About

Our society is dedicated to the study and appreciation of ancient languages in their full expressive and structural richness.

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Reading ancient texts is a unique experience. Their syntax and structure differ so profoundly from modern languages that they often get reduced to dry grammar analysis. First finding the verb, then the subject… But did the ancients read by first searching for the main verb? Of course not. When we approach ancient texts mechanically, we risk reading them through a modern lens, an anachronism that flattens their rhythm, suspense, and beauty.

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We want to bring back the joy of reading ancient languages as they were meant to be experienced: word by word, thought by thought, with all the surprises and tensions that come with it.

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To do this, we offer student-led reading classes on a wide range of texts - some canonical, supplementing the university teaching, others giving members the chance to explore works beyond the traditional curriculum in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

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For all of our classes, we use the active method, conducting our sessions directly in the target language. Instead of translating everything back into English, we think and speak in the language itself, learning and internalising grammar as we go. It might sound daunting at first, but it is remarkably effective and so much more fun than simply memorising paradigms. Immersion helps you connect with the language as something living and expressive, and experience in real time why grammar is so important, rather than constantly trying to remember a set of rules to decode.

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We also explore ancient metre in a more lively way. Instead of agonising over longs and shorts, trying to fit the text into the right pattern, worrying whether a syllable really “counts” or not, we learn rhythm through melody and song. Metre was never meant to be lifeless – it doesn’t need to be as mechanical as we were often taught at school! 

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If you are curious about ancient languages, enjoy thinking about how meaning is shaped by form, or simply want to rediscover the beauty of old texts, we would love to have you join us!