Classical Tripos
Encyclopedia
The Classical Tripos is the taught course in classics
at the University of Cambridge
, equivalent to Literae Humaniores
at Oxford. It is traditionally a three year degree, but for those who have not studied Latin and Greek at school a four year course has been introduced. It is not essential to have a Greek A-Level to study for the three year degree as intensive Greek teaching is available, but most students will have a Latin A-Level.
Classics at Cambridge consists of Language (Greek
and Latin
), Classical Literature, Ancient History
, Classical Art
and Archaeology
, Classical Philosophy
, and Linguistics
.
Although roughly three-quarters of the course is taken up with developing language skills, both centred around the set texts and in unseen translation, students are also expected to study literature, philosophy, history, linguistics and philology, and art and archaeology.
.
Other notable fellows of Classics at Cambridge include Nigel Spivey
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, equivalent to Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
at Oxford. It is traditionally a three year degree, but for those who have not studied Latin and Greek at school a four year course has been introduced. It is not essential to have a Greek A-Level to study for the three year degree as intensive Greek teaching is available, but most students will have a Latin A-Level.
Classics at Cambridge consists of Language (Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
), Classical Literature, Ancient History
Ancient history
Ancient history is the study of the written past from the beginning of recorded human history to the Early Middle Ages. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, with Cuneiform script, the oldest discovered form of coherent writing, from the protoliterate period around the 30th century BC...
, Classical Art
Ancient art
Arts of the ancient world refer to the many types of art that were in the cultures of ancient societies, such as those of ancient China, India, Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, Greece and Rome.-Egypt:...
and Archaeology
Classical archaeology
Classical archaeology is the archaeological investigation of the great Mediterranean civilizations of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Nineteenth century archaeologists such as Heinrich Schliemann were drawn to study the societies they had read about in Latin and Greek texts...
, Classical Philosophy
Ancient philosophy
This page lists some links to ancient philosophy. In Western philosophy, the spread of Christianity through the Roman Empire marked the ending of Hellenistic philosophy and ushered in the beginnings of Medieval philosophy, whereas in Eastern philosophy, the spread of Islam through the Arab Empire...
, and Linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
.
Prelims to Part I
Taken by those doing the four year course, this is an introduction to Latin, with Greek being taken up in Part IA.Part IA
During the first year, undergraduates take subjects to gain a general idea of the ancient world and to discover which area is most appealing to them. Much of the work is language based: Written texts are a major source of evidence for classical antiquity and so there is an emphasis in Part I on developing fluent, accurate reading skills in both Greek and Latin.Although roughly three-quarters of the course is taken up with developing language skills, both centred around the set texts and in unseen translation, students are also expected to study literature, philosophy, history, linguistics and philology, and art and archaeology.
Part IB
There is a wider choice in the second year and undergraduates narrow down their field of study. Whilst they have to study Language and Literature, the choice of Literature is wider, and they choose two out of History, Art and Archaeology, Philosophy and Linguistics.Part II
Part II gives the widest choice. It is possible to completely focus on one subject, or to choose a broad range of subjects. Candidates take four papers, although one of these papers may be substituted by a 10,000 word ThesisThesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
.
Professors in the Cambridge University Faculty of Classics
- Mary BeardMary Beard (classicist)Winifred Mary Beard is Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of Newnham College. She is the Classics editor of the Times Literary Supplement, and author of the blog "", which appears in The Times as a regular column...
- Professor of Classics - Newnham College - Paul CartledgePaul CartledgePaul Anthony Cartledge is the first A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture at Cambridge University, having previously held a personal chair in Greek History at Cambridge....
- A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek CultureA. G. Leventis Professor of Greek CultureThe A. G. Leventis Professorship of Greek Culture is the first chair in Classics to have been endowed at Cambridge University since World War II...
- Clare College - James Diggle - Professor of Greek and Latin - Queens' College
- Philip Hardie - Honorary Professor of Latin - Trinity College
- Simon GoldhillSimon GoldhillSimon Goldhill is a professor of Greek literature and culture at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of King's College, Cambridge. He is also Director of CRASSH, the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities at the University of Cambridge...
- Professor in Greek Literature and Culture - King's College - John Henderson - Professor of Classics - King's CollegeKing's College, CambridgeKing's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
- Geoffrey Horrocks - Professor of Comparative Philology - St John's College
- Richard HunterRichard L. HunterRichard Lawrence Hunter is a classical scholar and has since 2001 been the 38th Regius Professor of Greek at Cambridge University.-Education and academic career:Richard Hunter was born and grew up in Australia...
