Chairman's Message

Fall/ Winter CLASSICS news 2012 The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences newsletter for the Department of Classics

IN THIS ISSUE Chairman’s Message

Anniversary Innovations, An Chairman’s Message Inauguration, Introductions, Enrolments, and Adieux Farewell: Joseph Patrick Atherton, KHS Fall Newsletter is demanded to celebrate an Anniversary and to A announce coincident Innovations, Farewell: to report a most successful Inauguration, to Drake Peterson Introduce (or reintroduce) our Faculty, to demonstrate their success as teachers, and to bid Adieu to beloved colleagues. Shaar Shalom Lecture Series & Thirty Issues of Dionysius Chair of Jewish Studies Update The momentous anniversary is of thirty issues of our international scholarly journal, Dionysius. Thirty annual publications is an outstanding Faculty Profiles: accomplishment for a scholarly journal, but the Alexander Treiger need to celebrate goes with the demand that Christopher Austin we commemorate the crucial role played by its founding Secretary, Dr J. Patrick Atherton, to Rodica Firanescu whom we are saying Adieu and paying tribute Eli Diamond in this Newsletter. Volume Thirty will contain Emily Varto the papers from our Academic Celebration of Chris Grundke Dr Robert Crouse, a founding Editor, which Peter O’Brien was held in the Department in October 2011. Introductions Classics with Religious Studies and Arabic Dionysius will be doing more this year than is a very young Department and most of its celebrating past accomplishment. It has been present members will be unknown to many digitalized, it will now be available online as Five Fall Masters of you. The celebration of what Dionysius well as in print, and it will publish its first has accomplished for scholarship made it article containing Arabic text. Our Spring appropriate to introduce some of our new Newsletter will contain details of Volume members (and to reintroduce Peter O’Brien Thirty and information about how you can just back from a year long Sabbatical) paying subscribe online. special attention to their work as scholars. Each Inaugurating a new Lecture Series of the members appearing in this Newsletter has used their own style and I am sure you We want to hear from you! September 2012 saw the largest lecture ever mounted by the Classics Department. With our will find them interesting in different ways. Please send all comments, Programme in Religious Studies, we hosted a Given the heavy weight of the teaching and suggestions, ideas or inquiries new public lecture series sponsored by Shaar administrative loads in the Department, it is to [email protected] Shalom Synagogue. Professor Carlos Frankel remarkable that they are such fruitful research addressed more than 650 closely attentive scholars and authors. Yet so it is! people on “The Law of God and the Law of Nature — An Alternative Paradigm from the Abrahamic Religions.” A most promising beginning indeed! Chairmans Message Continued...

Record Enrolments In a time of falling numbers of students attracted to the humanities and to Dalhousie’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, it is great tribute to the teaching of our faculty members that this Fall Classics had the largest registrations in its classes ever recorded. These excellent numbers go with no diminution of our standards, indeed just the contrary. We attract excellent students whom it is a pleasure and privilege to teach and we are a happy community.

Adieux Once again I have the sad honour of saying Adieu on your behalf to two members: one a scholar, administrator, and teacher who was essential to the exceptional success of our Department within Dalhousie, in Canada, and internationally, the other who, through forty- two years of service, preserved and enhanced the first requisite of our work, the library. Requiescant in pace. Professor Patrick Atherton’s career as teacher and administrator at the University of King’s College spanned six decades (1959 - 2000). Joseph Patrick Atherton, KHS Teacher, administrator, scholar, gentleman rofessor Patrick Atherton, who the delights of Aristotle. In College he and scholarship with administrative work devoted his entire life as University was a congenial and cultured companion, both at King’s and Dalhousie characterised Pteacher, administrator, and scholar to whose conversation was never less than his whole career here. At some time or the Department of Classics, the University stimulating and whose enjoyment of good other, he occupied positions in nearly of King’s College, and Dalhousie University wine and food was acquired on the limited every aspect of the administration of the passed away early on the morning of the sixth means that were the lot of most of us in that Department of Classics and of the Faculty, of September. He was 77. In the current state era. In the University he got to know the administration, and Board of Governors at of the university, the range of his teaching, Benedictine scholar priests at St Benet’s Hall King’s, as well as many in the Faculties of the scope of his scholarship, and the weight and through them became acquainted with Arts and Science and of Graduate Studies and diversity of his administrative work are the thinking of Aquinas as a complement to at Dalhousie, where he was a Senator. This scarcely imaginable when viewed together. his Aristotelian studies. He took an Honours is not the place for a complete list, but I Yet, by them, he was crucial to saving King’s degree in Ancient History together with cannot fail to note his more than thirty College from bankruptcy and irrelevance, Ancient and Modern Philosophy (Literae years as Public Orator at King’s, where his to raising the Department of Classics to the Humaniores), and then went on to hold the citations for honorary graduates at Encaenia important place in international scholarship it Queen’s Commission as an Artillery Officer were models of oratorical art, celebrated for now occupies, and giving to both their present in the British Army serving on the Rhine. their concision and their elegant use of the characters, making them the vibrant centres He was loyally proud of these elements of precisely apt literary or scriptural quotation. of humanities education they are. Dalhousie his formation. Three results of them which I must record his years as Vice-President and King’s owe him enormous debts of most evidently served the university here were at King’s (1980-83), when he was directly gratitude. After news of his passing, the flags his mastery of Greek and Latin (I witnessed charged with bringing King’s into accord in the King’s Quadrangle were lowered to half him correct the Greek of a great European with the Dalhousie salary scale and with the mast in his honour. scholar); his ability to move between linguistic, revision of the pension plan. Patrick served as historical and philosophical teaching and Chairman of the Department of Classics for Patrick was born in recusant Lancaster and scholarship; and his practical efficacy as an two terms (1976-81 and 1992-1998). educated by the Jesuit Fathers in their College administrator. at Preston. Growing up in the old Catholic Patrick’s classes and seminars ranged from enclave of the Fylde, Patrick became and Appointed to a post in Classics as one of the those in Latin and Greek, Classical Literature, remained strong in a faith that was informed King’s professors on the Carnegie endowment and Ancient History, to others in Ancient, by learning. An open scholarship in Classics in 1959, Patrick combined his teaching in the Late Ancient, and Medieval philosophy. brought him to Brasenose College, Oxford, Joint Dalhousie-King’s Faculty of Arts and Again, a list would be inappropriate, but in (1953-1957) where Maurice Platnauer Science—as it then was—with the duties of them Patrick exposited Plato and Aristotle, developed his linguistic skills in Greek and Dean of Men and Acting Registrar at King’s. Virgil and the Classical Roman poets and Latin and John Ackrill introduced him to This combination of a full teaching load historians, Plotinus and Augustine, Aquinas

