Issue 4 April 2015 Sundial 03 05 06 12 Profile Looking back Research Corpus Papers Robin Murphy discusses 20 years at Unravelling Cryptography Corpus manuscript in major Experimental Psychology Corpus with Dr Louis Aslett British Library exhibition

14 Studentships Jonathan Wolf celebrates his father Sundial Issue 4 April 2015 Issue 4 April 2015 Sundial Welcome Profile From the President Professor Robin Murphy Professor FBA Fellow in Experimental Psychology

500 Campaign – since 2010 – we have Professor Murphy joined the understanding of debilitating and these tasks relatively naïve about the made significant progress. Thanks to destructive psychopathologies such as nature of the task and are required to SIMON CHAPMAN SIMON Sundial College in 2009. He has been a University matched-funding scheme, Issue 4 depression and psychopathy. Robin’s learn a statistical or causal relation. but even more to our Old Members, the April 2015 Welfare Tutor for Men and since lab has close ties with researchers in Using a combination of observation, College has endowed in perpetuity four 2011 has been Dean at Corpus. Australia, Canada, Ireland and the recordings and variation to brain Tutorial Fellowships: in Philosophy, UK as well as with university spin action the experiments are designed English, Latin and History. This is out companies involved in software to understand how learning comes an outstanding expression of Old development and the search for a cure about, its content and ultimately how to Corpuscles’ generosity for which the for Alzheimers. support learning where biases emerge. College is profoundly grateful. The study of learning assumes that Associative learning attempts to Building on these recent underlying our behaviour and thoughts describe how connections can produce achievements, the Campaign is focused are the connected activities of neurons. the thoughts that allow us to pick up a on raising funds to provide graduate Neurons are complex biological cup of coffee or to imagine a cure for studentships and more support for entities with interesting and varied cancer. The theories are instantiated undergraduates and to extend the electrical and chemical function, but in computer simulations from which Michael Brock Junior Research Professor Robin Murphy’s lab ultimately their physical action reduces we can generate predictions about how Fellowship in Modern History. We investigates the neurobiological to a binary event – either the neuron particular experiences that we might The countdown to 2017 has begun. also want to resource a programme to computational and behavioural is active or inactive. The search for present to our laboratory participants or Enclosed with this issue of The Sundial encourage girls from state schools to consequences of learning. an explanation for how neurons can subjects will be learnt. you will find a brochure – The Corpus read science subjects at university. We Noncontroversially, the experimental collectively produce complex thought One example of recent advances in 500 Campaign – that launches our aim to improve the facilities for College study of learning believes that an and behaviours requires theories that the lab is the use of these associative fundraising appeal in support of the rowing and music, and enhance the enduring effect of our experiences is consider how excitatory and inhibitory models to understand how people learn College’s ambitious projects to mark cultural and sporting lives of our a change to the physical brain and our processes can combine in complex that they are causal agents – how they our Quincentenary. Let me tell you students in other ways, too. subsequent behaviour. He uses both organised systems. can cause things to happen and how the about the thinking that has shaped the Above all, we have ambitious plans rodent and human-based models of Robin uses computational theories neurotransmitter serotonin might be plans to mark this momentous year in for a New Library. They include: how experience is translated into these of stimulus association to describe crucial in feeding human perceptions our history. • Bringing into the light of the changes in behaviour and thinking. these complex interactions. The of agency. It is well known that one of On 5 March 1517 our founder, 21st century a treasury of rare A goal of this type of behavioural and human-based work studies people the symptoms of depression is a loss Richard Fox, placed his new College manuscripts and early books, cognitive neuroscience research is while they engage in computer- of agency and instrumental control. into the hands of a president, twenty currently held in a College basement. to use the findings to develop our based tasks. Participants come into When we press a door bell, steer fellows, and twenty scholars. This was These include a spectacular set of the wheel of car or send our CV to the culmination of some six years’ medieval Anglo-Jewish texts, early a potential employer we are using work. Corpus was to be a pioneering our memory of learned contingencies Greek and Latin manuscripts, and READ NICK and unequivocally humanist college letters of Sir Isaac Newton. Our 20,000 to guide our behaviour, but in to train secular priests. Thanks to Fox, early printed books constitute one Editors depression the perception of Renaissance learning took its place for of the most important collections in Nick Thorn instrumentality diminishes. the first time in Oxford. Oxford or Cambridge. above, top Another symptom of depression is We are now just two years away • Providing areas for study groups and [email protected] altered neurotransmitter action. from our 500th anniversary, and the more space for readers. Neurotransmitters are the chemicals steady pulse of routine business in • Providing a good working Sarah Salter that carry signals between neurons. Corpus cannot conceal the quickening environment for scholars, archivists above, middle Robin has been studying the of excitement. Equally, as I talk to Old and librarians. [email protected] involvement of the brain network Corpuscles, I am greatly encouraged • Liberating once-beautiful ground- involving the neurotransmitter by your eagerness to see us inaugurate floor space in the main quad, Sara Watson serotonin and its our next half-millennium with bold currently housing book stacks, to above, bottom role in instrumental action. ambition. It is not unreasonable to become much-needed public rooms. [email protected] The research in Robin’s lab has assert that the Quincentenary projects, • Improving the College’s architectural been funded over the years by the UK fully realised, will constitute a Second aesthetic. ©Corpus Christi College research councils Biotechnology and Renaissance. The plans for the New Library Oxford, 2015 Biological Sciences (BBSRC), Economic Renaissance humanists sought to are currently the subject of public www.ccc.ox.ac.uk and Social (ESRC), Medical Research nurture intelligent, prudent citizens consultation. In their final, approved Council (MRC) and the Wellcome capable of engaging in civic life and form we shall post them on the Corpus Designed by Foundation. He sits on international promoting public virtue. Theirs is website for you to consider. www.pelotondesign.co.uk journal editorial boards and has an enduring ambition. Our objects I hope you will agree that this project advised the Canadian and British at Corpus are to advance scholarly and our other schemes collectively Printed by governments’ research councils. research and foster students’ intellects, offer a fitting programme for our 500th Taylor Brothers Bristol Ltd alert of course to the demands anniversary. To realise these goals the For the interested reader a collection edited by of a rapidly changing economy, College depends, as it has throughout All details are correct at the time Professor Murphy on associative learning and while preparing them, like their its history, on its members’ generous of going to press. its application is freely available as an ebook predecessors, to engage in civic life and giving. I very much hope we can count download at: www.frontiersin.org/books/ promote public virtue. on your support. Individual_differences_in_associative_ For Corpus to continue to provide learning/315 and in 2015 the Wiley/Blackwells With my best wishes, COVER: Cloisters a liberal, humane education, Photography by Handbook of the Cognitive Neuroscience independent of the political weather, Patrick Meyer Higgins of Learning will be released. requires financial independence. During the initial quiet phase of our 2 3 Sundial Issue 4 April 2015 Issue 4 April 2015 Sundial Our Academic Registrar The Dial College Faces looks back over 20 years at Corpus

