Classical Philology
What is Classical Philology?
The two components, "interest in language" and "interest in literature", are at the heart of the study of Classical Philology, i.e. the Greek and Latin language and literature of antiquity. The entirety of literary texts and linguistic forms of expression extends from the archaic period (8th century BC) to late antiquity - over a period of around 1200 years, if the reception and continuation in the Middle Ages, humanism and modern times is added, over 2500 years.
Main areas of research
The main areas of research of the section of Classical Philology at the Department of Classics can be summarized as follows
- Ancient language and literature from archaic times to the ancient imperial period
- Modern literary theory
- History of science
- Didactics of classical philology
Current research projects
Other projects of the section
Euronotos
Internal university project
Head: Markus HAFNER
Southeast European perspectives on antiquity and its reception
Following previous academic activity with the University of Ljubljana, which has already resulted in a publication (Blaž Zabel [ed.], Primerjalna književnost 44.2, Ljubljana 2021, Special Issue: Ancient Literary Traditions in Comparative Literature), the future cooperation between the University of Graz and Southeast European research institutes in the field of Classical Philology and Classical Studies in general is to be placed on a new common basis. This is symbolized by the Euronotos, according to the typology of the ancient wind rose, the southeast wind that blows between the east wind(euros) and the south wind(notos). It not only points to the flexibly expandable, integrative geocultural focus 'Southeast', but also thematically to antiquity in its partly universal and unifying, partly regional character and reception, especially in the Southeast European context. The aim of EuroNotos is to activate a 'Southeast' research network at the participating locations and to intensify mutual exchange through research projects. Both renowned and young scientists are to be involved. Lectures will be held in English - as the lingua franca . In addition to the formation of future networks, projects on the reception of antiquity and on the research and reception of antiquity in Southeast Europe are at the center of attention
Ekphrastic storytelling
Internal university project (since 2018)
Head: Ursula GÄRTNER
Collaborator: Sally BAUMANN
This project is about a particular narrative design element, namely the emphasis on the visual. The term 'ekphrastic narrative' is meant as a working concept that also goes beyond ekphrasis in the narrower sense as descriptions of works of art and the like; it is intended to include passages in which there is no ekphrasis in the above sense, but where the narrative part seems to take a back seat to a pictorial one, i.e. where the visual predominates in the representation. The questions of intermediality are explored here in an interdisciplinary manner. Following three international workshops, a conference is planned for 2024.