2 | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Meister Eckhardt. After his PhD Together Armstrong, Doull, Crouse, and places of generous hospitality, where Patrick’s gained from the University of Liverpool in Atherton founded our international journal, excellent cooking heartened many colleagues 1972, supervised by A.H. Armstrong, on Dionysius, established Dalhousie Classics as and students and heightened the conviviality “Infinitude, Finitude and thearche in Greek the centre for the study of Neoplatonism and essential to the transformative work being and Early Christian Thought”, Patrick’s of the Platonic and Aristotelian traditions it undertaken in the Department and at King’s. publications and addresses to scholarly continues to be, and won acceptance of our Indicative was the period when, with others, conferences moved beyond Classical poets PhD programme in Hellenic and Hellenistic Patrick imported grapes in wine making like Homer and Virgil, and subjects like the studies. season and we literally trod them out at his polis, to focus on the nature of the First house! Principle. In articles and chapters he treated Along with his reflections on the need for this question through the examination of new foundations for the study of Classics, The Department has received condolences texts of Aristotle, Augustine, Gregory of Patrick was acutely aware of the consequences from former students who have been Nyssa, Aquinas, Eckhardt and Cusanus, of of the shift in the university from curriculum reminded, by his passing, of Patrick’s many the early Modern Commentators on Aristotle to enrolment numbers as the primary criterion kindnesses to them. These continued right up (especially in the Cursus Conimbricenses), for decision-making. He established the to his death and his encouragements extended and of the German Idealists, especially agreement with the Department of History from those interested in reviving Gregorian Schelling and Hegel, together with their by which Classics assumed responsibility Chant in the Church to those who might turn British heirs, especially T.H. Green, F.G. for the teaching of Ancient History. Patrick toward the study of Classics and Medieval Bradley, and G.R.G. Mure. Through all started our large introductory class in Philosophy. Patrick was a long-standing these studies Patrick defended the truth Ancient History, gave it its immense scope, parishioner of St Mary’s Basilica and served as of Aristotle’s representation of the First and he created a history curriculum in the Chairman of the Pastoral Council for several as ΝΟΗΣΙΣ ΝΟΗΣΕΩΣ and the validity Department. Later, as Chairman, Patrick years. He was a member of the Equestrian of its interpretation by Aquinas and Hegel. brought the Ancient historian, Dr Peter Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Although appreciating what the Neoplatonists Kussmaul, to the Department. By these contributed to our understanding of the measures, he established an essential element Patrick’s life was entirely devoted to his arche, and fostering the study of their work, of the present success of the Department. family, the Catholic Church, the Classics he remained a convinced Aristotelian and Department, King’s College, and Dalhousie his influence in this regard continues in the The good and lasting effects of Patrick’s University. He was a model of the Virgilian Department. Besides Greek and Latin, Dr work are every bit as much evident at pietas he taught, and, of him, Virgil might Atherton’s scholarly work had at its disposal King’s as in the Department of Classics. also write: “heu pietas, heu prisca fides”. His French, German, and Italian; he later added His arrival there immediately preceded Funeral Mass was celebrated at St Mary’s Spanish and Portuguese. His facility with the financially disastrous overreach of the Basilica on Monday, September 10th. modern languages served us well, when, as College in constructing three new buildings. Robin Sharp, a friend of Patrick’s from their Secretary of Dionysius, he was responsible for When this was followed by the departure days together at Brasenose wrote this fine a multilingual correspondence. Patrick was of the Faculty of Divinity for the Atlantic tribute: “For most people progress in an promoted to full Professor in 1978. He retired School of Theology, the bankrupt College academic career means moving from place in 2000, after which he was made an Inglis was left with nothing specifically its own to to place to occupy progressively more senior Professor at King’s. do, and was threatened with the withdrawal of financial support by the Province of positions. For Patrick it meant staying in From the beginning of his teaching here, Nova Scotia. In this crisis, Patrick chaired the same place, saving one institution and Patrick joined wholeheartedly in James Doull’s the committee which introduced the enhancing another. Perhaps the most fitting work of radically changing the approach Foundation Year Programme in 1972, and summation of his character is in the Greek to Classical Studies by making philosophy, thus established the basis of the other arete, variously translated as virtue, excellence philosophical theology, and religion programmes at King’s and of its entire or integrity.” foundational. In this enterprise, they were rebuilding as an academic institution. He was Requiescat in pace. later enthusiastically joined by Robert Crouse. one of the first six professors coordinating the Sections of the Programme and he Patrick’s Jesuit schooling and, to a degree, the An alumna, grateful for Patrick’s many continued as a Coordinator or lecturer until approach of Literae Humaniores at Oxford, kindnesses as a teacher and guide, has made his retirement. In 2000, Patrick delivered and his conversations at St Benet’s Hall, a donation toward a J.P. Atherton Prize to the Concluding Lecture of the Foundation prepared him for this common effort. He be awarded annually at the Pythian Games Year Programme for the academic year, made a critical contribution, when, in 1970, for the best piece of Latin Prose or Verse “Contemporary Individualism and its Future: he attracted his Supervisor at Liverpool, A. H. Composition or the best Latin Rhetoric A Prophecy.” Two others of the original six Armstrong, the great Plotinus scholar, here presented to them. Additions to this Prize coordinating professors were also Classicists, as a Killam Fellow. In 1972, on his retirement may be made. Memorial donations to the thus establishing the close connection of as Gladstone Professor, Armstrong became Classics Annual Fund for this purpose should the Department and the Programme, which Visiting Professor with us. Armstrong was clearly specify this intent. the author of one of the most widely used continues to serve both to the present time. textbooks on Ancient Philosophy; he and Patrick developed and taught the first classes In 1963 Patrick married Lorraine Laurence on the introduction to Ancient Philosophy of Annapolis Royal, who acquired a MSc and Wayne Hankey with the in the Classics Department and secured their PhD in Microbiology while raising a family assistance of Robin Sharp recognition by the Department of Philosophy. of three sons with him: Patrick, Geoffrey, and Hilary. Patrick and Lorraine’s homes were

Dalhousie University | 3 Remembering Drake Petersen Wayne Hankey remembers Kings’ Librarian and Museum Curator

n October 17th, I went to the After two decades as our Cataloguer, Drake improved, and handed on what is rarest in the King’s Library to receive for the succeeded me as Librarian and Curator of contemporary university, and its sole necessity, Department the personal collection the Museum at King’s and, in the course of a space for contemplation. O more than twenty years, kept faith with those of Classics texts which Drake Petersen had **** just donated to us. Later that day, Drake died. who had built the new Library. His complete At the Annual Alumni Dinner of King’s His thoughtful gift as he passed away was independence of mind and character, his College in May 2012, Drake was inducted emblematic of the devoted, careful generosity endless ingenuity, and scrupulous attention into the Order of the Ancient Commoner which characterised him. Drake’s spirit is of to detail, enabled Drake both to adapt to for his selfless service to the university. The great strength and integrity. Individuals and radical changes in the College and in the work citation accompanying the award stated that institutions here owe him an enormous debt. of libraries, and also to preserve the good “In giving so much to the institution that he I feel a deep personal loss. things he loved. Because of his personality, took to his heart over forty years ago, Drake and because of his outstanding gifts as has exemplified the spirit of King's, a spirit an educator of his student assistants, he of service to which we are all called as King's inspired loyalty in the Library staff, which men and women.” accomplished great things on tiny budgets. Every aspect of the Library’s operation The Order for the Burial of the Dead was was improved and updated to the highest offered for Drake in the King’s Chapel to contemporary standards. which he was devoted on Saturday, November 3rd. His cousin Archie Collins from Lake At the same time, Drake worked tirelessly so Ainslie delivered a meditation, in which he that the priceless treasures of our Rare Book spoke of the example Drake’s life had been to and Manuscript Collection were properly him and of the deep Christian faith in which catalogued and restored, a professionally he departed this life. Suitably Byrd’s setting managed Archives was established, and of Justorum animae in manu Dei sunt followed. the College’s treasures gathered in, listed, Non tangit illos tormentum mortis. Visi sunt oculis insipientium mori, illi autem sunt in pace.

Wayne Hankey

Though born in Amityville New York, Drake was a proud Cape Bretoner. He came to Halifax in 1969 to be a graduate student in our Department, having taken a Bachelor’s restored, reproduced, while the originals were degree at Long Island University. While a safe- guarded. Much of what we value most Don at King’s College (North Pole Bay) and at King’s has a future only because of Drake’s meticulous Cataloguer for the King’s Library, efforts. he pursued his Classical studies under the great figures whose heritage we continue and Attacked by the enemies of the book, those whom he proudly invoked, becoming a MA envious of “the jewel in the crown,” and the in Greek Literature in 1990 with a thesis on usual demand that all our desires be satisfied “The cult of souls, and the mediation of without our paying for any of them, Drake women, eros, and philia, in Euripides’ Alcestis held fast. He showed our benefactors how and Medea.” much he appreciated their gifts. His tea parties nourished a small world of Library devotees. A devoted alumnus of the Department, He maintained and improved upon beauty. Drake gave his life to the King’s Library, By his ingenuity, ceaseless work, tremendous among other things preserving and enhancing independence and depth of spirit, and by his a Classics collection on which a great part of endless personal generosity, Drake turned the All photos: the Reading Room of the King’s our work depends. Earlier this Fall I wrote new building into a sanctuary for the healing Library and statuary ornamenting it. Photo and elevation of the mind. He preserved, credit for centre photo: Kyle H. Miller. Thank you a tribute to Drake’s work as Librarian. It to Janet Hathaway for providing them to us for follows. this purpose. ****