Rachel Pearson Academic Registrar

Reunion Theatre Trip -STOCK i Corpus in Blanche Changing times Rome 2014 McIntyre at The Globe This is Rachel Pearson’s 21st Friday 26- Sunday 28 September year at Corpus. During that READ NICK Tuesday 9 September 2014 time her job has changed When Dr Anna Marmodoro announced that she Last September, Blanche considerably. We asked her to was holding a Philosophy Summer School at the McIntyre (Classics, 1999), reflect on how it has evolved. British School in Rome in September, it seemed directed Shakespeare’s The only sensible to hold an Alumni weekend that Comedy of Errors at The would tailgate the Summer School but would Globe to wide critical acclaim also explore some of the beauties of Rome. and on 9 September thirty A group of twenty, including the President, Old Members and guests began their visit with an illuminating lecture from enjoyed the performance Dr Marmodoro at the British School, entitled immensely. Before the ‘What the Roman Philosophers, philosophically, performance, over a pizza did for us’. The group then headed off for a guided supper, Blanche gave a What attracted you to the post at Corpus? tour of the Galleria Borghese with its breath- very well-received talk to the I had worked for the university for six years and taking interiors and sculpture. A walking tour of group about her production I thought it might be challenging and interesting some of the highlights of the city was followed and its classical connections. to work for a College. by a convivial dinner in a restaurant built over the Blanche is at The Globe 1st century Theatre of Pompey. On Saturday, the again this summer directing What major changes have you seen in group enjoyed a spectacular visit to Hadrian’s As You Like It. A Corpus your time here? Villa, a fine lunch under a pergola of wisteria and theatre trip has been There has been a huge change in the the extraordinary Villa d’Este with its entrancing booked for Tuesday Fellowship. I have worked for three Presidents, fountains. The weekend came to an end on 1 September and details nine Senior Tutors and four Tutors for Sunday with a farewell brunch at the elegant will be available shortly. Graduates. Technology has transformed the Caffé Greco, Rome’s oldest café. job. When I started at Corpus we were still using typewriters! The biggest change has been the introduction of email. It has been both good Biennial Dinner Reunion and bad. It makes communication quicker and easier but reduces the time I spend talking to people and everyone expects an immediate response. Personally, my role has changed Corpus N ew York a lot; I started as the Senior Tutor’s Secretary, then in 1997 I became College Secretary. Association 2015 I took on the administration of graduates in Saturday 14 February 2001 and more recently my title has changed Biennial to Academic Registrar.