- Regius Professor of GreekRegius Professor of GreekRegius Professor of Greek may refer to:* Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Cambridge * Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Oxford...
- Trinity College, CambridgeTrinity College, CambridgeTrinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows... - Martin MillettMartin MillettMartin John Millett BA, DPhil, FBA, FSA is currently the Laurence Professor of Classical Archaeology at the Faculty of Classics, University of Cambridge...
- Laurence Professor of Classical ArchaeologyLaurence Professor of Classical ArchaeologyThe Laurence Professorship of Classical Archaeology at Cambridge University was established in 1930 as one of the offices endowed by the bequest of Sir Perceval Maitland Laurence.-Laurence Professors of Classical Archaeology:* Arthur Bernard Cook...
- Fitzwilliam College - Stephen Oakley - Kennedy Professor of LatinKennedy Professor of LatinThe Kennedy Professorship of Latin is the senior professorship of Latin at the University of Cambridge.In 1865, when Benjamin Hall Kennedy retired as headmaster of Shrewsbury School, his friends and former pupils created a fund with the intention of founding a chair in Latin to be named after him...
- Emmanuel College - Robin OsborneRobin OsborneRobin Osborne is an English historian of classical antiquity, who is particularly interested in Ancient Greece. He grew up in Little Bromley, attending Little Bromley County Primary School and then Colchester Royal Grammar School...
- Professor of Ancient History - King's College - Malcolm Schofield - Professor of Ancient Philosophy - St John's CollegeSt John's College, CambridgeSt John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
- David SedleyDavid SedleyDavid Neil Sedley is the seventh Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy at Cambridge University.Sedley was educated at Trinity College, Oxford where he was awarded a first class honours degree in Literae Humaniores in 1969...
- Laurence Professor of Ancient PhilosophyLaurence Professor of Ancient PhilosophyThe Laurence Professorship of Ancient Philosophy at Cambridge University was established in 1930 as one of the offices endowed by the bequest of Sir Perceval Maitland Laurence; it is the oldest chair of ancient philosophy in the world....
- Christ's College, CambridgeChrist's College, CambridgeChrist's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:... - Myles BurnyeatMyles BurnyeatMyles Fredric Burnyeat CBE FBA is an English classicist and philosopher.-Life:Educated at Bryanston School and King’s College, Cambridge, Burnyeat was a student of Bernard Williams at University College London....
- Emeritus Laurence Professor of Ancient PhilosophyLaurence Professor of Ancient PhilosophyThe Laurence Professorship of Ancient Philosophy at Cambridge University was established in 1930 as one of the offices endowed by the bequest of Sir Perceval Maitland Laurence; it is the oldest chair of ancient philosophy in the world....
- Robinson College - Pat EasterlingP. E. EasterlingPatricia Elizabeth Easterling FBA is an English classical scholar, recognised as a particular expert on the work of Sophocles.-Life and career:...
- Emerita Regius Professor of GreekRegius Professor of GreekRegius Professor of Greek may refer to:* Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Cambridge * Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Oxford...
- Newnham College - Peter Garnsey - Professor in the History of Classical Antiquity - Jesus CollegeJesus College, CambridgeJesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
- John Killen - Emeritus Professor of Mycenaean Greek - Jesus College
- Geoffrey LloydG. E. R. LloydSir Geoffrey Ernest Richard Lloyd is a historian of Ancient Science and Medicine at the University of Cambridge. He is the Senior Scholar in Residence at the Needham Research Institute in Cambridge, England.- Early life :...
- Emeritus Professor of Ancient Philosophy and Science - Darwin CollegeDarwin College, CambridgeDarwin College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.Founded in 1964, Darwin was Cambridge University's first graduate-only college, and also the first to admit both men and women. The college is named after the family of one of the university's most famous graduates, Charles Darwin... - Anthony Snodgrass - Emeritus Laurence Professor of Classical ArchaeologyLaurence Professor of Classical ArchaeologyThe Laurence Professorship of Classical Archaeology at Cambridge University was established in 1930 as one of the offices endowed by the bequest of Sir Perceval Maitland Laurence.-Laurence Professors of Classical Archaeology:* Arthur Bernard Cook...
- Clare College
Other notable fellows of Classics at Cambridge include Nigel Spivey
Nigel Spivey
Nigel Jonathan Spivey is a British academic. He teaches classical art and archaeology at the University of Cambridge, where he is a Fellow of Emmanuel College...