UIUC Classics Library

Happy Father's and Father figures' day with the oinochoe of Aeneas carrying his father, Anchises, during the sack of Troy - Louvre F 118 (c. 530-510 BCE)

Last week we had the pleasure and honor of having the Consul General of Greece in Chicago, Mr. Emmanuel Koubarakis, and a true friend and patron of Classics, Mr. George Reveliotis. The Greek delegation had the opportunity to visit our collections and admire some unique medieval manuscripts—many thanks to our colleagues at RBML for all the support and help.

"As you set out for Ithaka
hope your road is a long one,..." (Ithaka, Cavafy).

On this day, April 29th, we remember the death or Constantine Cavafy (+1933), one of the brightest Greek poets. You can learn more about him in our collection of Modern Greek Literature at Literatures and Languages Library.

Ithaka by C. P. Cavafy (Sean Connery and Vangelis)
https://youtu.be/1n3n2Ox4Yfk

DID YOU KNOW that today is Rome's Birthday? The Eternal City is 2,776 years old. The Dies Romana or Romaia is based on the legendary founding of Rome by Romulus in 753 BC. Discover more in the book of our collection, "History of Rome" (945.632 G76h)

Do you like poetry? Join us :)

Please join us tomorrow at 2:00pm in the Lucy Ellis Lounge for Professor David Johnson’s talk “Xenophon on the Trial of Socrates.” We hope to see you there!

Ides of March: “Et tu, Brute? / Καὶ σύ, τέκνον Βροῦτε;” – On March 15th, 44 BC (Idus Martiae), Julius Caesar was assassinated in the Senate by his enemies led by Brutus and Cassius. The busts of the two main protagonists can be found side by side in the Classics Library Collection.

Today is International Women's Day! Celebrate with us with some books from our collection.

DID YOU KNOW that the two statues at the library's main entrance are related to Classics? According to Greek mythology, Zeus wanted to end the Bronze Age with a flood. Deucalion and Pyrrha were the only survivors. They built an ark and repopulated Earth by throwing rocks 'over their shoulders'. The rocks Deucalion threw became men, or "The Sons of Deucalion," and the rocks that Pyrrha threw became women, or "The Daughters of Pyrrha." The statues depict two of the "daughters." UIUC also has two "Sons of Deucalion" on campus. Have you found them yet?

DID YOU KNOW that the Classics Library Collection has a great tradition of studying Aesop and Avianus’ Fables? Almost 200 photostatic copies of manuscripts, dated at the beginning of the 20th century, are stored in our Library. You can admire some of them in the new exhibition “Aesop and his Followers: from Antiquity to Today” in the showcases of Literatures and Languages Library and the Main Stacks.

February 9th was designated as “International Greek Language Day”. Celebrate it with us with some books of Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Greek Literature from our Classics Library Collection.

Interested to learn Ancient Greek and/or Latin this semester at UIUC? Check this out...