Classics at Agnes Scott College

Dear All,
We are saddened to inform you that the college administration is moving to "sunset" the Classics Department permanently. This means that some courses will still be offered - and maybe even a Minor - but that there will be no permanent faculty, no new Majors, no institutional support for Classics. The faculty will vote on this decision as early as the end of this week! In the meantime, we share here the link to a student-created petition to save Classics (and several other liberal arts programs that are in danger of being cut in the near future). Will you sign it? Please consider leaving us a comment as well, one that speaks to your experience with Classics (generally) and how you think it is relevant in today's changing world.

🔗https://c.org/fNgJS4xLjR
🏛️📸 Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounio, Greece, at sunset (Getty Images)

Thank you to the fabulous LAT-211/311 students who put together a stellar performance of Seneca's Medea, Act V! It was a festive start to the holiday break. Wishing all of you an equally fun and creative holiday season! Io Saturnalia!

Happy (late) Halloween from Dr. Jones and her Latin 201 crew! 🎃👻

Continuing our wistful look back to Summer 2025: Scottie junior Courtney Chaplin participated in the Harvard Summer Program in Greece ( ). This year's course, "Political and Natural Environments of the Eastern Mediterranean from Antiquity to the Present - Comparative Cultural Approaches," covered a massive swath of Mediterranean history. Courtney was able to visit major archaeological sites throughout the country, utilize Harvard's research facility in Nafplion, interact with leading scholars in the field of Classics, and participate in thought-provoking seminars led by Harvard faculty. We're super stoked that Courtney was able to represent Agnes Scott on this incredible journey and we can't wait to see where her studies lead her next!

Join us today in Evans Hall for clasically-themed conversation over lunch! Any time between 12:30 and 2:00pm. 🏺🍽

📣You're invited! Join us on Monday, October 20th between 12:30 and 2:00pm for the first Classics Lunch of the academic year. 🍽🥤 We'll gather in Evans Hall and enjoy each other's company and conversation in an informal setting. Can't wait to catch up with you then! 🏛🏺

When did October happen? Before we get any deeper into the fall semester, we want to take a wistful look back to Summer 2025. Scottie seniors Emma Magnus and Claire Lewis (former Eta Sigma Phi officers) participated in an archaeological excavation in Portugal! They joined Princeton University's Santa Susana Archaeological Project in the Alentejo region of Portugal in their systematic exploration of a Roman villa complex. In addition to learning current field methods and bringing this important insight into daily life in the western Roman empire to light, they were able to visit nearby archaeological sites as well.

In Emma's own words: "The program I participated in was truly one of a kind. Every archaeologist, supervisor, and professor was so kind and dedicated to our experience. The devotion to ethical practices, our encouraged involvement in every process, and making sure we were comfortable was something other field school participants dream about. I absolutely loved learning about archaeology, and it was so fascinating to understand the material culture of Roman provinces hands-on! But besides the many cool things I learned (and found!) I met some really great people, and saw some incredible sites." Kudos to Emma for also receiving a Jane C. Waldbaum Archaeological Field School Scholarship from the Archaeological Institute of America!

📸 Emma Magnus

A very serious library scavenger hunt in preparation for Prof. Gillespie's LDR-101 class: "Democracy & Its Critics in Ancient Greece" where students will be role-playing historical figures from Classical Athens! 🏛📚📖📜🏺💻🏛 Big thank-you to Casey Long, research librarian extraordinaire!

Shout out to Emma Magnus who was awarded an Archaeological Institute of America scholarship to attend her first archaeological dig at a Roman villa in Portugal! Kudos to Emma and more about her experiences there coming soon 🤠🤠⛏️🏺🏛️

Unearthing the past in Portugal! Representing Team South and Central US is Emma Magnus, rising senior at Agnes Scott College.

Emma will be attending the Santa Susana Archaeological Project where she’ll work alongside fellow students to excavate a Roman villa and gain hands-on experience in artifact preservation. Emma is especially excited to explore how Roman colonization influenced Portugal’s material history and to deepen her understanding of cultural interactions in the ancient world.

⏳ Your support helps Emma—and all of our scholars—gain the practical training they need to become the next generation of archaeologists. Donate today to support the team: https://buff.ly/cnN9CxN

Can you spot the Scottie? Wishing our Courtney a fantastic adventure with the Harvard Summer program!

Delighted to announce that Emma Magnus has been awarded Jane C. Waldbaum Archaeological Field School Scholarship from the Archaeological Institute of America! This is a scholarship of $2,000 for those planning to participate in fieldwork for the first time! Emma will be attending the Princeton University Santa Susana Project in Portugal this summer. We're very excited for you, Emma!