Dinner 2014

Saturday 4 October 2014 The President was in town on Valentine’s Day to host a tour for Old Members of I enjoy the interaction with an exhibition on the life of so many different people; Abraham Lincoln which he I don’t think I would get to If there is anything you could change and the support the College provides to not had helped to curate at the meet such a variety of people about the job what would it be? only its students but also to its staff. Last year Ninety-five people, a third of whom were Morgan Library. It draws There is nothing significant I would change. I I completed an Open University degree (a guests, attended this successful event, heavily on the Library’s in any other job. don’t think I would have stayed at Corpus for so BA in History with Religious Studies); I greatly with matriculation years ranging from renowned collection of American historical Editor Toby Harnden (Modern History, 1985), long if there was. My job is constantly evolving. appreciated the support of many of the Fellows 1949 to 2003. Before the Dinner, the Bursar documents, including a collection of Lincoln gave a superb talk, based on his Orwell Are students today very different from I would, though, love to be able to reduce my during the six years I was studying. Mr John Harrison and Professor Helen manuscripts and letters, together with Prize-winning book Dead Men Risen – a the ones you met in 1994? email traffic. Moore, Fellow and Tutor in English, gave a photographic portraits and books owned moving account of the experiences of the What I have noticed is that over the years presentation about the New Library Project. and used by the President. , led by the late Lieutenant students have gradually become more anxious What do you enjoy about working here? Professor Stephen Harrison, Mynors and Later that evening, on one of the coldest Colonel Rupert Thorneloe who was killed in and less resilient to pressure. I enjoy the interaction with so many different Charles Oldham Fellow, proposed the nights New Yorkers could remember action during their 2009 tour of . people; I don’t think I would get to meet such a Toast to the Association and Mr Bill Morris, (with thick ice rapidly forming on the River Toby fielded a flurry of questions before the What single piece of advice would you variety of people in any other job. Being able to (Engineering, 1964 and President of the Hudson) sixteen hardy Corpus souls company finally broke up and spilled out onto give to a newly arrived undergraduate? help facilitate the smooth running of the College Association) made the Reply. gathered at the Harvard Club for the annual the frozen streets, fortified by the warm glow Don’t stress, don’t panic, work hard, enjoy by working with all of the College Officers is Reunion Dinner. The Sunday Times’s US of Corpuscular camaraderie. yourself and, if in doubt, ask for help. very satisfying. I like the sense of community

4 5 Sundial Issue 4 April 2015 Issue 4 April 2015 Sundial Research

Dr Louis Aslett Junior Research Fellow, Corpus Christi College Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Statistics,

Although the origins of cryptography lie in this secret communication problem, there are The problem of ensuring the privacy of sensitive READ NICK manifold uses, for example simply long term

