Jay Fisher
Assistant Professor
He is the author of several articles on these two topics and of The Annals of Quintus Ennius and the Italic Tradition (now under contract at the Johns Hopkins University Press). His current project is a study of Greek myth in the literature of the Roman Republic.
Selected Recent Publications
- 2011
"Indo-European Linguistics" (an entry in the Oxford Bibliography Online series)
Forthcoming Publications
- "Visus Homerus Adesse Poeta: The Annals of Quintus Ennius and the Odyssey of
Homer" to appear in Classical World (Fall 2012) - The Annals of Quintus Ennius and the Italic Tradition (under contract at Johns Hopkins University Press)
- "Deny Thy Pater: The Reception of Ennius in Silver Latin Epic" (invited contribution to The Blackwell Companion to Latin Epic 14-96 CE)
featured Courses This Year
Latin 131
Introduction to Latin Prose
Latin 131 is an intermediate course designed to introduce students to the continuous reading of Latin prose. Although the course emphasizes the review of Latin grammar and syntax in the context of reading, a solid foundation in Latin is required and some experience with connected readings is expected. Because Latin 131 builds upon the skills and knowledge introduced in Latin 110 and 120, students should have taken either this year-long sequence or (a) comparable course(s). If you are uncertain whether this is an appropriate level course, please contact the instructor.
Over the course of study, students work to develop their reading proficiency and gain exposure to Latin prose, beginning with Julius Caesar’s Comentarii de bello Gallico. Class time is devoted to reviewing individual translations, grammar and syntax, sight-reading, and exploring more broadly Latin prose authors and their texts. Students who successfully finish Latin 131 will be prepared for “Latin 141: Latin Poetry — An Introduction” or for more advanced courses in Latin prose.
Back to featured courses
LATN 491/791
Comparative Grammar of Latin
MW 4:00–5:15
In 1977 excavators found the stone above in the ruins of a town in what was once ancient Latium. As we know, the Latin language is not only the language of Rome but also of ancient Latium. This inscription, however, is not anything like the Latin you may have read in other courses. Is it actually written in Latin? In this course you will learn what language it is written in, how we know that and why it is important.
In the process you will come to know and love many other inscriptions and texts like this one, learn the histories of words in English, Latin and other languages and better understand what it was like to be a Roman before there was a Roman Empire.