4 | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Shaar Shalom Synagogue Inaugural Lecture

n Thursday, September 20, the that you have made.” Department of Classics hosted our largest audience to date at the He talked favourably O about Brazil, where the inaugural installment of the Shaar Shalom Lecture Series at Dalhousie. More than 650 study of philosophy is people from the University and community legislated in high schools packed the Ondaatje and Scotiabank in order to encourage Auditoriums of the Marion McCain Building critical living and to hear Dr. Carlos F. Fraenkel, professor in thought. the Departments of Philosophy and Jewish Given the connection Studies at McGill University present “The of the event with Law of God and the Law of Nature – An the Synagogue, Dr. Alternative Paradigm from the Abrahamic Fraenkel tailored parts Religions.” of his argument towards The teachings of two great twelfth-century Jewish attendees taking philosophical theologians – a Jewish Rabbi this recommendation and a Moslem Imam – were united by from Rabbi Moses Fraenkel for an audience which included the Maimonides: “All Chair of Dalhousie’s Board of Governors, members of the Jewish community should Summerby-Murray; Ben McIsaac, External Jim Spatz; Dalhousie President, Tom spend one quarter of the day working to Relations; Krista Armstrong, Alumni and Traves; Dean of the Faculty of Arts & satisfy material needs, and the remaining three Donor Relations Officer of FASS; Professor Social Sciences, Robert Summerby-Murray; quarters of the day should be spent studying Steve Mannell, Director of the College of members of the Shaar Shalom Synagogue everything from Moses to metaphysics,” he Sustainability; and Dr Tory Kirby, Director, congregation; and more than 300 students said. Centre for Research on Religion, McGill from the College of Sustainability. Through University. Further support for the lecture Dr Fraenkel, the teachings of Ibn Rushd Whether your interests are in religion or came from Dalhousie’s Office of External (known to the Latin West as Averroes) and physics or music, the lecture encouraged a Relations, which hosted a supper for Dr Moses Maimonides showed us a better simpler way of living, thus creating a more Fraenkel; from the College of Sustainability; relation to the cosmos than that which is now environmentally friendly and sustainable and from the Department of Classics, where destroying the very conditions of life. He future. he addressed Dr Hankey’s seminar. The presented contemplation as the human good, Department hosted a reception enabling Following the lecture there was a brief joining Aristotle’s ethics and metaphysics its students and faculty to continue the question and answer period where many with Jewish and Moslem religion. I have conversation with Dr Fraenkel which his audience members shared their questions and excerpted and modified the following from lecture began. opinions. One audience member called the Katie Park’s report for DalNews. lecture “beautiful,” a sentiment clearly shared Dr Kirby, twice over an alumnus of the **** by most of the crowd. It certainly offered Department of Classics, is responsible for our Dr. Fraenkel organized his lecture around a plenty to think about. introduction to Carlos Fraenkel, an innovative conversation with his young daughter in the international scholar, with an outstanding **** year 2020, a year when the environmental capacity to bring academic research into the This was the first Shaar Shalom Synagogue issues we are facing today would begin public forum. Dr. Fraenkel grew up between Public Lecture in support of the academic to develop severe consequences. Beyond Germany and Brazil, and did most of his and community outreach components of the discussing topics like recycling, cycling, and undergraduate and graduate work at the Freie Riva and Simon Spatz Chair in Jewish Studies. standard environmental efforts, he focused on Universität Berlin and The Hebrew University The Spatz Chair is envisioned as one of three studying religion, philosophy, and literature, in Jerusalem, completing his PhD in 2000. He chairs devoted to the Abrahamic Religions on the creation and enjoyment of music, and also worked at the Universidade de São Paulo within Religious Studies at Dalhousie. They other cultural activities which require little and at the Sorbonne. Although interested in would provide a programme unique in North consumption of energy and resources. various things along the way (from Brazilian America and of the greatest importance in literature to the Talmud), the red thread the Maritimes, Canada, and the contemporary “When one can see the joy that this [learning] through his studies is philosophy. He works on world generally. offers you just won’t be interested in working various issues, spanning ancient philosophy, overtime to buy the new car or fancier house, Shaar Shalom Synagogue is the generous medieval philosophy (mainly Jewish and expensive designer handbag, bigger flat screen benefactor of the annual lecture. The joint Islamic) and early modern philosophy (mainly TV,” he said. “[Those are] not going to be selection committee from Shaar Shalom Spinoza). He also has an interest in political interesting for you. You will want the absolute and the Department of Classics consists philosophy, in particular in questions related to minimal necessary to ensure life without of Doctors Philip Belitsky, Seth Bloom, cultural difference, identity and autonomy. See physical discomfort . . . while devoting most Alexander Treiger and Wayne Hankey. It had his website: http://carlosfraenkel.com/ of your time to contemplating the choices indispensable assistance from Dean Robert Wayne Hankey Dalhousie University | 5 Alexander (Sasha) Treiger Associate Professor (tenured) – Religious Studies (Western Religions) Research: Islam, Judaism, Eastern Christianity

A Russian by birth, Sasha came to us via Yale demand. Since 2008, eight new classes to recreate in the Programme in Religious University, where he had just completed a PhD under have been developed and approved by the Studies at Dalhousie. Dimitri Gutas on Al-Ghazali. His first two degrees Academic Development Committee: Islam are from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. and the Others; Christianity in the Lands of Islam; Research Sufism; Arabic Philosophical Texts: al-Ghazali; My research is interdisciplinary and bridges ince my appointment in 2008, I have Arabic Philosophical Texts: Maimonides; Islamic the gaps between Islamic Studies, Medieval taught a broad spectrum of classes in Philosophy: al-Ghazali; Jewish Philosophy: Philosophy, and Eastern Christianity. I SWestern Religions. This curriculum Maimonides; Christian Theology in Islamic Lands: am particularly interested in tracing the includes introductions and seminars in three John of Damascus. transmission of theological, philosophical, academic fields—Islamic Studies, Jewish and mystical ideas from Late Antiquity to Studies, and Eastern Christian Studies—as At least one of these classes—Christianity in early Islam. well as classes treating these three religions the Lands of Islam—has very little precedent in comparatively (e.g. the unit on the theme of the North American academia (or elsewhere). I am currently working on two projects: “Holiness” in the team-taught departmental This class traces the history of the estimated seminar, Topics in Religious Studies). On 10-15 million indigenous Christians living Monastic Networks of the Middle East average, I teach 150 Dalhousie students per in the Middle East (most of them in the and the Birth of Islamic Philosophy: term, and lecture in the Foundation Year Arab world). Though their numbers are This project bridges the gap between two Programme at King’s. From 2009-2011, I decreasing, their tradition is very much alive. academic fields—Eastern Christianity and served as Undergraduate Student Advisor It is preserved also by the Middle-Eastern Islamic Studies—and aims at resolving the for the Religious Studies Programme and Christian émigré communities in Europe and long-standing mystery of the origins of currently do some advising at the graduate South and North America, including Halifax, Islamic philosophy by looking for clues in level. NS. In teaching this class, I focus on the the previously untapped resource: monastic contributions of Middle-Eastern Christians to libraries of the Middle East. In 2011, this My main objective as an instructor in Islamic culture and on their complex relations project was awarded a Research Development Religious Studies is to introduce students with the Muslims from the seventh century Fund Grant. to humanity’s heritage in a way that is both until today. appealing and unbiased. In choosing the readings and designing the syllabi for my I have participated in classes, I give preference to primary sources, the development of written by Jewish, Christian, and Muslim two new team-taught theologians, philosophers, and mystics, as well classes: Nature, the as to Scriptures of these religions. Human, Community and the Divine in As the first core appointment in the Religious the Pre-Modern Studies Programme, I helped shape its West (designed character and content. In addition to for the College of extensive curriculum development, I have Sustainability) and worked on hiring, University relations (both Topics in Religious at Dalhousie and at King’s), and the search Studies. Both of for resources (e.g. as a liaison with the Killam these classes have library and helping to conceive and work up been approved the cases for endowed chairs). by the Academic Development Sasha Treiger with daughter, Anna, and wife, Ksenia, at the Halifax Pier. I have served on a number of departmental Committee. committees and, since 2010, have served the Faculty of Graduate Studies as a member of I have also cooperated with FASS Dean, An Anthology of Christian Arabic the FGS Appeals Committee. Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, and Classics literature (co-edited with Samuel Noble Department Chairman Dr. Wayne Hankey from Yale University): This Anthology Teaching on developing a triad of endowed chairs in makes accessible, for the first time in English, The Programme in Religious Studies at Jewish Studies, Islamic Studies, and Eastern translations of representative selections from Dalhousie is only four years old; accordingly, Christian Studies (the so-called “convivencia twelve major Orthodox Christian authors much of its curriculum and course design chairs”). These Chairs highlight the and works written in Arabic, many of them was not fully determined prior to my arrival. coexistence and crosspollination between previously unpublished, from the millennium Dr. Christopher Austin and I have worked Jewish, Eastern Christian, and Muslim between 700–1700. The Anthology includes together to design a selection of new classes communities throughout history; this twelve chapters, representing major genres in order to cater to the growing student crosspollination is something we are aiming of Orthodox Christian literature in Arabic:

