Colorado Classics Day on Sept. 28 celebrates Latin, classical antiquity
The study of classical antiquity鈥攖he languages, literature, philosophy and history of the ancient Greeks and Romans鈥攊s not only literally foundational at the University of Colorado 色吧亚洲鈥攊t鈥檚 also alive and well.
Being the oldest department at the university, which was founded in 1876, Classics has, arguably, left its mark. Even now, nearly a century and a half after its inception, students entering Norlin Library, the flagship library of the CU system, pass beneath the words of Cicero, one of Rome鈥檚 greatest statesmen-philosophers: 鈥淗e who knows his own generation remains always a child.鈥�
And now the department is ready to share that mark with the broader Latin community.
On Saturday, Sept. 28, the Department of Classics, the Colorado Classics Association and the Colorado Junior Classical League will host Colorado Classics Day, which brings scores of Latin students and teachers to campus from schools around the state for a day of fellowship, learning and fun.
Tyler Lansford, a classics instructor, is helping to host this year's Colorado Classics Day.
鈥淲e have a flagship department nationally, and we take our responsibility to the state Latin community seriously,鈥� Tyler Lansford, an instructor in the Department of Classics at CU 色吧亚洲, says. 鈥淲e love to bring everybody together鈥攈igh-school students, teachers, grad students, faculty鈥攖o share expertise.鈥�
Student participants choose two morning sessions from a menu that includes 鈥淟ife as a Gladiator,鈥� 鈥淩oman Law: Worst. Haircut. Ever,鈥� 鈥淲omen Writers of Ancient Rome鈥� and 鈥淎natomy of a Temple.鈥� At lunch, there is a Roman dress costume contest and a chance for students to chat with CU 色吧亚洲 Classics faculty.
During the afternoon, teachers and faculty attend a meeting of the Colorado Classics Association while students participate in activities hosted by the Colorado Junior Classical League, including 鈥淐ertamen, the game show of the Ancient World,鈥� a javelin throw and 鈥淰ersipellis鈥� a version of the role-playing party game (or Mafia), in Latin.
The events focus on Latin, for the simple reasons that ancient Greek is taught in few schools and has less direct relevance to modern Western languages and culture, Lansford says.
鈥淭here are almost no high schools in the country that teach ancient Greek. Greek is a step removed from the historical development of the western European languages,鈥� he says. 鈥淏y contrast, Latin is a central source of English, and has enormous relevance to students鈥� mastery of their native language.鈥�
Half of the words in the English lexicon are derived from Latin or French, which, along with Italian and Spanish, is a direct descendant of the Roman tongue.
鈥淧recision in word choice is immeasurably enhanced by some acquaintance with Latin,鈥� Lansford says. 鈥淎nd it helps with the ability to express oneself in complete, coherent sentences. Latin syntax is not only exact but also beautifully transparent.鈥�
In addition, Western writers and thinkers, including Shakespeare and the founding fathers of the United States, were deeply influenced by great Roman thinkers and writers.
Latin is not a dead language. It鈥檚 simply a language that has ceased to be mortal.鈥�
The modern perception that studying Latin is somehow 鈥渆litist鈥� flies in the face of history, Lansford argues.
鈥淔or so many centuries, the only people who got to study it were in fact privileged people, from the Renaissance to modern times,鈥� he says. 鈥淚n our day, offering Latin to everyone is the most democratic thing imaginable.鈥�
And the notion, currently popular among some pundits and politicians, that studying humanities subjects such as Classics is of minimal use in the age of technology, Lansford points to the Cicero quote at Norlin Library.
鈥淐ontrary to the narrow, instrumental view of education, Cicero teaches us that many of our core values are embedded in the past and achievements of the past. We can鈥檛 expect a purely technical society to replenish itself spiritually and intellectually,鈥� he says. 鈥淟atin anchors us in the bedrock of our history and values.鈥�
This event is partly funded through a听CU 色吧亚洲 Outreach Award, which support research, teaching and creative work that connects with communities around Colorado and beyond.听A can be found on the Colorado Classics Association's website.听
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