EPIGRAMMATA: The Greek Anthology as a Pedagogical Tool.

Compiled in the fourteenth century by the Byzantine monk, Maximus Planudes, and first printed in Florence in 1494 through the initiative of the Byzantine émigré scholar, Janus Lascaris, the Greek Anthology (Anthologia Graeca Planudea) constitutes the richest collection of Greek epigrams to have reached Western Europe during the Renaissance.

This workshop will explore the literary, artistic and didactic value of Greek epigrams in the study of the Greek language and thought, as well as in the transmission and continuity of the Classical tradition. Focusing on selected pieces from the anthology, the workshop will highlight their influence on Neo-Latin and vernacular literatures, alongside their impact on Renaissance visual culture and image production.

Participants will have the opportunity to engage with digital reproductions of manuscript and early printed editions of the Planudean Anthology, translate epigrams from Greek, and produce their own epigrams in English, based on the Greek models. Guided through the intersections between text and image, participants will work in groups to examine emblematic imagery inspired by Greek epigrams, and identify parallels and divergences in how literary and visual media convey ideas.

By the end of the workshop, participants will have:

- acquired basic knowledge of the Greek epigram as a literary genre,
- gained introductory experience in the Greek language,
- enhanced their creative thinking and writing skills,
- developed their skills in literary and iconographic analysis,
- formed an understanding of the significance of the Greek Anthology within Renaissance and Early Modern Studies.

Anyone is welcome to apply. Preference will be given to postgraduate students (MA, MPhil and/or PhD candidates) with a background in Classics, Literature, Languages, History, Archaeology, History of Art, and/or related fields. MA and PhD students at the Warburg Institute are strongly encouraged to apply. While no prior knowledge of Greek is required, familiarity with the Greek alphabet is recommended. Participants will be selected based on their academic background, merit, and the relevance of their research to the field of Hellenic Studies.

Applications should be sent in writing to rouss.atlantisgmail.com by Sunday 19 April 2026, and include a 1-page CV and a personal statement (max. 500 words) addressing the following:

a) main reasons for wanting to participate in the workshop,
b) any prior experience in learning ancient languages,
c) expected outcomes of the workshop in relation to current and/or future research.

Workshop Speakers & Facilitators:

Charles Burnett, Professor of the History of Islamic Influences in Europe (The Warburg Institute)
Lucy Nicholas, Senior Lecturer in Latin and Greek Language and Culture, Convenor of Languages and Palaeography (The Warburg Institute)
Nathaniel Hess, British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow (The Warburg Institute)
Benedick McDougall, Centenary Research Fellow (Selwyn College, Cambridge)
Dimitrios Roussos, PhD (Warburg alumnus)

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Organised by: Dr Dimitrios Roussos (Warburg alumnus)

NUMBERS STRICTLY LIMITED. PLEASE SEND YOUR APPLICATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.