6 | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences theology, hagiography, church history, PUBLICATIONS 2011-12 Chapters in Collected Volumes, continued... religious polemic, devotional poetry, and “A Fourteenth-Century Arabic Treatise On the spiritual literature. Each chapter includes a BOOKS Platonic Intellectual Ideas,” in: T. Kirby et al. (eds.), Inspired Knowledge in Islamic Thought: Al- Philosophy and the Abrahamic Religions: Scrip- brief introduction, a contextualization of Ghazālī’s Theory of Mystical Cognition and Its tural Hermeneutics and Epistemology, Cambridge: the work and its author in their historical Avicennian Foundation (Culture and Civilization Cambridge Scholars, 2013, pp. 251-276 setting, followed by an annotated translation in the Middle East, 27), London: Routledge, of selected passages from the work. The 2012 (http://www.routledge.com/books/de- “Origins of Kalām,” in: S. Schmidtke (ed.), The tails/9780415783071) Oxford Handbook of Islamic Theology, Oxford: Introduction provides an overview of the Oxford University Press (forthcoming) history of Orthodox Christianity among the [co-edited with S. Noble] The Orthodox Church Arabs. In 2012, this project was awarded in the Arab World (700-1700): An Anthology of “Divisions of Middle Eastern Christianity” and a Research Development Committee Sources, DeKalb: Northern Illinois University “Chapter 7: The Arabic [Christian] Tradition,” in: Publication Grant. Press (forthcoming; the complete text of the A. Casiday (ed.), The Orthodox Christian World, book is ready and is currently under review) London: Routledge, 2012, pp. xxi-xxii and 89-104 In 2013, I will apply for a SSHRC grant that ARTICLES IN PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS: “The Sacred and Secular in Islam,” in: W.J. Hankey will hopefully carry the “Monastic Networks” “Al-Ghazālī’s ‘Mirror Christology’ and Its Possible and N. Hatt (eds.), Changing Our Mind on Secular- project one step further, allowing it to draw East-Syriac Sources,” Muslim World 101.4 (2011): ization: The Contemporary Debate about Sacred on a computerized bibliography (currently 698-713 and Secular in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, being compiled) and a wider range of Charlottetown: St. Peter Publications, 2010, pp. 101-132 manuscript resources. “Al-Ghazālī’s Classifications of the Sciences and Descriptions of the Highest Theoretical Science,” Dîvân: Disiplinlerarası Çalışmalar Dergisi 16.1 (30) REFERENCE ARTICLES: I am also working on a number of projects in (2011): 1-32 “Sālih ibn Sa‘īd al-Masīhī,” in: D. Thomas et al. cooperation with the German Research Unit (eds.), Christian-Muslim Relations: A Bibliographi- “Intellectual History of the Islamicate World” [with S. Noble] “Christian Arabic Theology in Byz- cal History, vol. 5, Leiden: Brill (forthcoming) at the Freie Universität Berlin (www.geschkult. antine Antioch: ‘Abdallāh ibn al-Fadl al-Antākī “Michael al-Sim‘ānī, The Arabic Vita of St. John of fuberlin.de/e/islamwiss/institut/Intellectual_ and His Discourse on the Holy Trinity,” Le Muséon 124.3-4 (2011): 371-417 Damascus,” in: D. Thomas et al. (eds.), Christian- History_in_the_Islamicate_World). In this Muslim Relations: A Bibliographical History, vol. 5, capacity, I am a member of the editorial board “Avicenna’s Notion of Transcendental Modula- Leiden: Brill (forthcoming) of a new international journal—Intellectual tion of Existence (taškīk al-wuğūd, analogia entis) History of the Islamicate World (first volume to and Its Greek and Arabic Sources,” Documenti “Destruction of the Cathedral of Mart Maryam in Damascus,” in: D. Thomas et al. (eds.), Christian- appear in 2013)—and of the editorial board e studi sulla tradizione filosofica medievale 21 (2010): 165-198 [revised reprint: F. Opwis and Muslim Relations: A Bibliographical History, vol. 5, of a new book series, Biblia Arabica: Texts D.C. Reisman (eds.), Islamic Philosophy, Science, Leiden: Brill (forthcoming) and Studies. Culture, and Religion: Studies in Honor of Dimitri Gutas, Leiden: Brill, 2012, pp. 327-363] “Abdallah ibn al-Fadl al-Antaki,” in: D. Thomas et Since 2009, I have organized an annual panel al. (eds.), Christian-Muslim Relations: A Biblio- on Christian Arabic Studies for the American [with E. Parker] “Philo’s Odyssey into the Medi- graphical History, vol. 3, Leiden: Brill, 2011, pp. 89-113 Oriental Society. I am also the founder and eval Jewish World: Neglected Evidence from Arab Christian Literature,” Dionysius 30 (2011), moderator of an active academic listserv on in press. “Ghazali/Ghazzali,” in: The Princeton Encyclopedia Christian Arabic Studies (groups.google.com/ of Islamic Political Thought, ed. G. Böwering, group/nascas), which currently numbers CHAPTERS IN COLLECTED VOLUMES: Princeton University Press (in press) more than 200 participants worldwide. On [with S. Noble] “Introduction,” in: S. Noble and this listserv, I publish regular bibliographic A. Treiger (eds.), The Orthodox Church in the “Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite,” in: Encyclo- Arab World (700-1700): An Anthology of Sources, pedia of Medieval Philosophy: Philosophy between updates on recent publications in Christian DeKalb: Northern Illinois University Press (forth- 500 and 1500, ed. H. Lagerlund, Dordrecht and Arabic Studies. These updates are being coming) New York: Springer, 2011, pp. 1087-1089 incorporated into an online bibliography (www.christianarabic.org/publications.html). “Chapter 8: The Noetic Paradise,” in: S. Noble and A. Treiger (eds.), The Orthodox Church in the Arab World (700-1700): An Anthology of Sources, DeKalb: Northern Illinois University Press (forthcoming)

“Chapter 9: Agathon of Homs,” in: S. Noble and A. Treiger (eds.), The Orthodox Church in the Arab World (700-1700): An Anthology of Sources, DeKalb: Northern Illinois University Press (forthcoming)

Dalhousie University | 7 Christopher Austin Assistant Professor – Religious Studies (Eastern Religions) Research: Sanskrit Epics and Hindu Traditions of the god Vishnu Undergraduate Advisor, Religious Studies Programme

