# classics

> study of classical antiquity

**Wikidata**: [Q841090](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q841090)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classics)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/classics

## Summary
Classics is the interdisciplinary study of classical antiquity, focusing on the languages, literature, history, archaeology, and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. It encompasses fields like classical philology, archaeology, and papyrology, and is closely tied to broader academic disciplines such as history and area studies.

## Key Facts
- **Definition**: The study of classical antiquity, including ancient Greek and Roman civilizations.
- **Parent Disciplines**:
  - History (sitelink_count: 316)
  - Ancient literature (sitelink_count: 39)
  - Area studies (sitelink_count: 33)
  - Classical archaeology (sitelink_count: 27)
  - Papyrology (sitelink_count: 35)
  - Classical philology (sitelink_count: 36)
- **Aliases**: Also known as classical studies, classical civilization, Ancient Mediterranean Studies, and ancient history studies.
- **Sitelink Count**: 52 (Wikidata).
- **Related Academic Disciplines**:
  - Academic discipline (sitelink_count: 50)
  - Academic major (sitelink_count: 8)
- **Notable Scholars**:
  - Joachim Latacz (German classical philologist)
  - Friedrich Solmsen (German classical scholar, 1904–1989)
  - John Burnet (Scottish classicist, 1863–1928)
  - Mikhail Gasparov (Russian philologist, 1935–2005)
  - Jean-Louis Burnouf (French philologist, 1775–1844)
  - William Woodthorpe Tarn (British classical scholar, 1869–1957)
  - Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff (German classical philologist, 1848–1931)
  - Martin Litchfield West (British philologist, 1937–2015)
  - Ronald Syme (New Zealand-born British historian, 1903–1989)
  - Jane Ellen Harrison (British classical scholar, 1850–1928)
- **Subdisciplines**:
  - Classical philology (sitelink_count: 36)
  - Humanities (sitelink_count: 108)
- **Organizations**:
  - Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies (founded 1910, based in the UK).

## FAQs

### What is classics?
Classics is the study of classical antiquity, focusing on the languages, literature, history, and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. It includes disciplines like classical philology, archaeology, and papyrology.

### What disciplines are related to classics?
Classics is part of broader fields such as history, ancient literature, area studies, classical archaeology, papyrology, and classical philology. It is also related to academic disciplines and majors.

### Who are some notable scholars in classics?
Notable scholars include Joachim Latacz, Friedrich Solmsen, John Burnet, Mikhail Gasparov, Jean-Louis Burnouf, William Woodthorpe Tarn, Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, Martin Litchfield West, Ronald Syme, and Jane Ellen Harrison.

### What are the subdisciplines of classics?
The main subdisciplines are classical philology and humanities, which focus on the study of ancient texts and human culture, respectively.

### What organizations are associated with classics?
The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, founded in 1910 and based in the UK, is a key organization in the field.

## Why It Matters
Classics is fundamental to understanding the foundations of Western civilization, including its literature, philosophy, political systems, and cultural traditions. It provides insights into the development of languages, legal systems, and artistic expressions that have shaped modern society. The study of classics also preserves and interprets ancient texts and artifacts, ensuring their relevance for contemporary scholarship and education.

## Notable For
- **Interdisciplinary Nature**: Combines history, literature, archaeology, and philology.
- **Influence on Western Civilization**: Foundational to modern legal, political, and cultural systems.
- **Preservation of Ancient Knowledge**: Focuses on the study and interpretation of ancient texts and artifacts.
- **Notable Scholars**: Includes influential figures like Jane Ellen Harrison and Ronald Syme.
- **Organizations**: Home to scholarly societies like the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies.

## Body

### Definition and Scope
Classics is the study of classical antiquity, encompassing the languages, literature, history, archaeology, and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. It is an interdisciplinary field that draws on various academic disciplines to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ancient Mediterranean world.

### Parent Disciplines
Classics is closely related to several broader academic fields:
- **History**: The study of past events and their records (sitelink_count: 316).
- **Ancient Literature**: Literature produced in ancient times (sitelink_count: 39).
- **Area Studies**: Interdisciplinary research focusing on specific regions or cultures (sitelink_count: 33).
- **Classical Archaeology**: The archaeological investigation of Mediterranean civilizations (sitelink_count: 27).
- **Papyrology**: The scientific study of ancient manuscripts (sitelink_count: 35).
- **Classical Philology**: The academic discipline focused on ancient texts and languages (sitelink_count: 36).

### Related Academic Disciplines
Classics is also connected to:
- **Academic Discipline**: A field of study or profession (sitelink_count: 50).
- **Academic Major**: A focus of academic study leading to a degree (sitelink_count: 8).

### Notable Scholars
Classics has been shaped by numerous influential scholars, including:
- **Joachim Latacz**: German classical philologist.
- **Friedrich Solmsen**: German classical scholar (1904–1989).
- **John Burnet**: Scottish classicist (1863–1928).
- **Mikhail Gasparov**: Russian philologist and translator (1935–2005).
- **Jean-Louis Burnouf**: French philologist and translator (1775–1844).
- **William Woodthorpe Tarn**: British classical scholar and historian (1869–1957).
- **Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff**: German classical philologist (1848–1931).
- **Martin Litchfield West**: British philologist and classical scholar (1937–2015).
- **Ronald Syme**: New Zealand-born British historian and classicist (1903–1989).
- **Jane Ellen Harrison**: British classical scholar, linguist, and feminist (1850–1928).

### Subdisciplines
Classics includes several subdisciplines:
- **Classical Philology**: The academic discipline focused on ancient texts and languages (sitelink_count: 36).
- **Humanities**: The study of human culture and society (sitelink_count: 108).

### Organizations
The **Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies** is a key organization in the field of classics. Founded in 1910 and based in the UK, it promotes the study of Roman history and culture.

### Significance
Classics is crucial for understanding the foundations of Western civilization. It provides insights into the development of languages, legal systems, and artistic expressions that have shaped modern society. The study of classics also preserves and interprets ancient texts and artifacts, ensuring their relevance for contemporary scholarship and education.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
3. Quora
4. KBpedia
5. GF WordNet
6. All Science Journal Classification Codes
7. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)