Spring 2025 Classics Newsletter - Course Offerings, Faculty Update, and Spring Semester Reports

Oct 1, 2026

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Spring 2025 Classics Newsletter from Hampden-Sydney College’s Department of Classics presents course offerings and learning focuses, including Greek Literature in Translation, The World of Alexander the Great, Mythic Elements in TV and Film, Elementary Latin I, and Evil Roman Emperors. The newsletter welcomes new Visiting Assistant Professor Matthew Schueller, summarizing his research in Roman archaeology and urban landscapes across Balkan regions. It also highlights Dr. Hay’s Canadian radio interview on Vergil’s Aeneid and shares field reports from spring semester classes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time6 min

AccessFree to download

Course Offerings

Greek Literature in Translation (CLAS 203)

The World of Alexander the Great (CLAS 285.01)

Mythic Elements in TV and Film (CLAS 285.02)

Elementary Latin I (LATN 101)

Evil Roman Emperors (HONS 261)

Department Updates

Welcome to New Visiting Assistant Professor Matthew Schueller

Dr. Hay Interviewed on Canadian Radio

Field Reports from Spring Semester Classes

Some of Our Fall 2025 Course Offerings CLAS 203 – Greek Literature in Translation – MWF 9:30-10:20am – Matt Schueller Reading and discussion of major works of classical Greek literature. Literary themesand techniques are considered, as well as the influence of Greek writings on later literature. No knowledge of Greek is required. CLAS 285.01 – The World of Alexander the Great – MWF 1:30-2:20pm – Paul Hay A study of the major political, military, and cultural events and personages of the classical world from 359-301 BCE, primarily the career of Alexander the Great. Attention will also be paid to the influence of Philip II on the Greek world before Alexander’s rise and to the legacy of the Hellenistic kingdoms after Alexander’s death. We will also reflect on the ways that Alexander has been remembered and depicted in the medieval world (such as in the Alexander Romance) and in modern Anglophone media. No background in ancient history or culture is required. CLAS 285.02 – Mythic Elements in TV and Film – TR 10:00-11:20am – Janice Siegel This course teaches students to identify and explore the kinds of mythic tropes that allow the boundaries of human existence to be transcended, thereby illuminating what it means to be human. Students will first read English translations of some texts from the classical mythological tradition by authors such as Homer, Apollonius, Virgil, and Ovid to see under what circumstances and with what consequences humans can overstep their bounds. We will then turn our attention to selected television shows and films from the genres of horror, science fiction, and fantasy that capture this same mythic essence in unique, profound, and sustained ways, even though these screened texts feature neither characters nor settings from classical mythology. LATN 101 – Elementary Latin I – MWF 10:30-11:20am – Janice Siegel Students will learn the forms of all Latin nouns, adjectives, pronouns, adverbs, and most verb forms (except subjunctive) . Also covered are basic usages and constructions including prepositional phrases and relative clauses. Students will build a good foundation in Latin vocabulary of about 450 words. From the beginning of the semester, students will be translating Latin sentences and stories. Prerequisite: none. HONS 261 – Evil Roman Emperors – W 2:30-3:20pm – Paul Hay The histories of ancient Rome are full of colorful villains who spent some (occasionally brief!) time sitting on the imperial throne. What do these figures all have in common, and what can we learn from them about Roman attitudes toward tyranny and governance? We will be introduced to a veritable rogues' gallery of Roman autocrats whose paranoia, cruelty, and incompetence were preserved (or exaggerated?) in these infamous literary extracts. Discussions of our readings will contend with ideas about leadership, civic duty, and the responsibilities of historians. HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF CLASSICS 2025 SPRING NEWSLETTER Welcome to New Visiting Assistant Professor Matthew Schueller The Department of Classics is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Matthew Schueller for our three-year Visiting Assistant Professor position! Dr. Schueller currently teaches at William & Mary, and he received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill as a specialist in ancient archaeology. We are delighted to welcome him to Hampden-Sydney to add his skills to our department. Dr. Schueller’s primary research interests are in the archaeology and architecture of urban landscapes in the Roman Empire’s Balkan provinces between the 2nd century BCE and 4th century CE, with a focus on the regions of Macedonia and Thrace. His current research investigates how Roman public entertainment venues helped to shape the ideas, spaces, and artifacts of urban life in these regions by promoting multivalent interactions among spectators and performers. Themes in his research include cross-cultural interaction, effects of imperia

FAQs

Which courses are listed for Spring 2025, and what do they focus on?

The newsletter lists CLAS 203 (Greek Literature in Translation), CLAS 285.01 (Alexander the Great), CLAS 285.02 (Mythic Elements in TV and Film), LATN 101 (Elementary Latin I), and HONS 261 (Evil Roman Emperors), each with stated reading or study themes and meeting schedules.

What is the background and research interest of Visiting Assistant Professor Matthew Schueller?

The newsletter welcomes Dr. Matthew Schueller and describes his research interests in Roman archaeology and architecture of urban landscapes, especially in Balkan provinces such as Macedonia and Thrace, including work on public entertainment venues and related urban interactions.

What topic did Dr. Hay discuss in the Canadian radio interview?

Dr. Hay was interviewed for a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Radio One episode centered on the modern relevance of Vergil’s epic poem the Aeneid, including its composition history, reception, and parallels to contemporary geopolitical moments.

Oct 1, 2026

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