Connor O’Rourke, “Pithoi at Bronze Age Gournia: Storage, Production and Exchange from the Prepalatial to Postpalatial Periods.”
Angus Smith (supervisor), Elizabeth Greene (second reader), Eleni Hatzaki, University of Cincinnati (external examiner)

Madison Poole, “The Evolution of Women at Symposia: Re-evaluating Identity, Participation, and Agency in Sympotic Athenian Red Figure Vase Paintings.”
Allison Glazebrook (supervisor), Elizabeth Greene (second reader), Chelsea Gardner, Acadia University (external examiner)

Congratulations to Madison and Connor! We wish you both the best in the next stages of your intellectual journeys.

Madison Poole with supervisor Allison Glazebrook; second reader Elizabeth Greene; and external examiner Chelsea Gardner (Acadia University).

Connor O’Rourke with thesis supervisor Angus Smith, and second reader Elizabeth Greene

‘Curious about the world’: 66-year-old grad spent studies diving for ancient artifacts

According to the Brock News, “The retired Major spent 34 years dedicated to civilian and military service with the Canadian Army before coming to Brock. He served on two tours of duty in Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti.

In 2015, Tremblay was awarded the prestigious Meritorious Service Cross by former Governor General of Canada David Johnston for his work planning a joint security effort for the 2015 presidential elections in Haiti.

But the decorated Canadian veteran has always had a passion for archaeology, poring over books about ancient civilizations, art and architecture long before he made the decision to study formally in retirement.

“I lived a very full life through my career and worked hard over the years, and coming back to study at Brock — the joy of learning — was the reward,” he says.”

Over the course of his degree, Robert participated in Brock-led field projects on land and underwater in Pantelleria and Marzamemi, Italy. Congratulations, Robert!

President Xi asked President Trump, “Can China and the United States transcend the so-called ‘Thucydides trap?’ and forge a new paradigm for major-power relations?”

As the Post writes, “The term ‘Thucydides trap’ was popularized by political scientist Graham Allison in “Destined for War,” his 2017 book about China–U.S. relations. It the idea that conflict is the likely outcome when a rising power threatens to challenge a ruling one (in the 16 historical examples Allison cites, only four avoid it).

The theory is derived from a line in the “History of the Peloponnesian War”: “It was the rise of Athens and the fear that this instilled in Sparta that made war inevitable,” according to a common translation.

“That’s what Graham Allison’s argument is, that the United States is the hegemon or the leader of the world and then there’s China as a rapidly rising power,” Carter said. “And at one point, something is going to happen and there’s going to be a break.”

Carter continued, “The remarkable thing is Thucydides knew that, because he understood human nature. And that’s one of the very first things he says in the book is that, ‘I’m writing this as an example, for all time, because people don’t change, and this will happen again.’”

Read the full article here: https://financialpost.com/news/who-was-thucydides-the-ancient-greek-general-referenced-by-carney-and-xi

From The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/09/united-states-china-war-thucydides-trap/406756/

The Department expresses its gratitude to the Kierans for their generous support of our students and their passion for experiential opportunities in the field!

The Department of Classics and Archaeology will be well-represented at the Annual Meeting of the Classical Association of Canada, hosted by Queen’s University, May 5-7.

Panel 15, “Women in Greek Society,” features two Brock papers: Madison Poole, “Adorning the Female Symposiast: Using Comparative Analysis to Explore Female Identity, Sexuality, and Agency in Sympotic Red Figure Vase Paintings” and Allison Glazebrook, “Nikarete’s Girls: Sex Trafficking and Sexual Grooming in the Athenian Sex Trade.”

In Panel 23, the Graduate Student Caucus Panel titled “Sing it, Muse! Ancient Stories for Modern Audiences,” Sarah Grenier and Madison Poole will present their collaborative paper, “Mythbusting History One Monument at a Time: How to Use Interactive Maps to Debunk Pseudoarchaeology.”

Carol Merriam considers “Dido’s Power: Love Magic and Witchcraft” in Panel 30, “Female Figures in Latin Literature.”

The CAC Annual meeting offers an amazing opportunity to bring together scholars of classical antiquity from across Canada. Next year’s event will be hosted by Memorial University in St John’s, NL.

How Humanities research is reimagining the human experience

During the Faculty of Humanities’ spring research celebration on April 14, Professor Elizabeth Greene received the Faculty of Humanities Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity. Drawing on archaeological fieldwork on shipwrecks, harbour sites and maritime landscapes from the Iron Age to the present in regions like Turkey and Sicily, Greene’s research traces long term processes of trade, cultural exchange, fishing traditions and the displacement of peoples. Department Chair, Professor Michael Carter noted, “Dr. Greene’s work has shifted both how we understand and model interaction on the ancient Mediterranean and, even more importantly, how we view, value and challenge ourselves and the broader global community through heritage in the present,” The HRI Research Symposium also featured a paper by second-year M.A. student Connor O’Rourke, “Containers of Connectivity: Pithoi and Exchange Networks in Bronze Age Gournia.”

Undergraduate Award Winners
Trine Varcoe Memorial Scholarship: Kathryn Snider
Richard W. Parker Travel Scholarship: Carter Janzen
David William Rupp Archaeological Practicum Scholarship: Lydia Scheunemann and Katherine Titishova
School of Restoration Arts at Willowbank Vasilios and Kostas Poulimenos Book Prize: Emma Consoli
Geoffrey William Brown Memorial Prize: Madeline Macdonald
Department of Classics and Archaeology Book Prize in Ancient Art and Archaeology: Lauren Henderson
Department of Classics and Archaeology Book Prize in Classical Literature and History: Josiah Straatsma
Studium Book Prize in Classics: Summer Hradsky
Society for Classical Studies (SCS) Distinguished Student Award: Lauren Henderson and Derek Tam
Classical Association of the Middle West and South (CAMWS) Outstanding Accomplishment Award: Andrea Szpika
Ontario Classical Association (OCA) Award for Outreach and Leadership in Classics: Dawson Magis
Ontario Classical Association (OCA) Award for Achievement in Ancient Languages: Laura Muller-Bot

Graduate Award Winners
Society for Classical Studies (SCS) Distinguished Student Award: Madison Poole
Classical Association of the Middle West and South (CAMWS) Outstanding Accomplishment Award: Connor O’Rourke
Classical Association of Canada (CAC) Outstanding Student Award: Léo Beaudoin

The event also offered an opportunity to celebrate Nadine Brundrett’s 25 years of teaching in the Department, and the bittersweet announcement of Roberto Nickel’s retirement. As always, the return of graduate alumni speakers provided a chance for reflection on the value of our field for future career paths.

Mapping New Knowledges shines light on grad student research

Classics and Archaeology students made a splash at the 21st annual Mapping the New Knowledges Conference! The day opened with the presentation of awards, where 2nd year M.A. student Lucie Mackintosh received the Jack M. Miller Excellence in Research Award. Five students presented papers or posters on their research: Léo Beaudoin, Kiera Lang, Katie Mazurkiewicz, Madison Poole, and Connor O’Rourke. The conference gave Classics and Archaeology students a chance to engage in dialogue about their research with M.A. students across the University. Congratulations to all!