information is as old as civilisation itself. One classic ©OLLY/FOTOLIA context for this concern is the need to send a private An exciting storage of sensitive information: once encrypted DOING message via an untrusted medium of communication, new area of there is no need to store it in a safe or bank vault, be that via a human messenger in ancient times or since the cipher text is itself a mathematical vault. across the public internet in the modern day. The research at However, this secret storage problem raises an method of choice commonly used to achieve such the interface interesting additional question: what if one wishes SCIENCE privacy is called cryptography. between to manipulate the information stored therein? Cryptography is, in fact, an umbrella term, cryptography To make this concrete with an everyday loosely encompassing any method which involves example, imagine one encrypts the deposits and mathematically transforming (encrypting) your message and statistics expenditures on a bank account and after some BLINDFOLD in such a way as to render a cipher text, from which it is which has time the balance is required. The crux of the Recent developments in cryptography combined practically impossible to recover the original message potential for problem is that all the different approaches to with new statistical models offer the prospect of (decrypt) without knowledge of some secret, akin to significant cryptography have shared the common trait of a password. The cipher text can therefore be openly being ‘brittle’ in the sense that the information ABOVE: Dr Louis Aslett privacy preserving scientific research. and publicly disclosed (for example, to an untrusted impact in within a cipher text cannot be manipulated without messenger boy or to the world at large on the internet) both enabling first decrypting. Broadly speaking, any attempt to and only an adversary with tremendous computational research and modify, combine or transform cipher texts usually computation, but this restricts the field of use power, or one who identifies a flaw in the method itself, ensuring renders nonsense upon decryption – one can only substantially. As a statistician, I am interested in can recover the message. recover exactly what was put into the mathematical coming from the opposite direction and developing data privacy. vault in the first place. new models which are explicitly designed with the Returning to the fictional bank account limitations of homomorphic encryption in mind problem, the brittleness of cryptographic methods and quantifying the uncertainty in these more seem to imply one must first decrypt all of the approximate methods: statistics is essentially the information on the account and risk disclosure in mathematics of uncertainty. order to simply ascertain the balance. It would be One example area is of importance to both gratifying if one could instead add up the balance academics and industry. The extensive use of by combining the cipher texts directly and simply private and personally identifiable information decrypt the final result. in biomedical applications can make the general In 1978 it was postulated that it may be possible public reticent to contribute their data and so to develop methods of cryptography whereby it was impede medical research: a 2009 study found 90% indeed possible to manipulate the information held of people were uneasy about so-called ‘biobanks’ within a cipher text without compromising privacy. which seek to amass patient data. However, if More specifically, the postulate was that arbitrary cryptographically strong guarantees can be addition and multiplication of numbers held in the provided that their data will not be seen – only the cipher text may be possible so that one ends up with results of models fitted, with the data remaining an encrypted version of the answer. In other words, encrypted throughout – then people may be more the fictional bank balance could be computed willing to engage with researchers and more data without having to decrypt all the transactions: will be available. But we need new models which we simply perform special operations on the cipher work within the confines of these homomorphic text which correspond to performing addition of schemes. Our research has already shown that the information held within. even some very approximate models which Quite literally, if one were to encrypt the are amenable to homomorphic encryption will numbers 2 and 3, then take these two cipher texts outperform the traditional models when they have and perform a special ‘addition’ operation on them, more data available. then decryption of the result would render 5. We Indeed it is not just in academia: industry have computed the sum blindfold because when itself is on the brink of embarking on biomedical operating on the cipher texts we had no idea of their applications on a mind-boggling scale never before true secret values. witnessed as a result of the impending wave of It was not until 2009 in a remarkable PhD thesis ‘wearable devices’ such as smart watches, which by Craig Gentry at Stanford University that the 1978 present serious privacy concerns. Companies postulate was proved true and a method developed. hope to market the ability to monitor and track Any cryptography algorithm which can achieve vital health signs round the clock, perhaps fitting this (and several now exist since 2009) is called a biomedical models to alert on different health fully homomorphic encryption scheme. concerns. However, they will almost certainly leverage ‘cloud’ services, uploading reams of Statistics and homomorphic encryption private health diagnostics to corporate servers. Of course, computing bank account balances Statistical methods developed for homomorphic is a rather mundane and over simplified use for encryption could allow individual privacy to such a remarkable result (and technically can be be preserved, whilst still enabling industry to achieved without full homomorphism). However, incorporate such data into statistical analyses. there are in fact many limitations, some of them This represents an exciting new area of research rather technical. Applied cryptographers have at the interface between cryptography and statistics started publishing applications of these schemes which has potential for significant impact in both to scientific models where the limitations permit enabling research and ensuring data privacy. 6 7 Sundial Issue 4 April 2015 Issue 4 April 2015 Sundial The Big Picture

