Professor Sandrine Bergès, from the Department of Philosophy, recently presented the Antognazza Lecture at the Literary and Philosophical Library in Newcastle (UK). In her talk, she revisited Mary Astell’s analogy of marriage as a form of slavery, placing it within the broader context of transatlantic slavery and its philosophical implications. The annual lecture, organized by the British Society for the […]
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New book by Nathan Leidholm explores slavery and family in the Byzantine world
Associate Professor Nathan Leidholm from the Program in Cultures, Civilizations, and Ideas has published a monograph with Arc Humanities Press. The book, Slavery and Unfreedom in Byzantine Thought on the Household, examines how slavery and family were deeply intertwined in Byzantine society. Drawing on diverse sources and modern theories such as intersectionality and social death, it reveals how enslaved people […]
Thomas Howard receives 2025 Ralph Cohen Prize
Thomas Howard from the Program in Cultures, Civilizations, & Ideas has been awarded the 2025 Ralph Cohen Prize from New Literary History. Dr. Howard received the prize for his essay, “Anesthetic Reading: Ether, Nitrous Oxide, and Nineteenth-Century Interpretation.” Named in honor of New Literary History’s founding editor, the annual Ralph Cohen Prize recognizes outstanding scholarship by early-career researchers in literary and […]
Rachel Bruzzone publishes new commentary on Thucydides
Associate Professor Rachel Bruzzone from the Program in Cultures, Civilizations, & Ideas has published a book with the University of Michigan Press. Commentary on Thucydides, Book 3, provides a detailed linguistic and interpretive guide to a pivotal section of Thucydides’ The History of the Peloponnesian War. Beginning in 428 BCE, Book 3 records a crucial phase of the Peloponnesian War, […]
Thirteen new humanities appointments
Arash Abazari (Philosophy) Fatma Aksoy (Translation and Interpretation) Berker Basmacı (Cultures, Civilizations & Ideas) Kirill Chepurin (Cultures, Civilizations, & Ideas, from 2026) Daniel Ferguson (Philosophy) Emily Glider (Cultures, Civilizations & Ideas) Ben Irvine (Archeaology) Esmaeil Kalantari (Translation and Interpretation) Luke Lea (Cultures, Civilizations, & Ideas) Alex Moran (Philosophy) Madeleine Read (English Language and Literature) Jack Woods (Philosophy) Mehmet Yıldız (English […]
Archaeological discoveries at Türkmen-Karahöyük shed light on Hittite history
Excavations at Türkmen-Karahöyük, a strong candidate for the lost second capital of the Hittite Empire, have uncovered artifacts spanning millennia — including a 2,000-year-old bone pen, 4,000-year-old seals, arrowheads from 50 B.C., a 1,700-year-old die, and wheat and barley preserved for 3,000 years. Researchers also found fine ceramics, jewelry, perfume bottles, exotic fruits, and remains of monkeys once gifted by […]
New discoveries unearthed at Sagalassos
In the latest field work at Sagalassos multiple new finds have come to light. One of these emerged from a re-examination of marble panels with relief ornamentation that had been found in 2004 in the northern frigidarium of the Bath-Gymnasium. These fragments form part of a larger, Egypt-inspired wall-decoration program executed by incision on thin marble veneers. Dominating the scene […]
New minor in classical studies — starting Fall 2025
Beginning in Fall 2025, students will have the opportunity to pursue a Minor in Classical Studies. This new interdisciplinary program introduces students to key aspects of the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome, including their literature, artifacts, history, politics, and intellectual traditions. The minor encompasses courses taught by faculty from the Departments of Archaeology and Philosophy, as well as the […]
Bilkent Archaeology visits Aphrodisias
On April 26–27, students and faculty from Bilkent University’s Department of Archaeology visited the ancient city of Aphrodisias in Aydın Province, accompanied by Rector Prof. Kürşat Aydoğan, Provost Prof. Orhan Aytür, and Dean Prof. Simon Wigley. Led by Prof. R.R.R. Smith, director of excavations at the UNESCO World Heritage site, the group explored the remarkably preserved ruins and admired the […]
Britain Hopkins begins Kluge Fellowship
Dr. Britain Hopkins from the Department of American Culture and Literature has begun her Kluge Fellowship at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. During her visit, she will conduct research for her book entitled Indebted Subjects: The Origins of Student Loan Debt in the United States.