Archives / 2010 / July

Charitable professors: Donating your money to the University

constantinakatsari July 31, 2010

Two weeks ago I read the news about Classics Professor Douglas MacDowell of the University of Glasgow, who donated after his death over 2 million pounds to his department. The Scottish Academic left the money to the university with the provision that they would fund his old position of Professorship in Greek. It seems that because of financial difficulties Glasgow University has not advertised this post after he retired. The chair remained empty and the sustainability of the subject on the whole... »

Tips for Undergraduates: How to tackle a reading list

constantinakatsari July 28, 2010

Have you felt the panic rising, when you were handed an exceptionally long reading list? Have you felt the desperation taking over in minutes? If yes, you should read this post. You are not supposed to read every book on the list! I don’t expect you to do so. Most teachers know that this is more or less a wish list. Ideally, we would like our students to read everything but, in practice, we know that this is impossible. Books on the list make a great background reading on the period but usually ... »

Quotation of the Week 26

constantinakatsari July 27, 2010

The clever men at Oxford Know all that there is to be knowed. But they none of them know one half as much As intelligent Mr Toad. (Keneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows, 1908) »

Ancient History Competition 32

constantinakatsari July 26, 2010

After this ancient battle, one of the terms imposed on the defeated side was somewhat strange: they were required to stop importing salt! Which battle was it? »

Tips for Undergraduates: How to Start Writing an Essay

constantinakatsari July 24, 2010

The beginning of writing is always painful. You may feel uncertain about your ideas, you may feel that you have not studied enough, you may feel that your writing skills are inadequate. All these feelings may or may not be true. At some point, though, you should brush them aside, sit in front of the computer and start writing. The best way to start is by writing your… conclusions. Do not bother with the introduction or the main text. Jump directly into the conclusions. By the time you begin your... »

Epigraphy made easy

constantinakatsari July 23, 2010

How many of you have been frustrated, when you attempted to find all the possible references to a specific Greek inscription. Well, in my cases, I have been constantly frustrated and, at some point, I almost gave up on Epigraphy. It looks like, though, the Germans suddenly appeared to save us. They created a database that relates the material from the Inscriptiones Graecae catalogues to the material from the Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum. So, if you enter the number of the inscription as you... »

Ancient History Competition 31

constantinakatsari July 20, 2010

Before Manolis went on holidays, he sent me this intriguing quiz A bird, a wind, a natural phenomenon. These three things gave their names to three Hellenistic rulers. Who were they? »

Quotation of the Week 25

constantinakatsari July 19, 2010

“He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches.” George ernard Shaw, Man and Superman, 1903 »

How to become a happy Academic

constantinakatsari July 18, 2010

The majority of academics in several different countries keep complaining about the quality of their lives. In all fairness, being an academic is not a small feat. The constant demands on our free time (if any of it is left), the ever increasing number of publications we should produce, the intense effort to enhance the cognitive abilities of our students, the regular trips abroad and, last but not least, the low quality of cafeteria food are the main factors for becoming discontented with our j... »

Tips for Undergraduates: How to Read a Book

constantinakatsari July 17, 2010

This week I have been contemplating my new administrative role in the department. I will leave behind me the Exchanges coordination for a while and I will get involved, instead, with the coordination of first year and second year undergraduate modules. Effectively, this means that I will also be responsible for guiding new students with their studies. Even if we have a very thick Handbook that explains Everything, I am very well aware that an infinitesimal number of students read all of it. So, ... »

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