The Department of Classical Studies focuses on the study of Greek and Roman antiquity in all of its aspects: languages, culture, literature, history, and thought.
Department students acquire an in-depth knowledge of the intellectual riches of classical Greek and Roman culture in all of its dimensions, through an unmediated encounter with the great works of classical literature: Tragedy and Comedy, Poetry, Philosophical and Historical Writings, and Oratory, all in the original languages. Students are exposed to a wide variety of academic methodologies which train them for advanced research in Classical Studies and related fields.
Our courses are designed for students whose primary interest is in classical culture and for those aspiring to specialize and conduct research in Classics and closely related fields, such as Indo-European Linguistics, Ancient History, Greek Philosophy, Archaeology and Art History, and the study of Pagan Religions.
The Department also provides essential training for specialization and expertise in the contact between the classical world and neighboring cultures in the Mediterranean area, such as the Jewish Hellenism, Early Christianity, Egyptian Civilization, Iran, Asia Minor, Central Asia, Armenia, and the Early Arab World.
Classical culture is the cornerstone of Western Civilization as a whole, and an understanding of the classical world is vital for those interested in subsequent periods, from the Middle Ages onwards down to our own time. Studies in the Department provide a solid and deep foundation for specialization in all facets and periods of Western Civilization, including Literature, Art, Philosophy, and the transmission of classical knowledge, science, and cultural heritage.
Department courses are conducted in accordance with the very highest internationally held standards of Classical Studies. Our graduates are accepted for study, research and teaching posts in leading universities with outstanding Classics Departments.
The Study of the Classical World was one of the first fields taught at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem upon its establishment. At the very outset, when teaching at the University began in 1925, Moshe Schwabe (1889-1956) began to teach Greek and Latin. Schwabe, whose expertise was in Greek Literature and Epigraphy, was joined by Avigdor Tscherikover (1894-1950) and Hans Yohanan Lewy (1901-1945), both word-renowned scholars of the Hellenistic world and of Papyrology.
The prominent scholars of the second generation of teachers in the Department of Classics included Chaim Wirszubski (1915-1977) and Alexander Fuks (1917-1978), who were subsequently joined by Baruch Lifschitz (1913-1976) and Avraham (Adi) Wasserstein (1922-1995).
We look forward to groundbreaking and innovative directions in research, and to the successes and achievements of our students in the world of knowledge of the twenty-first century. At the same time, we note with pride and veneration our colleagues and teachers who have retired from the Classics Department : Hannah M. Cotton, Joseph Geiger, Dwora Gilula, Ilana Klutstein, Ra’anana Meridor, Hannah Rosén, and Lisa Ullmann.