Luther College Classics Department

10/13/2023

Heading (e-hem) here in January with a class of Luther students. Can't wait!

In the colossal, cathedral sized water tank beneath the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, several heads of Medusa have been used as pillar bases for the past 1.500 years. It is not entirely known where the heads came from, but they were believed to be taken from some other Roman ruin. The heads are upside down or sideways to inhibit the power of the Gorgon Medusa's gaze.

The water tank's existence was forgotten for hundreds of years, despite being beneath the Hagia Sophia. When it was rediscovered, explorers found fish inside of it.

02/21/2023

02/18/2023

Proponents of the teaching method argue that it encourages engagement with the language and the ancient past

02/02/2023

Canal to carry water. The era of the Roman Empire. The city of Patara (Turkish) is one of the commercial and maritime centers of the Eastern Mediterranean. The canal was 22.5 km long during the reign of the Roman Emperor. (Claudius) 10BC ~ 54 AD

02/01/2023

We're recruiting now for Luther's Malta & the Mediterranean program in spring, 2024. I'll be directing it and leading student tours around the Mediterranean. The deadline for applying is March 1st, which is just a month away. This is an exciting opportunity to live and study in this amazing country, which is steeped in history and lodged midway between three continents. Email me for more information: [email protected].

12/22/2022

12/21/2022

12/20/2022

Roman mosaic discovered in 2021 in Hvar, Croatia. It lies less than one foot below the modern foundations.
IMAGE: Stari Grad Museum.