Institute of Classical Studies

Tony Stark, Odysseus and the Myths Behind Marvel: Ancient Texts and Modern Pop Culture
5pm Thurs 11 Jun: shorturl.at/O82Jj

Peter Meineck will examine the influence of ancient mythology on Marvel films, comics and games and how the Marvel Universe is acting as part of a modern mythic structure.

Tony Stark, Odysseus and the Myths Behind Marvel: Ancient Texts and Modern Pop Culture In this illustrated talk Peter Meineck will describe aspects of his recent book, which examines the influence of ancient mythology on Marvel films, comics and games and how the Marvel Universe is acting as part of a modern mythic structure. Actors from the Aquila Theatre Company will present short ...

Did you miss the recent lecture given by Prof Liv Yarrow on Nemi’s Scattered Treasure: New Methods and Old Archaeological Finds?

Catch up with the video here and learn more about how historic assemblages shed light on economic and religious practices of the Third Century BCE Rome and Italy:

Nemi’s Scattered Treasure: New Methods and Old Archaeological Finds Nemi’s Scattered Treasure: New Methods and Old Archaeological Finds

Classical Antiquity in Video Games: Combining Visual, Narrative and Interactive Elements

Friday 12 June, 5pm
Sarah Rohde (University of London)
https://shorturl.at/iwEuL

This talk will explore the displacement of Classical Antiquity through a corpus of 100 games composed of both popular and lesser-known games, spanning different genres and contexts of productions, and diverse target audiences.

Classical Antiquity in Video Games: Combining Visual, Narrative and Interactive Elements Classical Antiquity in Video Games: Combining Visual, Narrative and Interactive Elements Friday, 12 June 2026, 17:00-18:30 BST Sarah Rohde (University of London) In-person: booking required Streamed live: https://youtu.be/gq9uSzaZ6Fo “As of 2023, there were 3.220 billion gamers worldwide”. The s...

“Tales from the Tropical Gothic”: Juan Luna, the Philippines, and Ilustrado Classicism
Monday 8 June, 12pm Online via Zoom

The painter Juan Luna (1857-1899) occupies a central position in the cultural history of the Philippines. As one of the most prominent ilustrados (“enlightened ones”), Luna utilized classical themes in his art for a range of purposes. In this talk, Dr Andreas (Tom) Zanker (University of Western Australia) considers Luna’s status as an exponent of ilustrado classicism from two different perspectives. First discussing Luna’s background and relationship with José Rizal (1861-1896), the de facto national hero of the Philippines, and commenting on some of Luna’s paintings (e.g. Spoliarium and H***n, oh Hyménée!). Then considering how Luna’s classicism, and that of his ilustrado compatriots, is reflected in Nick Joaquin’s play, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (1950). Here, we observe an ageing ilustrado painter (similar to Luna) immediately prior to the destruction of old Manila in the Second World War. His final painting, a double self-portrait, shows himself as both Aeneas and Anchises escaping the flames of Troy, without an Ascanius.

“Tales from the Tropical Gothic”: Juan Luna, the Philippines, and Ilustrado Classicism The painter Juan Luna (1857-1899) occupies a central position in the cultural history of the Philippines. As one of the most prominent ilustrados (“enlightened ones”), Luna utilized classical themes in his art for a range of purposes. In this talk, I consider Luna’s status as an exponent of il...

Final days to apply: Combined Classics Library Bursaries

With the Hellenic & Roman Societies, the ICS is running a small grants scheme (up to £300) to assist unfunded scholars to visit the Library in summer 26 to advance or complete a project of research or scholarship. Deadline 7 June:

Combined Classics Library Bursaries Small grants available to assist unfunded scholars visiting the Combined Classics Library for research projects in summer 2025.

Tony Stark, Odysseus and the Myths Behind Marvel: Ancient Texts and Modern Pop Culture

Thursday 11 June, 5pm
In-person at Senate House

In this illustrated talk Peter Meineck will describe aspects of his recent book, which examines the influence of ancient mythology on Marvel films, comics and games and how the Marvel Universe is acting as part of a modern mythic structure. Actors from the Aquila Theatre Company will present short scenes from works of Greek epic and drama that are mentioned in the book followed by an audience discussion.

Tony Stark, Odysseus and the Myths Behind Marvel: Ancient Texts and Modern Pop Culture In this illustrated talk Peter Meineck will describe aspects of his recent book, which examines the influence of ancient mythology on Marvel films, comics and games and how the Marvel Universe is acting as part of a modern mythic structure. Actors from the Aquila Theatre Company will present short ...

Augustus in Saigon!? Imperial and Post-Imperial Frames of Classicizing Iconography in Ho Chi Minh City
Monday 1 June, 12pm
Online via Zoom

Professor Sven Günther (IHAC, Northeast Normal University, Changchun) will discuss the reception of Classical antiquity in Vietnam through intermediaries. Focusing not only on what messages were conveyed by the use of “classicizing” columns, sculptures, and attributes but also on how they were framed or reframed into consistent narratives, both in French colonial times and in post-colonial Vietnam, continuously mirroring communications of ideology, power, and control.

Augustus in Saigon!? Imperial and Post-Imperial Frames of Classicizing Iconography in Ho Chi Minh City Mapping the Blue Horizon: A Digital Corpus Approach to the ‘Caeruleus-Glaucus’ Complex in Classical Latin Literature Event

How can democratic life survive amid the global rise of authoritarianism and deepening inequality? As political norms and systems of communication come under increasing pressure, how might people and institutions respond? And how might practices of citizenship develop in the future?

Join the ICS and the IHR for the Creighton Lecture where Joy Connolly, Melissa Lane, David Cannadine and Philip Murphy will discuss Political Life and Political Crises

Tuesday 9 June, 6pm,
Chancellors Hall, Senate House

Creighton Lecture 2026 | Political Life and Political Crises: A Conversation with Joy Connolly, Melissa Lane, and David Cannadine How can democratic life survive amid the global rise of authoritarianism and deepening inequality? As political norms and systems of communication come under increasing pressure, how might people and institutions respond? And how might practices of citizenship develop in the future? 

Cicero International Day 2026
Weds 3 June, 2pm
Online via Zoom

Hear from Stephanie Frampton (MIT), Lorenzo Serino (University of Molise), Lucia Schwerdt (Saarland University), and more as international scholars come together to discuss all things Cicero

Cicero International Day 2026 2.00-2.10                    Introduction: Gesine Manuwald (UCL) and Kathryn Tempest (Leicester and ICS, London):

Prof Philomen Probert (Oxford) writes about creating 'Read between the lines!' a festival of writing on 11 November 2025, hosted at Cheney School and bringing together: researchers from the University of Oxford and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice; students and staff at Cheney School; and visual and performing artists; which received funding under the ICS public engagement grants scheme.

Read between the lines! A festival of writing from hieroglyphics to emojis Prof Philomen Probert (Oxford) writes about creating 'Read between the lines!' a festival of writing on 11 November 2025, hosted at Cheney School.