The New Library Project An Artist’s Impression

The project will deliver much needed

improvements to our Library facilities, STRETTON BERMAN GUEDES it will enhance the security and accessibility of our special collections and flexibly match the future study needs of a networked generation. In addition, the project will rationalise the use of space across the entire site. Architect’s Drawing by kind permission of Berman Guedes Stretton

8 9 Sundial Issue 4 April 2015 Issue 4 April 2015 Sundial

Contacts Upcoming sports events Sports Golf: Development Office Intercollegiate Golf Match – 17 April 01865 276738 Hardie Golf Tournament – 16 June

Rowing MERRITT MOORE MERRITT Corpus holds its own in Torpids Guy Ward President, Corpus Christi College Boat Club

This year’s Torpids was always going to be an eventful one. The cancellation of last year’s racing meant that the crews fielded this year were radically different from the ones that raced two years ago – I was the only member of M1 who had actually competed in Torpids!

The result of the gap in racing was that many crews either flew up the rankings or dropped a long way. The Corpus crews held their own, with M1 finishing in the same place in Division Three and W1 going up two places in Division Two. M1 appeared to be in a precarious position Golf at the start of the term, having lost a number of senior rowers to finals revision. However, a number of novices have taken to the sport Golf for remarkably quickly. On Wednesday we were chased by an incredibly fast Mansfield. While Corpus fresher they managed to bump us, we pressed on and had overlap on St Peter’s. For some reason we Gustaf Behmer were not given a bump but we had our revenge on Thursday bumping them with ease. On My grandfather introduced me to golf at the Friday, we were chased by Keble, but managed tender age of two; he hardly would have to bump St Hugh’s before we were caught. believed it if someone told him that eighteen We were hoping to do the same the following years later I would be about to play in the day, chasing Exeter, but unfortunately Keble oldest amateur event in the history of golf. caught us first. I never set out to be good at golf. There were W1, were short on rowers but their first many other sports I found more intriguing. boat consisted entirely of seniors, aided by an I continued to play from habit rather than exchange student from Stanford. Unfortunately, pure enjoyment and I am very glad that I did. Dance I am now in the third year of my DPhil, and I It was a dream come true but also very on Wednesday, they were bumped by Trinity. The University Golf Match, or Golf work daily on building large quantum optics difficult. I was given two weeks to learn all the The next three days, however, were far more Match as it is more commonly known, will experiments to find an experimental platform choreography and rehearse with the company successful. On Thursday, despite starting be the pinnacle of my golf career so far. It is Physicist that would assist new quantum technologies before jumping into 33 Nutcracker and 16 Swan I am now in the third four boats behind them, they gained a triple not just about winning against Cambridge; it implement faster algorithms, allow more secure Lake performances. I would wake up before year of my DPhil, and I over-bump on Queen’s, making up one and a is about carrying on a tradition and living up transmission of information, and perform more 8am to be at the theatre, warmed up to take a half boat-lengths over the length of Boathouse to the legacy of some fantastic players who dances accurate measurements. ballet class with the company on stage, perform work daily on building Island alone. This was followed by a bump on have played in years gone by. I would like to However, during my free time I have two shows a day, then exit the theatre around large quantum optics Somerville on Friday and a bump on Jesus on take the opportunity to thank the boys on the to success gradually found myself taking more and more 10.45pm at night to get home, eat, shower and experiments. Saturday, directly in front of the thrilled Corpus OUGC committee for a great job this year, dance classes in and striving again to ice my feet, before passing out from exhaustion. boathouse – a fantastic way to finish the week. the OCGS itself, which allows this tradition Merritt Moore pursue a professional standard. I took time off I'm not sure whether I will be able to continue At the start of this term, the Corpus rowers were to carry on, and all members of the fantastic while I was at University in the States to dance pursuing both physics and dance. For the time concerned that, following the rapid rise in the Golf Clubs that we have played at throughout When I first came to Oxford to pursue professionally with the Zurich Ballet and Boston being, I have turned down an extended contract rankings of recent years and the departure of a the season for their generous hospitality. a DPhil in Atomic and Laser Physics, Ballet Company and I thought at the time that I with English National Ballet to pursue exciting number of seniors, Torpids could have signalled The 126th University Golf Match will be I mentally ‘retired’ from my dancing had had enough dancing, but the dance scene experiments at my lab, but at heart I’m a serial the beginning of a decline in our fortunes. This played at Royal Liverpool and happens to career and decided to focus exclusively in London pulled me back in. I performed at the dancer – next time, I may say yes. has certainly not been the case. The crews this coincide with an eclipse so it will really be a on physics. However, I have ‘retired’ Barbican, some galas in the countryside with year have proved that where a crew trains hard special one. I can only do my best to make from dancing so many times that I should principals from the English National Ballet and shows spirit, it can hold its own. Once again sure that my first shot in the match, which have known not to throw away all my and Royal Ballet, and then was asked to join Corpus has outperformed expectations and, makes me a blue, is a memorable one as this pointe shoes. the English National Ballet this Fall for their shown how a small college can outperform far is surely going to be an experience for life. winter season. ABOVE: Dance rehearsal on the roof terrace bigger ones.