PUBLICATIONS cruitment event. I also oversee the production of our flyer and maintain our website, as well “The sarasvata yatsattra in Mahabharata 17 and as host outings for religious studies students. 18.” International Journal of Hindu Studies 12 (3), 2008: 283-308. Research “Janamejaya’s Last Question.” Journal of Indian I currently hold a three-year SSHRC Insight Philosophy 37 (6), 2009: 597-625. Grant (formerly “Standard Research Grant”) in support of my ongoing project, “Vasudeva “Evaluating the Critical Edition of the Mahab- Krishna’s Family in Early Sanskrit Traditions: harata: Inferential Mileage and the Apparatus Materials.” Journal of Vaishnava Studies 19 (2), Divine Incarnation and Human Descent in 2011: 71-88. the Mahabharata and Harivamsha.” While my doctoral research and ensuing publications in “Draupadi’s Fall: Snowballs, Cathedrals, and the International Journal of Hindu Studies (2008, Synchronous Readings of the Mahabharata.” 2011), Journal of Indian Philosophy (2009), and International Journal of Hindu Studies 15 (1), 2011: 111-137. Journal of Vaishnava Studies (2011) focused on the 4th century CE Sanskrit epic The Mahab- “The Mystery of the Syamantaka Jewel: The A native of Quebec, Chris came to us soon after harata, this SSHRC project has shifted focus Intersection of Genealogy and Biography in the the completion of his PhD with a thesis on Hindu to the Hindu god Krishna and his life story Harivamsa.” Religions of South Asia 5 nos.1 & 2, religion at McMaster University. His first two degrees as found in The Mahabharata’s appendix, the 2011: 153-169. are from Concordia University in Montreal. Harivamsha or “Lineage of the Lord Krishna.” FORTHCOMING This new research takes up the seldom-stud- “The Fructification of the Tale of a Tree: The Pari- joined the Department of Classics in ied adult biography of Krishna and has been jataharana in the Harivamsa and its Appendices.” 2009 to teach the Eastern domain of the delivered at several international conferences Journal of the American Oriental Society. I Religious Studies Programme (South, in the United Kingdom, Canada, Europe South East and East Asia). In doing so, I’ve and the United States. The SSHRC project “The Abduction of Sri-Rukmini: Politics, Geneal- had the opportunity to offer students an enor- ogy and Theology in Harivamsa 87-90.” has generated five articles thus far: one has Currently under peer review. mous range of classes covering the religious appeared (2011) in Religions of South Asia; the and cultural traditions of India, Tibet, China second is forthcoming in the Journal of the “The Raising of Govardhana Mountain: Krsna’s and Japan – from prehistoric times to the American Oriental Society, and two are currently Divine Intervention in the Braj Landscape.” contemporary world. Over the past four years, Currently under peer review. under peer review in Canadian journals. The I’ve had the pleasure of teaching more than fifth has recently been delivered in Copenha- BOOK REVIEWS 1000 undergraduate students in 23 classes. gen (Sept 2012) and will be submitted for peer God of Desire: Tales of Kamadeva in Sanskrit Story review in the Spring of 2013. The project will Literature by Catherine Benton. Albany: State Teaching culminate in a book on the early sources of University of New York Press, 2006 in Studies in Each year, I teach four ‘staple’ first and sec- Krishna’s adult biography and its reception Religion / Sciences Religieuses 36 (2007): 593-594. ond year classes: ; ; Religions of the East Hinduism and elaboration in the manuscripts of the Chinese and Japanese Religions; and Buddhism, Invited review: Studying Hinduism: Key Concepts Harivamsha, Vishnu Purana and other Sanskrit my most popular class. I teach third-year and Methods. Sushil Mittal and Gene Thursby, texts which relate the domestic and adult life level and co-teach eds. London and New York: Routledge, 2008 in Tibetan Buddhism Topics in of Krishna, his wives, sons and extended Studies in Religion / Sciences Religieuses 39 (2010): with Drs. Wayne Hankey and Religious Studies family 107-109. Sasha Treiger. I also teach two classes which reflect my own area of research and training Invited review: Studying Hinduism in Practice. Extra Curriculars Hilary P. Rodrigues, ed. Taylor & Francis, 2011 in in Hinduism and Sanskrit epic literature: The I have served as peer reviewer for Oxford Studies in Religion / Sciences Religieuses 41 no.1 Self and the World in Indian Story, and Vishnu University Press Canada, Dalhousie’s Initiales, (2012): 129-131. and Krishna the Dark Lord. Over the years, I the Journal of Vaishnava Studies and Interna- have also delivered invited lectures for the tional Journal of Hindu Studies. I am also an Invited review: Narrative Art in the Mahabharata: School of Architecture and the Departments The Adi Parva. Pradip Bhattacharya. Delhi: Dev Adjudicator for the SSHRC Postdoctoral Publishers, 2012. Forthcoming, International of Classics, French, Theatre and Programme Competition. Journal of Hindu Studies. in Chinese Studies. My extra-academic interests lie in jazz (includ- Together with Prof. Treiger, I have created ing recently returning to the drum kit after and oversee the Exam for Honours stu- * continued on p. 15 several years’ hiatus), theatre and film, and the dents in Religious Studies, and represent the works of William Faulkner, Joyce Carol Oates Programme at all publicity events, such as Dal and Flannery O’Connor, and I confess to no Open House, the annual Academic Advising small passion for The Sopranos, The West Wing, Fair, and at the King’s Foundation Year Re- and The Game of Thrones.

8 | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Rodica Firanescu Assistant Professor – Arabic Research: Arabic Linguistics

PUBLICATIONS (2010 – CURRENT)

A Romanian by birth, Rodica came to us from a Research PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES teaching post in Montreal. She has a PhD from the I have pursued research in two complemen- “Reading notes on Sakkākī’s concept of semantic University of Bucharest and her Arabic studies took tary areas of Arabic linguistics: pragmatic- engendering”, in Festschrift for Nadia Anghelescu, her to Cairo and Damascus for long periods. edited by Andrei A. Avram, Anca Focşeneanu, semantic aspects in the Arabic grammatical George Grigore, pp: 215-233, Bucharest: Editura tradition (8th – 16th centuries); and the study Universităţii din Bucureşti, May 2011. Teaching of oral communication in Arabic and Arabic I came to Dalhousie University in 2005 on dialects (Syrian and Egyptian). This research “Do you still love Fairuz? The modal be’i in spo- a 10-month limited term appointment to has appeared in a number of publications, as ken Arabic from Syria” in Synergies Monde Arabe, teach beginners and intermediate-level Arabic Revue du GERFLINT, France, No. 7, pp. 123-142, indicated below, and this linguistic research Riyadh, April 2011. (Available online: http:// language. Since the beginning, however, the work has helped me improve my teaching and ressources-cla.univ-fcomte.fr/gerflint/Mondear- Department of Classics has been offering become more knowledgeable in serving and abe7/firanescu.pdf.) much more than just language courses: it has interacting with students. provided a vision and solid logistic, secretarial, “The meanings of becoming in Syrian Arabic. moral, and strategic support. This has encour- Soon, I will extend my research into sociol- Approach of the modal Sâr” in Matériaux Arabes et Sudarabiques, Nouvelles Série 12, pp. 37-62, aged my work and, seven years later, Arabic at ogy and socio-linguistics as they apply to the 2006-2010, printed October 2010. Dalhousie has not only stayed; it’s expanded. Arab communities living in the Metro Halifax In 2006, the department introduced Ad- area, a group which has been growing rapidly IN PRESS: vanced Arabic. In 2009, Classics piloted A in the last decade. The study will focus on “Renewing Thought from Exile: Gibran on the Cultural Introduction to the Arab World, a class Arab-Canadian youth, investigating their New Era” in Synergies Monde Arabe, Revue du GERFLINT, France, No. 8/2011 where students of various backgrounds and inherited and newly acquired values, identity- cultures meet, communicate, interact and building challenges, communication networks, “Khalli ‘alena. The modal khalla in Spoken learn together in a cooperative environment. educational achievements, career aspirations, Arabic from Syria” in the Proceedings of the 9th International Conference of AIDA (Association Internationale pour la Dialectologie Arabe), University “G. d’Annunzio”, Pescara, Italy. March 2011 (to be printed until the end of 2012)

ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION: “Writing the Spoken, in Arabic: online Syrian for Egyptians via Standard” (Either in Proceed- ings or, possibly, in Jerusalem Studies in Arabic and Islam, published by the Institute of Asian Studies of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, as to be decided by the organizers of the “First International Conference on Written and Writing Arabic”, April 2012).

“Building a New Literary Construct through Intercultural Negotiation. Illustration: the Suspended Odes” (accepted for publication in Romano-Arabica, vol. XII/2012)

CONFERENCES WITH PAPER PRESENTATION: “First International Conference on Written and Above: Rodica Firanescu in front of the campus as well as looking at matters of language. This Writing Arabic”, April 2012, The Hebrew Univer- at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem research will contribute to our knowledge of sity of Jerusalem. Paper: “Writing the Spoken, in an important demographic group and may Arabic: online Syrian for Egyptians via Standard” (FASS Research Development Grant) This popular class was recently approved help find solutions to social challenges. to count towards FASS’ new certificate “Fifty Years of Arab Studies in Romania”, Univer- programme in Intercultural Communication. In each of my seven years at Dalhousie, sity of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages In 2012, I was offered the third sessional ap- I have attended and presented papers at and Literatures. May 2012. Paper: “Building a pointment of three years, which will allow me international conferences in Europe and New Literary Construct through Intercultural Arab countries. Every time, I felt proud to Negotiation. Illustration: the Suspended Odes” to continue the consolidation of the Arabic (paper accepted for publication in Romano- programme. This will include the initiation of represent Dalhousie University, and am very Arabica, vol. XII/2012) two Minors which require Arabic: a Minor in grateful to the University for promoting my Arabic Studies and an interdisciplinary Minor research work and supporting these oppor- “The 9th International Conference of AIDA (As- with History, Classics, Religious Studies and tunities to participate in the debate about sociation Internationale pour la Dialectologie Arabe), Pescara, Italy. March 2011. (as above) Arabic in Middle Eastern Studies. the most recent achievements in the field of Arabic dialectology.

