The Department of Classical Studies at Butler University
The culture, history and literature of Ancient Greece and Rome have long captivated the imagination of people throughout history and across the globe, from the Renaissance to the Founding Fathers of America to modern writers from the Caribbean. We continue to live in a world of classical roots, whether it be the Athenian roots of democracy or the Roman origins of our Republic, the Greek love for the beauty of athletics, or an enthusiasm for theater that moved from Greece to Rome to Shakespeare and beyond. The Greeks and the Romans helped articulate the liberal arts that are at the heart of a Butler education. As we engage with the thinking and the art of the ancients, we aim to develop an understanding, enjoyment and critical appreciation of some abiding principles of our world. We enter into dialogue with minds of the past in order to understand ourselves better now. Studying the Greeks and Romans, we become part of our larger family over time. We enrich our minds and our imaginations, and we sharpen our skills for work and life today.
