Classics

A new research programme entitled “Classical Studies” was initiated by the Maison Française d’Oxford as of 1st September 2006 and is directed by Jean-Louis Labarrière, (CNRS accredited researcher). The goal of the programme is to allow the MFO to develop closer links than have existed until now with the University of Oxford Faculties of Classics and Philosophy, and also with other European research centres. A solid network is being established both with IFREs (Instituts Français de Recherche à l’Étranger) and with other academic institutes of various European universities. The programme aims to consolidate long-term collaborations.

“Classical Studies” is open to all disciplines and fields of the study of the ancient world, and currently falls into three areas :

1) Research Events (one-off and regular)

1a) The Collège de France in Oxford
We regularly host Professors of the Collège de France as part of their teaching abroad commitments; John Scheid and Pierre Briant have presented their current research in this framework. 

1b) Jean-Pierre Vernant Study Days
In conjunction with the Faculty of Classics represented by Robert Parker (New College), the MFO has instituted an annual cycle of conferences in memory of Jean-Pierre Vernant, to be held in the new building of the Faculty of Classics. The study days take the following format: an invited speaker visits with one or two doctoral or post-doctoral students, who present their work in a joint session with one or two of their counterparts from Oxford.

The first session was held in the fourth week of Hilary Term, and the first invited speaker was François Lissarrague of the Centre Louis Gernet, UMR 8567 of the CNRS, an institute founded by Jean-Pierre Vernant nearly forty years ago.

2) Annual One-Day Round Tables 

Initially intended to accompany the programme conceived by Oswyn Murray (Balliol College, Faculty of Classics) in 1996 on “History and theories of pleasure”, then taken up by the EHESS in 1999 and 2001, the aim of these round tables has been to examine meanings of “pleasure” from antiquity to the Renaissance, and indeed up to the present day. Another round table on “the pleasures of friendship” was held on 7th March 2008.

On 2nd March 2007, again on the theme of friendship, a day in memory of Pierre Vidal-Naquet was organised and entitled “Pierre Vidal-Naquet à Oxford: Le Chasseur Noir”. The two half-days on “Façons de lire/Modes of reading” jointly organised by Sally Humphreys and Jean-Louis Labarrière on 9th and 10th November 2007 were also part of this conception.

3) International Colloquia

3a) “The Dream of Scipio and its tradition” (MFO, 18th-19th May 2007)

3b) “Polybus, ‘historian-philosopher’?”, MFO, 30th-31st May 2008
Following up on the research started last year with the Dream of Scipio, an international seminar will be held at the MFO on the “historian” Polybus and Middle Stoicism (especially Posidonius and Panetius), focused on the notions of causality and fortune. Click here to find out more about this event.