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<\/a>Christopher Burden-Strevens<\/a><\/strong>, Lecturer in Ancient History, says:\nIf you love Roman history, BBC Radio 4\u2019s In Our Time <\/em>spotlight programme is a fantastic way to spend 45 minutes refreshing the old and learning the new in conversation with the experts. I was lucky to do my PhD with Catherine Steel, a fantastic Roman historian. Her thoughts on \u2018Is Shakespeare History?: The Roman Plays’<\/a> the work of Cicero<\/a>, and the life and times of Julius Caesar<\/a> are all definitely worth hearing if you\u2019re sick of family TV.<\/p>\n
He adds: any budding Roman historians should definitely read Osgood, J. Rome and the Making of a World State<\/em> (Cambridge University Press 2018).\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Just published this autumn is this other great read: Julius Caesar: Rome’s Greatest Warlord<\/em>. Its a gripping pacey journey through the extraordinary life and times of this central personality of the Roman world. For a short book it manages to be rich on facts while exploring and explaining the vivid story this remarkable man.<\/p>\n Agora<\/a> (2009), directed by\u00a0Alejandro Amen\u00e1bar, is one of the best historical films I have ever seen, with a fascinating\u00a0reconstruction of late 4th century AD Alexandria.<\/p>\n Whether you have the opportunity to go or not, I warmly recommend Eric Cline’s informative and highly readable The Trojan War: A Very Short Introduction<\/em>. This little book does an amazing job of putting the Homeric stories in a historical and archaeological context. It is likely to change your perspective on the Trojan War fundamentally, and for the good.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/a>Rosie Wyles<\/a><\/strong>, Lecturer in Classical History and Literature, says:
\nI recommend the discussion of Sophocles’ Antigone<\/em><\/a> on BBC World Service as it highlights how and why Greek tragedy is still so powerful today. The programme looks at contemporary productions of Antigone<\/em> performed by French prisoners and Syrian women refugees.<\/p>\n<\/a>Steve Willis<\/a><\/strong>, Head of the Department of Classical & Archaeological Studies, recommends some books to whet your archaeological appetite:
\nCarver, M. 2009. Archaeological Investigation<\/em>.
\nPryor, F. 2004. Britain BC: Life in Britain and Ireland before the Romans, <\/em>or\u00a0his Making of the British Landscape<\/em>
\nThese are two of my favourite commentators on the past as they combine knowledge and experience with an accessible writing style that is thoughtful and enlivening. Francis Pryor is often on TV and in the media providing expert insight, whilst Martin Carver is a renowned excavator and subject leader: always good to listen to and read.<\/p>\nKelli Rudolph<\/a><\/strong>, Lecturer in Classics and Philosophy, recommends some fun reading in the form of modern takes on Ancient Greek mythical and literary characters:
\nWhy not try Lavinia<\/em> by Ursula LeGuin, Circe<\/em> by Madeline Miller or Homefire<\/em> by Kamila Shamsie?<\/p>\n<\/a>Dr Ada Nifosi<\/a><\/strong>, Lecturer in Ancient History, with a focus on Egypt, recommends a book and a film:
\nWomen and Society in <\/em>Greco<\/em>-Roman Egypt<\/em>, by Rowlandson, is an amazing source\u00a0book on\u00a0women’s life in Hellenistic and Roman\u00a0Egypt studied\u00a0through private letters, objects\u00a0and official documents.\u00a0This\u00a0book opened my mind and\u00a0inspired my research on women and children in the ancient world.<\/p>\n<\/a>Matthijs Wibier<\/a><\/strong>, Lecturer in Ancient History, says:
\nIf you’re a fan of The Iliad<\/em> and The Odyssey,<\/em> you should know that this winter provides you with one of the best opportunities you’ll ever have to learn more about Troy. The British Museum has a marvellous special exhibition called Troy: Myth and Reality (until 8 March 2020). The exhibition includes a slew of spectacular archaeological finds, my favourites being the so-called Nestor’s cup, the Greek Mycenaean pottery found at Troy, and a Hittite tablet seemingly mentioning the city and its ruler.<\/p>\n