constantinakatsari's Posts

What jobs can you do with an Ancient History or Classics degree?

constantinakatsari January 1, 2010

Contrary to the image I usually project, I do not expect my students to dedicate themselves to a life of poverty in their pursuit of learning Greek or Latin. Instead, I am a firm believer that a course in Ancient History or Classics is only the first step to achieve an illustrious career outside academia. Unfortunately, the direction they may take is not an obvious one. Up to now, when they asked me about the application of their degrees in real life, I tended to joke and claimed that “we are us... »

Ancient History Competition 3

constantinakatsari December 28, 2009

Today I have a surprise for you, a guest bloger. You all know Manolis, you all read his fiery comments and you all experienced his sharp criticism. Today, we decided that he should set up the Ancient History Competition in the form of a riddle. Try to guess the answer! Her husband was a Byzantine emperor. Her second husband was a Byzantine emperor. Her lover was a Byzantine emperor. Her first son was a Byzantine emperor. Her second son was a Byzantine emperor. Her daughter married a saint. Who w... »

Christmas and Loneliness for PhD Students: Curse or Blessing?

constantinakatsari December 24, 2009

Writing a PhD is a lonely process! Most of us dedicated scholars have been through the endless nights in front of the computer screen, we declined offers for a pint in the local pub or a cup of coffee in the corner café, and we missed the wedding of our best friend because we happened to be abroad on a conference. How much more antisocial could we be? Despite the lonely nature of the PhD, valiant departments are determined to create a social environment for the almost forgotten students. They or... »

Ancient History Competition 2

constantinakatsari December 21, 2009

It is time for our next competition. This is an easy one, so I will not give out any clues. What type of building is the one below, when was it built and in which city can you see it? »

Online Archaeology

constantinakatsari December 19, 2009

During my Ancient History Competition, the right answer did not come from the archaeology headquarters. Instead, an outsider claimed the coveted and yet non-existent prize. Scott Hurst, a photographer from Texas, recognized accurately the Rampin Rider from the Acropolis museum. Without any previous archaeological knowledge he used the google search engine in order to find statues in museums. He employed various terms until he realized that the statue resembled closely the sixth century kouroi. A... »

Academic Prostitution

constantinakatsari December 17, 2009

I admit I was fascinated by the story of Belle de Jour, the high class call girl, who became famous through her blog, book and TV series. I may not have read the book but I was fanatic about, initially, the blog and, then, the series, in which a sassy Billy Piper lives the high life in vibrant London. Throughout this time I thought that Belle was a fictitious character born by the perverse imagination of a male author. You can guess my surprise and subsequent curiosity when I found out not only ... »

Ancient History Competition

constantinakatsari December 16, 2009

I hope that today I will make no mistakes and that you will thoroughly enjoy the contest. I want to know the name of the statue(s), its date, the museum that hosts it and any other information you wish to divulge. »

Ancient History Competition

constantinakatsari December 14, 2009

The previous competition I set up was very successful. So, I thought of turning it into an institution. I will try to announce a new competition every week. If it goes well, I will be giving away real gifts. Well, nothing expensive given my financial state… So, here it goes. Which ancient theater is the one depicted in the picture? »

Dress like an Ancient Historian: Tips

constantinakatsari December 12, 2009

Ancient historians occasionally become concerned about their image. Stress levels rise every time a scholar needs to pick the perfect outfit for a job interview or the occasional lecture. Some of us are even concerned about our every day clothes. I often catch myself thinking, what do I wear today for my Staff and Student Committee meeting? O vanitas vanitatum! When in such a dilemma, I look for advice. Or, alternatively, I follow the fashion sense of my role models. These are not Givanchy, Vale... »

Academic Jobs in Ancient History

constantinakatsari December 10, 2009

This week I took notice of a THES blog written by the Insecure Scholar. He lamented the fact that he is receiving invitations to teach at universities as a guest lecturer but none of these institutions is willing to give him a permanent job. At a moment of frustration I answered that he may be the best scholar in the world but this does not mean that universities are willing to pay money for his scholarly skills. Unfortunately, I have not expanded on this idea and this may have caused uncertaint... »

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