Dalhousie University | 9 Eli Diamond Assistant Professor – Ancient Greek Philosophy & Language Research: Philosophy of Plato, Philosophy of Aristotle Graduate Coordinator, Classics

An alumnus of the Department with a joint honours schools: Stoics, degree in Classics and Contemporary Studies and Epicureans and a MA with a thesis on “Plato’s Sophist and its Skeptics. To Neoplatonic Interpretation”, Eli came back to us that end, I am via teaching posts in Philosophy at Grenfell College currently pro- of Memorial University and St Thomas University, posing a new after a PhD with a dissertation on Aristotle from second-level Northwestern University. course entitled The Ancient After having studied in Dalhousie’s Depart- Origins of ment of Classics as an undergraduate and Political Thought: MA student, I was thrilled to come back as From Homer to a faculty member in 2008 to continue the Aristotle. tradition and the distinctive approach to the study of ancient philosophy. The major focus In 2011, I col- of my teaching and research has been the laborated with philosophy of Plato and Aristotle, though I colleagues from also teach Pre-Socratic philosophy, Hellenistic Dalhousie’s Research philosophy, Neoplatonism, and occasionally College of Sustainability and Classics on an My work on Plato has focused on careful Greek poetry. elective: Nature, the Human, Community and the readings of Platonic dialogues which strive to Divine in the Pre-Modern West (surely one of the understand the arguments through attention Teaching longest course names at Dal!). This course to their literary details. One example of this looks at ancient and medieval alternatives to I have taught a wide range of subjects. How- approach is my article, “Parallel Trials: The the contemporary way human beings relate ever, my most meaningful course to date was Dramatic Structure of Plato’s Euthyphro”, to the natural world. In this class, I especially Dr. Leona MacLeod’s Introductory Greek, which will appear in Classical Quarterly’s loved lecturing on Aeschylus’ Prometheus which I attended as an undergraduate student December 2012 issue. Bound as a way of discussing the Greek con- in 1996. It was in this class that I first met my ception of the power and limits of technol- future wife, Kieva Bearden. As a professor, I My work on Aristotle has focused on his view ogy. have taught both Introductory and Advanced of the soul, though this work has important connections to Aristotle’s ethics, politics, Greek, where I’ve continued the tradition of At the upper-year undergraduate and gradu- teaching Plato in the first term Symposium( ) natural philosophy and metaphysics. My most ate level, I have continued my predecessor substantial research contribution to this point and a tragedy in the second (this year, Dr. Dennis House’s tradition of alternating Euripides’ Bacchae). is my book, Mortal Imitations of Divine Life: seminars on Plato and Aristotle each year, The Nature of the Soul in Aristotle’s De Anima, which allows students to study as much Plato I am also the creator of two popular second which has just been accepted for publication and Aristotle as they wish. Topics in the year-level classes. The first,Philosophy on in a new series called “Rereading Ancient Aristotle seminar have included Aristotle’s De Trial: Plato and the Case of Socrates, introduces Philosophy” with Northwestern University Anima, Nicomachean Ethics, and, this year, the students to ancient philosophy by focusing on Press. In this book, I argue that the funda- Metaphysics. In the Plato seminar, I first taught the life and thought of Socrates. To under- mental aim of De Anima is to show how every a selection of eight-to-ten dialogues, while last stand the charges against Socrates, we spend activity of the soul, whether nutritive, cogni- year I focused on two longer ones: Republic a month studying pre-Socratic philosophy, tive or kinetic, shares a common structure, and Timaeus. beginning with Thales. We then study the two while each level of soul’s cognitive awareness and locomotive desire approximates the two principal non-Platonic sources on Socrates, In addition to teaching at Dalhousie, I lecture sides of divine activity – God’s self-thinking Xenophon and Aristophanes, and then con- on Pre-Socratic philosophy and Aristotle’s activity, and the perfectly circular motion of clude with a careful study of a selection of Nicomachean Ethics for King’s Foundation the outermost sphere of the fixed stars - with Plato’s ‘Socratic’ dialogues. The sequel to this Year Programme. This year, I also delivered varying degrees of success. The book offers class, Gods, Beasts and the Political Animal: Plato, a lecture on Euripides’ Bacchae. I am also a new explanation of De Anima’s unity of pur- Aristotle and their Legacy (named after a famous very proud to teach alongside many past and pose and structure. It should appear in 2014. quotation from Aristotle’s Politics), serves as an present members of the Classics Department introduction to Platonic and Aristotelian ide- for Halifax Humanities 101, a free humanities alism, concluding with a month-long study of course for Haligonians with low incomes. the appropriation and rejection of these two great thinkers by the three great Hellenistic

10 | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Upcoming research work will be devoted to a PUBLICATIONS & CONFERENCES Conferences, continued... new book project entitled “Political Ontol- (2010 - CURRENT) “Robert Crouse’s Tragic Reading of Aristotelian ogy and Ontological Politics: Metaphysics Friendship,” Academic Celebration of the Life of MONOGRAPH Robert Crouse, University of King’s College, and Politics in Ancient Greek Philosophy,” Mortal Imitations of Divine Life: The Nature of Oct. 2012. for which I have just been awarded a $50,000 the Soul in Aristotle’s De Anima (Northwestern Insight Development Grant from the Social University Press), in press “Aristotle on Human Practical Activity and the Sciences and Humanities Research Council Movement of the Heavenly Spheres,” presented (SSHRC). While the heart of this project is ARTICLES AND CHAPTERS at the Canadian Philosophical Association An- “Robert Crouse’s Tragic Reading of Aristotelian nual Meeting, Fredericton, NB, May 2011. a re-reading of the main political works of Friendship,” Dionysius XXX (forthcoming in 2013). Plato and Aristotle to show that their political Reply to Matthew King’s “Dialectic is the Good,” thought is intimately related to their meta- “Parallel Trials: The Dramatic Structure of Plato’s presented to the Annual Meeting of the Cana- physical principles, the project will also engage Euthyphro” in Classical Quarterly, 62.2, 2012. dian Philosophical Association, Fredericton, NB, with pre-Platonic poetry and philosophy to June 2011. show that a tight connection between political “Charles Taylor’s A Secular Age” in the Proceed- ings of the 29th Annual Atlantic Theological “The political ousia: the ontology of Aristotle’s thought and metaphysics (in the form of the- Conference, St. Peter’s Publications, 2010. polis” presented to a panel on the Politics and ology) is already present in embryo in earlier Metaphysics in Ancient Greek philosophy, Clas- Greek thought. With the grant money, I have ARTICLES UNDER REVIEW sical Association of Canada Annual Meeting, been able to hire one undergraduate and one “Aristotle’s Appropriation of Plato’s Sun Allegory Halifax NS, May 2011 in De Anima” graduate student as Research Assistants, buy “Aristotle on the practical self and the move- the department a new computer, as well as “Aristotle’s City-Soul Analogy” ment of the heavenly spheres” presented to a a departmental subscription to the Thesaurus panel on the Self in Antiquity, Classical Associa- Linguae Graecae, an online database with every “Philosophical Piety in Plato’s Euthyphro” tion of Canada Annual Meeting, Halifax NS, surviving text written in ancient Greek. May 2011. “Aristotle’s Soul-Figure Analogy: An Unobserved Connection Between De Anima II.3 and De Caelo “Humanities and the Greek Mind,” at the Human- Extra Curriculars II.4” ities Conference on Mind, Memorial University, In addition to acting as Graduate Coordinator Grenfell Campus (Corner Brook, NL) March 2011. for the Department, I have helped organize CONFERENCES AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS: 2010-12 the visiting speaker series and acted as faculty Text Seminar Leader on Plato’s Timaeus at the advisor for our student journal Collegium Phaenomenologicum, Città di Castello, Italy, July 2012 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Pseudo-Dionysius. Previously, I have worked on Council of Canada Insight Development Grant departmental recruitment and promotional Participant in the Toronto Philosophy Seminar (2012-2014) materials, and served on a number of univer- (Topic: Plato’s Republic). Toronto, ON, June 2012. sity committees. I am a managing editor of Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Travel Grant (2011, 2012) the online journal Animus: The Canadian Journal “The Place of Religion on Today’s University Campus,” invited lecture at University of New of Philosophy and Humanities, and serve on the Brunswick (St. John, NB) and St. Thomas Univer- Dalhousie University Research Development editorial board of Dionysius. sity (Fredericton, NB), Feb. 2012. Fund Grant (2011-2013)

“Aristotle’s Analogy Between the Soul and the City,” Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy, New York City, Oct. 2012. New Face for Classics on the web

The Department of Classics website has a fresh new face, thanks to Andy Murdoch of Dalhousie’s webteam and our very own Elizabeth Curry.

