College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Professor Mary Beard - The Ancient World and us: from fear and loathing to enlightenment and ethics

Mary Beard is Professor of Classics at Newnham College, University of Cambridge

Events Details

Dates: 6, 7, 9, 27, 28, 30 May, 5.30-6.30pm.

The lectures may be followed by questions. Latest finishing time is 7pm.

Please note that due to the popularity of this series the lectures have been moved to a larger venue. Existing ticket holders do not need to re-book tickets.

New Venue: The Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LH 

Tickets are free of charge but need to be booked in advance. 

Click here for tickets 

Series Summary

This lecture series explores why the classical world still matters and what ethical dilemmas the study of classics raises (and has always raised). Taking six particular themes, it hopes to shows how antquity can continue to challenge the moral certainties of modernity.

We welcome contributions to discussion about the series at the Gifford Lectures Blog.

Content guidance: This series addresses adult themes

Lecture 1 - Introduction: murderous games

    

Monday 6 May 2019, 5.30-6.30pm

 

 

 

Lecture 2 - Whiteness

 

Tuesday 7 May 2019, 5.30-6.30pm

 

 

 

Lecture 3 - Lucretia and the politics of sexual violence

   

Thursday 9 May 2019, 5.30-6.30pm

   

 

 

Lecture 4 - Us and them

 

Monday 27 May 2019,5.30-6.30pm

 

 

Lecture 5 - Tyranny and democracy

 

Tuesday 28 May 2019, 5.30-6.30pm

 

 

Lecture 6 - Classical Civilisation?

 

Thursday 30 May 2019, 5.30-6.30pm

 

 

Gifford Seminar with The Royal Society of Edinburgh

The Gifford Seminar will be held on Wednesday 29 May 2019, 2.30pm.  

Panel: Professor Mary Beard, Professor Douglas Cairns, Dr Lucy Grig.

Chairperson: Rev Canon Professor John Stuart Richardson from The Royal Society of Edinburgh.

The 2019 Gifford lecture series explores why the classical world still matters and what ethical dilemmas the study of classics raises (and has always raised). Taking six particular themes, it hopes to shows how antiquity can continue to challenge the moral certainties of modernity. The Gifford/RSE seminar allows members of the audience to engage with the Gifford Lecturer and a small panel of experts concerning the larger themes of the Gifford Lecture series.

Venue: G.03, 50 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JU

Tickets are free of charge but need to be booked in advance. 

Click here for tickets 

Biography

Mary Beard is one of Britain's best-known Classicists - Professor at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Newnham College. She has written numerous books on the Ancient World including the Wolfson Prize-winning Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town, has presented highly-acclaimed TV series, Meet the Romans and Rome – Empire without Limit, and is a regular broadcaster and media commentator. Mary is one of the presenters for the BBC’s recent landmark Civilisations series. Mary is also Classics editor of the Times Literary Supplement and writes a thought-provoking blog, A Don's Life. Made an OBE in 2013 for services to Classical scholarship, her latest books include the critically-acclaimed SPQR – A History of Ancient Rome and thought-provoking Women & Power. Most recently Mary was made a Dame in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2018.

Series Videos

The lectures will be recorded and links will be posted in the respective pages of each lecture.

Related Links

Find out more about Professor Beard on the University of Cambridge website

A Don’s Life blog

Follow Professor Beard on Twitter

Gifford Lectures Blog 

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Professor Mary Beard - The Ancient World and us: from fear and loathing to enlightenment and ethics

Mary Beard is Professor of Classics at Newnham College, University of Cambridge

Lectures - The Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LH
Seminar - G.03, 50 George Square, EH8 9JU