Celebrating 50 years of Classical Studies
We are thrilled to announce that the Classical Studies Programme at Massey University is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Since its inception in 1973, the programme has flourished, expanding its offerings and attracting dedicated staff. Dr Stuart Lawrence was appointed the first permanent staff member, marking a significant milestone for the programme.
Today, the Classical Studies Programme boasts four permanent staff members across our Auckland and Manawatū campuses, offering a wide range of courses in history, mythology, literature, art, and more.
The programme has organised a series of exciting events to celebrate this important milestone. Earlier this year, they released the pilot project of an educational interactive game called “The Trojan War”, which combines text inspired by ancient Greek and Roman literature with graphics based on the “Geometric style”, an authentic Greek style of painting contemporary with the composition of the Homeric epics. We invite you to read more about this fascinating project and experience it first-hand by trying the game yourself.
Another noteworthy initiative is “The Odyssey of English,” a series of articles published in the Manawatū Standard newspaper. These articles explore the Greek and Latin roots of commonly used English words, such as “toxic”, “panic”, and “pharmacy”.
The programme has also planned a series of events in Palmerston North during the classically named month of August. They start with an Ancient Greek Banquet at Massey’s Wharerata restaurant on Friday 4th August. This unique dining experience, curated by their resident Greek chef, will feature a menu crafted only from ingredients available during ancient times. Please make reservations by emailing wharerata@massey.ac.nz.
Throughout the week starting 7th August 2023, there will be a range of activities for both children and adults at the Palmerston North City Library. Attendees can participate in ancient and modern Greek dancing and enjoy a cooking demonstration showcasing ingredients from antiquity.
The celebrations will culminate on Saturday, 26th August 2023, with a captivating solo performance of “The Golden Ass” by Michael Hurst, a renowned actor, director, and former Massey Classics student. Adapted from the eponymous novel by Apuleius, this theatrical production takes audiences on a humorous and thought-provoking journey through a world of witches, bandits, goddesses, enslaved people, and sex.
In addition, we invite all alumni who majored in Classical Studies or took courses in the programme to contribute valuable comments, impressions, memories, and photographs and share how the programme has positively impacted your life and career. These contributions will be featured as part of the programme’s history. Please submit your materials to alumni@massey.ac.nz by 28th July 2023, and feel free to include your name and approximate year(s) of study if desired.
We look forward to hearing from you!