NORTH STAFFS BRANCH OF THE CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION
Chairman: Dr Andy Fear; Secretary and Treasurer: Mr Stephen Clifford

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Events 2025/2026

NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY ANCIENT LANGUAGE IS REQUIRED TO ENJOY AND TAKE PART IN OUR EVENTS, OTHER THAN LANGUAGE READING GROUPS

ALL LECTURES THIS YEAR ARE PLANNED TO BE LIVE STREAMED & AVAILABLE LATER AS RECORDINGS ON OUR YOU TUBE CHANNEL

LECTURE: Dr Manos Tsakiris (University of Manchester)

'FROM HERO TO ZERO, AND BACK AGAIN: ODYSSEUS AND KINDS OF HEROISM'
11.00 a.m., Thursday 16 October 2025,
Stoke on Trent Sixth Form College, Leek Road, Stoke on Trent, ST4 2RU

The lecture was Live Streamed and is available to view on our You Tube Channel.

READING: (in English translation) of Odysseus' Journey to the Underworld from the Odyssey

7.30 p.m., Thursday 30 October 2025,
SCR Bar, Keele Hall, University of Keele, ST5 5BG

Texts will be available, & a Zoom link can be supplied on request.

LECTURE: Dr Fiona Haarer (King's College London)

'EMPRESS THEODORA: FROM COURTESAN TO QUEEN'
7.30 p.m., Tuesday 25 November 2025,
Old Library, Keele Hall, University of Keele, ST5 5BG
Joint meeting with the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

The lecture was Live Streamed and is available to view on our You Tube Channel.

LECTURE: Lynsey Shale (University of Manchester)

'EGYPTIAN IDEAS IN GRAECO-ROMAN MEDICINE'
7.30 p.m., Tuesday 17 March 2026,
Keele Hall, University of Keele, ST5 5BG
Joint meeting with the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies

The lecture is to be Live Streamed and will be available later on our You Tube Channel.

PLAY READING: (in English translation) of Plautus' Mostellaria (Ghost Story)

7.30 p.m., Thursday 16 April 2026,
SCR Bar, Keele Hall, University of Keele, ST5 5BG.

      Roman Theatre, Orange, ? Stephen Clifford, June 2004 The Roman Theatre at Orange.

Texts will be available, & details will be advised near the date.

LECTURE: John Drinkwater

'ROMAN COINS - HANDS ON'
7.30 p.m., Thursday 14 May 2026,
Keele Hall, University of Keele, ST5 5BG

Subject to the suitability of the format the lecture is to be Live Streamed and will be available later on our You Tube Channel.

Latin and Greek Reading Groups 2025/26

Greek - The Greek Reading Group meets on Zoom, now normally on the third Monday of each month at 2.00 p.m. Some prior knowledge of Greek is required, but the Group is informal and relaxed, not a high-powered academic group, but simply friends getting together to enjoy reading Greek.

Latin The Latin Reading Group also meets on Zoom normally monthly, on the second Tuesday of the month at 2.00 p.m. Members may also like to listen to the news in Latin (pronounced like Italian) on Vatican Radio - Google Hebdomada Papae.

For further details of both groups, or for anyone new wishing to join the groups, please contact the new organiser, Peter Hulse, or email the Branch address below.

These groups are not for beginners: some prior knowledge of the relevant language is necessary to take part in either. For both, please ask the organiser if there is room in the group for more members before joining.

All welcome - all events except any trips are free of charge

Information on Membership

Last year's programme and annual report

Board Game for Schools

 The Branch is pleased to say that, through the generosity of the Hellenic Society, we hold a copy of the board game Pots! The Game, suitable for age 10 and upwards. This is available to be borrowed at no charge by Schools in our area, and is a fast paced game for 3 - 6 players, bidding against each other to acquire the biggest and best collection of Greek vases. The Hellenic Society has made it available as part of its own Schools Programme since, as well as being good fun and instilling a general interest in Greece, the game has useful images and details of Greek vases in the British Museum. It should be of particular interest to any school students looking at Greek Art modules, but could also be used with older Minimus groups, to extend their interest to Greece as well as Rome. Interested schools can request a loan direct from the Branch (below).

For further details, please contact the Hon. Secretary: Stephen Clifford, Tel: 01630-647765, email: northstaffsca@yahoo.co.uk