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Sundial Issue 4 April 2015 Issue 4 April 2015 Sundial The Corpus 04 Papers

Corpus manuscript 157 will be The illustrations in John of Worcester’s Chronicle of England the people during the reign of William II. Henry ignored on loan to the British Library, (CCC MS 157) his own pledge, and by the 1130s, all sectors of society from March 13 until September Julie Blyth, Assistant Librarian, Corpus Christi College were disenchanted with Henry’s harsh policies and his 1, 2015, for the exhibition ‘Magna abuse of power. The British Library curators were keen Carta: law, liberty, legacy’. The A major source for the history of England from the death of Bede (734) to display these images from MS 157, as they illustrate opening showing the dreams until the reign of King Stephen, the Chronicle is one of the most famous the consequences for a king of England who has failed OXFORD COLLEGE, CHRISTI CORPUS of Henry I will be on display. and important manuscripts in the Corpus collection. The manuscript was to rule justly. written at Worcester Cathedral Priory over a period of time, terminating The pictures illustrating Henry’s dreams or visions in 1140. Compiled from earlier sources, it was revised and elaborated appear in the section for 1131, although the text was upon by the monk and chronicler, John. Written in the hands of at least composed retrospectively and subsequently revised around three Worcester scribes, one of which has been identified as that of John of 1140-1. Judging by how tightly the text is arranged around Worcester himself, its complex structure betrays several alterations to its the images, it’s likely that the drawings were completed content. The manuscript, now known as MS 157, was given to Corpus in first. In these pages, John records that he met the royal 1618 by Henry Parry (b. 1594?; CCC 1607), son of the bishop of Worcester physician Grimbald at Winchcombe, and heard from of the same name. him about Henry I’s dreams. Very unusually, Grimbald As narrative illustration of chronicles only became common in the appears in the first three drawings, seated on the left. He fourteenth century, illustrated historical works from the twelfth century holds representative objects, and uses gestures associated are rare, and MS 157 is one of the earliest known examples. There are five with the rhetorical declamatio. Thus Grimbald becomes drawings, in two recognisably different styles, indicating that two artists the narrator, a trusted witness and both visual and textual were responsible. The images are unique, and their particular innovation interpreter of the king’s dreams. This device lends authenticity to John of ABOVE: John of Worcester, Chronicle (CCC MS 157), Dreams of Henry I, has been the subject of much analysis by art historians, whilst their Worcester’s retelling of an episode in the king’s private life, and this visual p. 382. contextual meaning remains relatively little studied. Recent scholarship representation of an authority figure appears to be a unique occurrence in OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: John of Worcester, Chronicle (CCC MS 157), points to a greater cohesion between text and image in MS 157 than has the illumination of English historical manuscripts. Crucifixion, p. 77b. OPPOSITE PAGE, BOTTOM: John of

CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, OXFORD COLLEGE, CHRISTI CORPUS previously been accounted for. In three of the images, the sleeping king is confronted by Worcester, Chronicle (CCC MS 157), representatives of each order of society, the rustici, milites and clerici. In the Sunspots, p. 380. The crucifixion first, angry peasants present the king with a petition; this may be the first This line drawing tinted in pale red and green is reminiscent of Anglo- representation of ‘revolting peasants’ in western art. The second image Saxon art. Art historians have noted that it is an extremely unusual finds Henry terrorised by four bloodthirsty knights, and in the third he typological composition, featuring two figures whose identity continues to is challenged by a group of bishops and monks who are enraged by his be the subject of some debate. Their motifs suggest that the female figure is plundering of their churches. The text relates how Henry woke in dread either a Sybil, or the Widow of Sarepta (III Kings 17), whilst the male could be and cried out after each dream, reaching for his weapons to defend Job, Tobias, or Jonah. They reference the suffering of Christ, his crucifixion, himself. It describes his fear for his own safety in the face of his illusory and the promise of the Resurrection. By the middle of the twelfth century attackers, and Grimbald’s proposal that Henry do penance to bring an crucifixion scenes became standardised, depicting the Virgin Mary and end to his nightmares. The final image depicts the king in a stormy St. John the Evangelist in recognisable, stylised postures. sea-crossing, where in fear of death he finally vows to suspend the land tax known as Danegeld (a promise later broken by King Stephen), to The earliest known drawing of sunspots undertake a pilgrimage to Bury St Edmund’s, and to reinstate good John of Worcester chose to illustrate as well as to describe his witnessing government throughout the realm. the appearance of two black spheres against the sun in 1128. John was John himself does not provide a direct interpretation of the dreams, obviously a keen observer of natural phenomena, as he also recorded in thus avoiding the trap of prophesying. He does not state openly that an eclipse some detail (but did not illustrate) a solar eclipse that took place in 1130. could be read as a portent or an omen, though the chronological positioning Recent scholarship has drawn attention to the influence of Arabic science of events may intimate as much. Nevertheless, the illuminations can be read on the Chronicle. John’s references to the Arabic calendar and his use of on more than one level, and the final image in the series is reminiscent of an CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, OXFORD COLLEGE, CHRISTI CORPUS planetary tables are proof that he had access to, and a rare understanding earlier event in Henry’s life. In 1120 his son and heir William atheling was of, specialised astronomical and mathematical texts. drowned at sea, along with several other young noblemen, when their vessel the White Ship capsized whilst crossing the English Channel. This personal The dreams of Henry I and national tragedy caused the succession crisis that would become known The visions or nightmares of Henry I are some of the best-known images as the Anarchy, and on a personal level the loss would have preyed on the from any of the Corpus manuscripts, and amongst the most frequently- king’s mind for many years to come. requested for publication. This year, MS 157 will be on loan to the British Library, for an exhibition commemorating the Magna Carta. In his A version of this article, with bibliographical references, is also available on the Library pages of the College website: www.ccc.ox.ac.uk/Behind-the-Bookpresses/ MS 157 can be coronation charter of 1100, Henry I anticipated the Magna Carta by viewed in full at the Early Manuscripts at Oxford University website: http://image.ox.ac.uk/ promising to do away with the corruption and abuses that had oppressed list?collection=corpus 12 13 Sundial Issue 4 April 2015 Issue 4 April 2015 Sundial Regulars & Fundraising New Arrivals

Constanze Güthenke E.P. Warren Praelector and Tutorial Fellow in Greek Language and Literature

Studentship NICK READ NICK

New funds What makes Corpus special for graduate is the sense of collaboration, collegiality, economists and shared endeavour that The name of Martin Wolf CBE (PPE 1965) is one of the best known in financial journalism. His connection links students to the College is to be marked by the creation of the Martin and fellows Wolf Graduate Studentship in Economics, an award open to across all the brilliant young Economists wanting to pursue their post graduate studies parts that make at Corpus. This was made possible through a generous benefaction from Martin’s son Jonathan, who was himself an undergraduate at Corpus up Classics as (Physics, 1993). a field. Fundraising Commenting on the creation of the Studentship, Tutor for Graduates Lucia Zedner said, “Providing graduate studentships is a high academic priority at Corpus and I am delighted that we will be able to support graduate research in Economics in this way. The Martin Wolf Graduate Studentship The Corpus will carry the added distinction of being named after one of the College’s most distinguished PPE graduates. The association of the studentship with Telethon such an eminent economist will certainly attract talented graduate students.” ABOVE: Martin Wolf CBE BELOW: Jonathan Wolf 2014