The Classics webpage is the best way to stay current on events and goings-on in the Department:

www.dal.ca/classics

Dalhousie University | 11 Emily Varto Assistant Professor – Greek History Research: Iron Age Greece; Greek historiography; Classical ideas in the 19th century Undergraduate Advisor, Classics

I truly enjoy teaching intermediate ancient of the volume is the use and interpretation of Greek language. It allows me to get to know the classics in 19th and early 20th century an- the students in the Department better and thropology. These topics will be explored and I have a lot of fun guiding the students’ integrated by an impressive list of interna- transition from grammar study to reading real tional contributors from different disciplines. ancient Greek texts. It’s a truly amazing trans- I am quite excited about this project because formation from September to April. it should fill a genuine gap in the scholarship on the often alluded to, but seldom explicitly New classes shown, influence of classical civilizations and I recently developed a seminar class, Myth and scholarship on early anthropology. I am also Inquiry from Homer to Herodotus, which is con- planning to gather the contributors together nected to some of my own research on Greek at Dalhousie for a colloquium on the topic in historiography. Here, students explore Greek 2013. ideas about the past, from epic poetry to the development of historical writing. Next year, In a similar vein, I am preparing a chapter on I hope to debut the revived and refreshed the family and the ancient city in 19th-century art course, Ancient Art and Architecture from the ethnology for a book on ancient cities. This Pyramids to the Forum. paper explores why and how classical civilizations were extracted as models by ethnologists On a related note, I am planning a student when creating their evolutionary schemes of trip to museums in the Boston area, so they the stages of human progress. Emily came to us as a graduate student with a can visit world-class classical and near-eastern Bachelors degree from Queens University in Kingston collections. I hope that such a trip could I am also contributing a chapter called “The and, after becoming one of our Alumnae, went on to become a regular event. Idea of Descent in Early Greek Kinship” a PhD at the University of British Columbia. She to a volume on Mediterranean kinship from was welcomed back to fill in temporarily. Now in her In Spring 2012, I hosted a group of students antiquity to modern times. My chapter deals second year of a tenure stream post, we have every from the Halifax Independent School, who with the earliest period covered by the book reason to expect and want her to stay. visited the Department to learn about the and discusses the meaning of descent in early ancient world. They enjoyed a visit from a Iron Age Greece. This past summer, I trav- completed an MA in the Dalhousie’s Roman soldier in armour and learned about eled to Rostock, Germany for a very produc- Department of Classics in 2004. Since “how we know what we know” about the tive meeting of the contributors at the Max returning as professor, I have taught ancient world. Following the event, I received Planck Institute for Demographic Research. I letters from these young students, telling me The volume is under review at Cambridge courses in Greek language, ancient Greek history, Roman republican history, Greek the highlights of the day were holding the University Press. historiography, ancient art, and mythology. soldier’s sword and learning about daily life in Pompeii. I will be using an RDF grant towards another Teaching book project based on my research on kinship, state, and social grouping in archaic In my classes, I like to incorporate as many of Research Greece. With the grant money awarded, I am the disciplines of the Classics as I reason- There are currently three major threads in my hiring a student as a research assistant and ably can. This means, for example, exploring research program: kinship and state in early travelling to Greece in the Spring to gather temples and sanctuaries in mythology class Iron Age Greece; Greek historiography and further research for the book at key archaeo- or reading aloud excerpts of Greek comedies perceptions of the past, especially genealogy; logical sites, museums, and libraries. in history class. My students do a lot of and the reception of classical ideas, mate- interpreting ancient sources of all kinds, so rial, and scholarship in nineteenth-century At present, I am also finishing an article on that they learn not just about antiquity, but ethnology. the relationship between genealogy and his- how to be scholars of antiquity. Overall, I try toriography, in which I examine the structure, I have signed a contract with Brill to edit a to expose students to material and ideas I find scope, and function of Greek genealogies and volume on the classics and early anthropology interesting and compelling, and I think that their association with chronology and reck- for their Companions to Classical Reception Series usually translates into successful courses. oning time to re-assess their impact on the (publication date in early 2016). The theme development of history-writing. This article

12 | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Christopher Grundke Assistant Professor – Latin & Ancient Hebrew

stems from a paper I delivered at the 2011 annual meeting of the Association of Ancient Historians. I will be presenting another version of this paper for the International Society for the Study of Time at their 2013 conference on Crete in the spring. I see this as part of bigger project concerning perceptions and expressions of the past in ancient Greece.

Extra Curriculars And when I’m not being “Professor Varto”, I play flute in the orchestra of the newly minted Halifax Music Co-op. I really like playing Beethoven…or anything in which I get to play very loudly!

With a PhD from the University of Edinburgh The introductory Latin course that I teach and earlier degrees from Acadia University, Chris during the months of May and June is always has been teaching a wide-variety of classes in the one of the highlights of my year: an op- Department as a part-time instructor for twelve years portunity to work in an intensely focused way (introductory Hebrew, introductory, intermediate, with enthusiastic, highly motivated students. and advanced Latin, history of Israel, Classical When need has arisen in the Department, I Mythology, and Introduction to Ancient History). In have occasionally taught other courses, such Spring 2012, he received the Sessional and Part-time as second or third-level Latin, ancient history, Instructor Award for Excellence in Teaching. or mythology. Thanks to various departmental members’ sabbaticals or parental leaves during y primary teaching responsibilities the last two and a half years, I have had the are the introductory class in ancient peculiar and highly unexpected delight of MHebrew and the survey course teaching many of the same students in first, on ancient Israel: the former is a traditional second, and half of third-level Latin: seeing grammatical introduction to the Hebrew them progress from first encountering the language as found in the Bible and other rudiments of Latin to reading Virgilian epic ancient texts such as the Dead Sea Scrolls; the has been tremendously rewarding. latter, a course that I first developed for the Department in 2005 and have taught almost every year since, is a wide-ranging survey that examines the history, writings, and culture of Israel by means of lectures, class discussions, and tutorials. As we all look forward to the inauguration of the Riva and Simon Spatz Chair in Jewish Studies, my work in building the essential elements of these studies grows in importance.

Dalhousie University | 13 Peter O’Brien Assistant Professor (tenured) - Latin Language and Literature Research: Ammanianus Marcellinus, Latin literature and Canadian history, Jesuit Latin Poetry on Canadian topics

Sciences Award for Teaching Excellence, and in 2007 with Dalhousie’s premiere teaching award, presented at the Annual Dinner by the Alumni Association. Near the end of a nine-and-a-half year term as the Department’s Graduate Coordinator, I received the 2010 Dalhousie University Award for Outstanding Graduate Advisor.

As a Carnegie appointment at King’s, I frequently lecture in the Foundation Year Programme (FYP) on early Greek History and Homer, and on the Roman Empire and Virgil’s Aeneid. Since 2010, I have Coordi- nated Section I of FYP. I also serve King’s by providing Latin documentation when required and, since 2011, as Public Orator of the Col- lege. I have served on numerous Dalhousie and King’s committees. For several years I served on the Killam Predoctoral Scholarship An Alumnus of King’s (Foundation Year Pro- Covering the tumultuous period between AD and SSHRC fellowship committees for the gramme) and the Department (BA and MA), Peter 312, when Constantine defeated Maxentius Faculty of Graduate Studies. At Dalhousie, I needs no introduction. He came back to us after at the Milvian bridge and AD 395, the death recently served for two years on the Presi- taking a PhD at Boston University. He has now just of the emperor Theodosius I, this course dential Advisory Committee for the Selection returned from a much deserved sabbatical year, with devotes special attention to questions of con- of a Dean for the Faculty of Arts & Social new research interests and much progress with them. version and transformation: just what does Sciences. In 2012, I began a term on the fac- it mean to say that Constantine and much ulty’s Professional Development Committee. Teaching of the empire “converted” to Christianity in In 2000, I was appointed to our post in Latin these years? On what terms is it possible to Research Language and Literature with a secondary say that Rome “transformed” from a classical My current research falls into two broad interest in Greek Language and Literature, to a late antique culture? In coming years, categories: Jesuit Poety on Canadian Topics, and my teaching since then has fallen mainly I plan to introduce a sequel to this popular and Imperial Speeches and allusion in the in these areas. I have taught all levels of Latin, course dealing with fifth-century history, Historiography of Ammianus Marcellinus. including the yearly third-year undergraduate provisionally called Decline and Fall?. I am also course, which I particularly enjoy. Though planning an upper level course on Ovid which Jesuit Latin Poetry on Canadian the course is always substantially devoted to will consider his work in translation, as well as topics: For the past couple of years, I have Virgil, the readings vary each year to sample his influence on subsequent traditions of art, been researching a series of Latin elegies on from various books of the Aeneid, the Georgics music and literature. First Nations life in 17th century Québec and Eclogues, and Virgil is supplemented with by the French Jesuit Laurent Le Brun. First selections from other poets (e.g. Catullus, In addition to Latin language and Roman His- published in 1639 and appearing in multiple Ovid, Lucan) and prose authors (e.g. Cicero, tory, I occasionally teach first and second year compilations of Le Brun’s work into the 18th Livy, Apuleius and Augustine). I have taught Greek. For six years, I taught the old Classical century, Le Brun’s Franciad has never had a graduate seminars on the poetry of Horace, Literature survey covering select texts in modern edition, has never been translated Catullus, Ovid, and Virgil’s Epic Successors, translation from Homer to Augustine. I have into a modern European language, and has as well as on the late fourth-century historian, also taught Classical Mythology, traditionally the only received glancing scholarly attention. I Ammianus Marcellinus, an area of research Department’s largest class. I have supervised plan to address this gap by producing a criti- expertise. This graduate seminar is comple- MA theses on Julian the Apostate, Eusebius cal edition of this work with introduction, mented by an undergraduate course, cross- of Caesarea, Prudentius, Catullus and Ovid. translation and commentary. This year, I was listed with sections in History and Religious My teaching was recognised in 2006 with able to complete of a full English translation Studies, on Rome in the fourth century AD. the Dalhousie Faculty of Arts and Social of this work; collect and compare variant

