Society & Culture & Entertainment History

Ancient Meets Modern: Classicists on Twitter

Yes, even people who study the ancient world are now on Twitter, that most modern social network. But which of the many experts should you follow? Let About.com guide you through the hordes of historians to the treasure trove of classicists.


1. Mary Beard


 If you don’t know Mary Beard—professor of classics at Cambridge University, feminist and anti-bullying advocate, and contributor toThe Times—you are missing out. Not only a phenomenal scholar of the Roman Empire (don’t miss her books on Roman laughter and the classical tradition), Mary has also taken on the Twittersphere in calling out Internet trolls. You can also find Mary as your guide to Rome in numerous stellar documentaries.Buy from Amazon »

2. Sarah Bond


An assistant professor of classics at the University of Iowa, Sarah makes Rome relatable on Twitter. She provides helpful links (ever wanted to know about Roman weights and measures?) and chats about punny Latin names and Vestal Virgins, among other things, on her blog.More »


3. Dorothy King


Dorothy Lobel King offers a multi-platform approach to classics. Although she’s often on Twitter, avid ancient history fans can also follow her on Ph. Diva. The Londonite is outspoken about her views on antiquities, including her wish to see the famous Elgin Marbles remain in England (rather than returning to their native Greece).More »

4. Carole Madge


Ever wanted to tread in the sandaled footsteps of a Roman emperor? Then, Carole Madge is the Tweeter for you. She travels the world on her own modern-day Odyssey by visiting everywhere Emperor Hadrian went to. Yes, that's the same Hadrian that built the massive wall in the north of England.More »

5. Rogue Classicist


Classics get snarky with Rogue Classicist, the clever aggregator of every story about ancient history you could want to read. From announcements of new Ph. D. programs in classics to maps of Mycenaean Greece, the Rogue Classicist mixes wit and the ancient world to great effect.More »


6. Penny Goodman


Penny Goodman chronicles her international travels and lectures. From fruits of her labor (a.k.a. delicious dessert at a recent conference) to pictures of items shown at exhibitions at the British Museum, Penny makes classics accessible to your average Tweeter.More »

7. Helen Forte


Want your little ones to learn Latin? Then, Helen Forte’s the one to follow.. She illustrates books for Minimus (which means “smallest”), a program that focuses on teaching children Latin. Minimus, a Latin-speaking mouse, guides kids on a Roman journey to academic excellence.More »

8. Phoebe Acheson


If you’re doing research of any sort on the ancient world, check out Ohio librarian Phoebe Acheson’s Twitter. From Coptic Studies to Late Antique Rome, this classics expert offers a plethora of digital sources on every topic under the sun. Want to find her catalog of resources? Check out her blog.More »


9. Michael Scott


No, Steve Carell’s character from The Office didn’t get his degree in classics. This associate professor at the University of Warwick not only chronicles his lectures all over the world, but hosts documentaries that shine lights on the ancients. Check out Who Were the Greeks? on the BBC and Delphi: Bellybutton of the Ancient World,for starters.More »

10. Elton Barker


Elton Barker focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to classics at the Open University in the U.K. If you’re interested in how ancient history and the modern world (especially the Internet) interact, you’ll want to delve into Elton’s research further.

This digital humanist talks about everything from digital archaeological databases to systems classicists around the world enjoy using to disseminate information. He’s also involved in the Pelagios Project, which attempts to bring historical resources to the Web.More »

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