Jonathan Wolf This year’s telephone campaign to raise funds names studentship to support teaching and research at Corpus in honour of his took place from 20 September to 5 October. father. A target of £175,000 was set, an increase of 44% over the previous year’s achievement (£124,000), and calling took place in the Red The E.P. Warren Praelectorship for Hellenism and on the history of classical House Common Room at the Liddell Building. Classical Greek Literature, established scholarship since the eighteenth In the past we have normally used six to sixty years ago through the bequest century, and she intends to continue eight callers. However, this year we decided of the American art collector Edward work on the question of what happens to ‘up our game’ and took on thirteen. We Perry Warren, has been a cornerstone to classical knowledge when it migrates managed to recruit an outstanding group of in the teaching of Classics at Corpus. In between places and contexts. She undergraduates. September 2014, the College welcomed researches and teaches a wide range The 2014 Telethon turned out to be the Constanze Güthenke to succeed Tim of topics and genres in classical most successful to date. 240 gifts were made Whitmarsh in this role. She is also a Greek literature (tragedy, comedy, and the total, including pledges and Gift Aid Tutorial Fellow and Associate Professor epic, philosophical dialogue, ancient came to £202,000. Our figures suggest that in the Faculty of Classics. biography) and their afterlife, as well as of those successfully contacted, 55% agreed Constanze returned to Oxford Modern Greek literature and culture. to make a donation (against an Oxford norm after twelve years as Assistant and Classics is a particularly vibrant field of about 45%) giving on average £300. then Associate Professor at Princeton in Corpus. “I am very excited”, she says, This is a hugely encouraging result and the University, where she taught in the “to join a College that has as long and as College would like to express its very warm Department of Classics and the deep a tradition of teaching and learning thanks to the hard working and engaging interdisciplinary Program in Hellenic Classics as Corpus does, and not least to team of students, the professional and Studies. She received her DPhil from do so as the first woman to be the E.P. dedicated consultants and, of course, Oxford in 2002, after undergraduate Warren Praelector. What makes Corpus those very generous and communicative education and a Masters degree at special is the sense of collaboration, Old Members who made all this possible. Cambridge. Her research focuses collegiality, and shared endeavour that particularly on antiquity after antiquity, links students and fellows across all the and on the history of the discipline: parts that make up Classics as a field”. why, and how, have classicists defined themselves, their subject matter, and ABOVE: Student callers Katherine Backler asked the questions they ask? She has and Vicki Halsall published extensively on European

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Offers for Corpus Christi College Alumni Alumni events

Offer The Corpus discount offer has now been HIGGINS MEYER PATRICK supplanted by the scheme open to all Old Members via the University’s Alumni Card. Among the many offers are substantial discounts at the following establishments in the Oxford area: Blackwell’s OUP Bookshop University of Oxford Shop ABOVE: Main Quad after the rain Shepherd and Woodward April 2015 June 2015 The Varsity Shop Walters of Oxford Friday 17 April Tuesday 16 June Oxford University Intercollegiate Hardie Golf Tournament Gees Golf Match Once again we will be competing against Macdonald Randolph Hotel Please get in touch quickly if you are interested St Edmund Hall. Last year, we won – just. in playing. Could Corpus win this year? Please get in touch if you would like to play. The Old Bank Hotel Friday 26 June The Old Parsonage Friday 24 – Sunday 26 April Oxford University Reunion Gaudy for 1996-8 Matriculands Quod Brasserie and Bar Please note the date. Invitations will be sent in Vienna out in April. Rewley House Corpus is holding a private dinner at a University Club traditional Viennese restaurant on Saturday 25 April and a Corpus only brunch in the September 2015 University Rooms Oxford glorious surroundings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum on Sunday 26th. Please contact Tuesday 1 September Blenheim Palace [email protected] for details as As You Like It – The Globe soon as possible. Blanche McIntyre is directing at The Globe Oxford Philomusica again. Details of another Corpus theatre trip

Oxford Playhouse May 2015 will be circulated by email. Sheldonian Theatre Saturday 30 May Saturday 26 September University Club Eights Week Lunch Decade Dinner for 1980-1989 Another opportunity for lunch in Hall and Details for this dinner will follow in May. Botanic Garden/Harcourt an afternoon by the river, cheering on the rowers from the Boathouse. Further details Arboretum available soon. Be sure to order your card before returning to Oxford. For more details www.alumni.ox.ac.uk

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