14 | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Peter O’Brien Assistant Professor (tenured) - Latin Language and Literature Research: Ammanianus Marcellinus, Latin literature and Canadian history, Jesuit Latin Poetry on Canadian topics

texts (from the Biblioteque Nationale and articles I have published on allusion and inter- * CHRISTOPER AUSTIN CONTINUED Boston College Jesuitica collection); progress text in Ammianus (Phoenix 60.3-4, 2006; the commentary; and amplify a previously Mnemosyne 60.4, 2007). Several of my reviews PAPERS (2009 - CURRENT) submitted and accepted article (“La Franciade of Ammianean scholarship have appeared in INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PAPERS: de Le Brun : poétique ovidienne de l’exil en the past several years in the Bryn Mawr Classi- “The Mystery of the Syamantaka Jewel: The Nouvelle-France.” Tangence (forthcoming)), cal Review, Mnemosyne, and Mouseion. Intersection of Genealogy and Biography in which will serve as an introduction. the Harivamsa.” The Genealogy of History, the History of Genealogy: Family and the Narrative Other Scholarly Activity Construction of the Significant Past in Early Since 2010, I have presented papers on this My interest in the confluence of Latin litera- South Asia. Cardiff University Centre for the His- topic at the Annual Meeting of the Classical ture and Canadian history was piqued by a tory of Religion in Asia, Cardiff University, Wales, Association of Canada (Québec, May 2010); project commissioned by the Speaker of the May 2010. at the annual meeting of the Association Canadian Senate in 2006, which resulted in an of Canadian and Quebec Literatures (at the “Help from Old Friends: Nilakantha’s Role interpretative booklet on the Latin inscrip- in Evaluating the Critical Edition of the Congress meetings in Fredericton, May 2011); tions found in the Speaker’s Chambers in Mahabharata.”39th Annual Conference on South at the American Association of Neo-Latin the Centre Block on Parliament Hill: http:// Asia. Madison, WI. Oct. 2010 . Studies (within the annual meeting of the www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/process/ “Draupadi’s Fall: Narrative Continuity and the American Philological Association – Philadel- senate/Wordsofwisdom/latin_inscriptions-e. phia, January 2012); at the first and second Problem of Symmetries in the Mahabharata.” htm. I have given talks on my research for 2010 Annual International Meeting, American Annual Dalhousie European Studies Col- this book on several occasions, most recently Academy of Religion, Atlanta, GA. Oct. 29th - loquia (April 2011and 2012); and in a talk for for the Department of Greek and Roman Nov. 1st 2010. the Early Modern Studies Society at King’s Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa ON (February 2012). “The Wives of the Dark Lord: Krsna as Grhasthin (October 2010) and for the Classics Society in the Harivamsa and Visnu Purana.” Canadian of Saint Mary’s University (November 2011). Society for the Study of Religion (Canadian Con- Imperial Speeches and allusion in the In January 2012, I was invited to give a talk gress of the Humanities and Social Sciences), Historiography of Ammianus on Virgil and his Roman Christian reception Fredericton, NB. May 30th 2011. Marcellinus: at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Savannah, “Transplanting the Tale of a Tree: The Parijataha- My work on the 4th century AD historian GA. Ammianus Marcellinus has continued since rana in the Harivamsa and its Appendices.” writing a Boston University dissertation on 222nd Annual Meeting of the American Oriental I am a past member of the Classical As- Society, Boston, MA. March 2012. this fascinating author, our best and most sociation of Canada Council, and was the complete source for the reign of Julian the organizer of the Annual Meeting of the CAC “The Raising of Govardhana Mountain: Krsna’s Apostate. Work on the speeches extends the hosted by Dalhousie and King’s in May 2011. Divine Intervention in the Braj Landscape.” research of my dissertation. The first product Fantastic Narratives and the Natural World Con- ference, Dalhousie University, April 2012. of my 2011-12 sabbatical was submission of I am member of the editorial board and an amplified version of a paper he presented Review Editor of a new journal at Dalhousie, “The Master of Illusion: Krishna’s Tricky Son at an international colloquium in Ottawa European Studies: History, Society and Culture / Pradyumna in the Harivamsa and its Appen- in October 2010 (Discours politique et histoire Études européenes: Histoire, société, culture. dices.” Fourth Annual South Asian Workshop: dans l’Antiquité). “Constantian Rhetoric and SASNET - Swedish South Asian Studies Network. University of Copenhagen, Sept. 2012. Ammianus’ Transformation of Political I also lecture yearly in the Ancient World Sec- Discourse” will be published in a forthcoming tion of Halifax Humanities 101, an outreach CONFERENCE PAPER PROPOSAL issue of the French journal Dialogues d’histoire programme run from the North Branch UNDER REVIEW: ancienne (DHA). I am preparing a companion Library in Halifax. “The Master of Illusion: Krishna’s Tricky Son piece to the DHA article on the speeches of Pradyumna in the Harivamsa and its Appen- the emperor Julian in Ammianus, and envision dices.” 223rd Annual Meeting of the American Oriental Society, Portland, OR. March 2013. further publication in this vein to follow.

I also continue to work on Ammianus’ complex system of allusion to earlier authors, having recently produced and submitted for publication a paper entitled “Apuleian Laugh- ter in Ammianus.” This piece will follow two

Dalhousie University | 15 Five Fall Masters Fall Convocation in October saw Five New Masters graduate in Classics with theses in all three periods of our work: Classical, Late Antiquity, and Medieval.

Photo at right: Fall convocation 2012.

From left to right: Dr Eli Diamond; Emma Whitney (Curran); Peter Bullerwell; Martin Curran; Dr Emily Varto.

Peter Bullerwell, “The Distinction of Indistinction and Meister Eckhart’s Way of Life,” supervised by Dr Hankey.

Martin Curran, “The Immaterial Theurgy of Boethius,” supervised by Dr Fournier.

Evan King, “Bonum non est in Deo: On the Indistinction of the One and the Exclusion of the Good in Meister Eckhart,” supervised by Dr Hankey

Classics News is published periodi- Benjamin Max Manson, “Teleology and Awareness in Aristotle’s Ethical Thought,” cally by the Department of Classics at supervised by Dr Diamond. Dalhousie University in cooperation with FASS Alumni Relations, Dalhousie Emma Whitney (Curran), “Golden Age Imagery and the Artistic Philosophy of Ovid’s University. Metamorphoses,” supervised by Dr O’Brien. Editors: Dr. Wayne Hankey, Ms. Krista Armstrong Contributors: Dr. Chris Austin Stay Connected Dr. Eli Diamond Dr. Rodica Firanescu Dr. Chris Grundke Department of Classics Dr. Wayne Hankey Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building Dr. Peter O’Brien Room 1172, 6135 University Avenue Dr. Emily Varto PO Box 15000, Halifax NS B3H 4R2 902.494.3468 | [email protected] | www.dal.ca/classics Design: Ms. Krista Armstrong Visit www.alumniandfriends.dal.ca to update your contact information FASS Alumni Relations: and stay connected with Dalhousie University Krista Armstrong, 902.494.6288 For information on events within the Faculty or to plan a reunion, visit [email protected] www.dal.ca/fass or email [email protected] FASS Director of Development: Ben McIsaac, 902.494.1790 [email protected]