What is Classics and Archaeology?
Classics refers to the study of the Greek and Roman worlds. Multi-disciplinary in approach, it involves the studies of history, literature, archaeology, religion, mythology, drama and philosophy, in addition to the ancient languages of Greek and Latin. Archaeology is the study of ancient (and more recent) societies through the remains of their material culture. The methods of archaeology are many (excavation, remote sensing, surface survey, imaging, chemical and physical analysis to name a few) and can be applied to any area and period. The study of the physical remains of the Greek and Roman cultures and of the many other cultures that interacted with them is called Classical Archaeology.
Today our understanding of Greek and Roman culture is further enhanced by the latest digital techniques that increasingly pervade studies in archaeology, epigraphy, papyrology, and ancient science and medicine. At Queen’s, students have the opportunity to get hands-on experience in the latest techniques by participating in one of two archaeological excavations supervised by our own faculty, or through a variety of projects and assignments.
It can be said that studying Classics can lead to a wider appreciation of human values and achievements, and a more objective understanding of ourselves and our times. Our undergraduates have gone on to a variety of occupations and have been accepted into graduate programs nationally and internationally.
Feel free to contact any of our faculty (see our Faculty page for our experts listings), or come visit us in the department with questions you have about our courses and programs.
ACCEPTING applications for graduate studies in Classics and Archaeology for 2023-2024
Faculty News
Congratulations to our own Dr. Beatrice Poletti, whose book, Dionysius and the City of Rome: Portraits of Founders in the Roman Antiquities (Lexington Books, 2023), was just enthusiastically reviewed in the prestigious Bryn Mawr Classical Review. They called the book "an innovative study" in which "Poletti demonstrates her mastery ... she has done Dionysian scholars a great service... This characterization-led approach to the Roman Antiquities has much more to offer to our understanding of Dionysius of Halicarnassus and his world in future scholarship.
To read the review, please click !
CERES Event!
CERES is celebrating the publication of its seventh volume!
There will be four presentations by the authors from this year’s volume.
- Melinda Robinson and Neil Patterson
- Pungavi Linghan
- Sophia Cohen Galvao
- Katherine Petrasek
For more information, please click HERE!
Location: Watson Hall
Room: 517
Date: Monday, April 7th
Time: 11:00 AM
Department News!
The Department of Classics & Archaeology is excited to announce a new course!
CLST 407: Greek Geometry!
What is even more exciting is:
This course counts toward the Faculty of Education requirements for Intermediate-Senior Mathematics Teaching Subject and Primary-Junior Curriculum Area!
For more information, click HERE!
Student Spotlight
Spotlight on Anna Smythe, a new addition to our Graduate Masters program this year! Anna has published two papers, to read more about them, click HERE!
Classics and Archaeology Presents...
The Colloquium Speaker Series is an ongoing series of talks by Professors from other universities discussing their areas of specialization.
Classics and Archaeology Presents... Dr. Joshua Paul, whose topic is: The Road to Brundisium: Parodies of Epicureanism in Horace’s Satires
Date: Wednesday, March 26th, 2025
Location: Watson Hall, Room 517
Time: 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
We hope to see you there!
Student Spotlight
Spotlight on Pungavi Linghan who recently joined our Graduate Masters program! Pungavi did an interview with the CFRC as she was a winning presenter at the Inquiry@Queen's Undergraduate Research Conference 2023. To Listen to the Podcast, click HERE!