In this series of lectures, Professor Oakley will develop themes including the limits of the genealogical method; how one can derive one manuscript (or incunable) from another; the selection of the most authoritative witnesses for use by editors; and the geographical spread of the extant witnesses to a text. Textual traditions discussed in detail will include those of Julius Caesar, Catullus, and Saint Cyprian.
Following the series, recordings of the lectures will be available on the Lyell Lectures series page.
Lecture 1: The transmission of Julius Caesar’s Civil War
Tuesday 23 April 2024, 5.15–6.15pm
Lecture 2: The transmission of the Corpus Cyprianum and Pontius’ Life of Cyprian
Thursday 25 April 2024, 5.15–6.15pm
Lecture 3: Cross-fertilization and the limits of the genealogical method: the case of Catullus
Tuesday 30 April 2024, 5.15–6.15pm
Lecture 4: What happens when incunables replace manuscripts?
Tuesday 7 May 2024, 5.15–6.15pm
Lecture 5: Some generalizations about the shape and geographical spread of Latin textual traditions
Thursday 9 May 2024, 5.15–6.35pm
Stephen Oakley is Kennedy Professor of Latin and Fellow of Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge. His principal publications include The hill-forts of the Samnites (London, 1995), A commentary on Livy, books vi–x (Oxford, 1997–2005, 4 vols), Studies in the transmission of Latin texts, volume 1 (Oxford, 2020) and 2 (Oxford 2023). He is an Editor of Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics and Cambridge Classical Texts and Commentaries.
This lecture series takes place in person at the Sir Victor Blank Lecture Theatre, Weston Library.
Weston Library, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BG | Find us on Google Maps
You must register in advance to attend. Please book one ticket per person: your ticket will cover all of the lectures in the series, and you can attend as many as you wish. Book now.
The Weston Library is wheelchair-accessible.
