constantinakatsari | Love of History

Ancient History Group in Ning

constantinakatsari February 19, 2010

Most of you will be wondering what Ning is. To my opinion, this is one of the best social networking platforms that could serve effectively the needs of our clan. I found out about it from a small but interesting book called ‘Tribes’, written by Seth Godin, a social media guru. My initial reaction was one of scepticism at the content and dismay at the style of writing. Despite the volume’s shortcomings, I was intrigued by the information it included on Ning. So, I set out for a new online advent... »

Quotation of the Week 4

constantinakatsari February 17, 2010

SWINDON: What will History say? BURGOYNE: History, sir, will tell lies as usual (George Bernard Shaw, The Devil’s Disciple, 1901) »

Ancient History Competition 10

constantinakatsari February 16, 2010

This is the very first day of fasting in Greece. So, I found Manolis in a good mood. The following quiz is probably one of the easiest he ever came up with. Aristophanes wrote about him: “…he was a cheat, a braggart, a calumniator, when alive…” Thucydides wrote about him: “…of all the citizens the most violent…” Who was he? »

Quotation of the Week 3

constantinakatsari February 12, 2010

‘To give an accurate and exhaustive account of the period would need a far less brilliant pen than mine’ Max Beerbohm (Yellow Book 1895) »

Ancient History Competition 9

constantinakatsari February 10, 2010

Today’s quiz should not be too difficult, as I decided to drop one small hint. Manolis insists that the this level of questions is appropriate for the intelligent people who follow the blog. And I agree! I cannot believe all of the questions, so far, have been answered so succesfully. So… Name a Hellenistic king whose father-in-law was a tyrant. »

Gifts for PhD students

constantinakatsari February 8, 2010

A friend recently asked me what gift would I give to a PhD student. That was an odd question, I thought. But then I realised the awkwardness of the situation and the dilemma in which my friend was. PhD students are different and effectively they have different needs. So, here is a list of what I think is suitable. • Chocolates. There is nothing better than the pleasure a piece of chocolate can give. In addition, it works also as powerful brain food. • Half a bottle of wine. This is just about ri... »

The PhD Student and the Supervisor

constantinakatsari February 5, 2010

Admittedly, this is a complicated relationship, which develops along the same lines as a dysfunctional love story. It starts with the excited anticipation of a blissful future together. The student will be the eager learner and the supervisor will become the wise teacher and guide and protector. The student would look up to the (godlike?) supervisor with pure admiration and the supervisor will look at the student as a protégée and valuable future colleague. The intricacies of the situation and t... »

Quotation of the Week 2

constantinakatsari February 4, 2010

The one duty we own to history is to rewrite it. (Oscar Wilde. Intentions 1891 ‘The critic as an artist’) »

Ancient History Competition 8

constantinakatsari February 2, 2010

Manolis thinks that the following quiz is easier! I know, though, that many of you will not share his opinion. Here it goes. A 5th-4th century BC dithyrambic poet and a 4th century BC Athenian general had the same name. What was it? »

Professional Skills for Ancient Historians, Classicists and Archaeologists

constantinakatsari January 29, 2010

The study of the classical world may look obsolete in the eyes of the close-minded but, in fact, it has never been timelier. The restructuring of modern societies, the declaration of semi-religious wars, the economic crisis… they all resemble comparable incidents that took place in the past. A student of classical antiquity can easily make parallelisms and learn from previous mistakes, which is a lot more than what government officials can claim. Since the graduate of ancient history, archaeolog... »

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