERO, WHY??? My only consolation is that even in grad school, unless I decide to specialize in it, I will probably never have to read another philosophical text of Cicero's again! The rest of the night is going to be me married to my copy of the text, and hopefully something will come out of that.


Greek class was also a gem today. Will likely procrastinate later this evening and post some of those tidbits.