Beginning Your Research

If you are unsure where to begin, you might start by reading a quick overview on the subject in one of the encyclopedias or dictionaries, in particular the Oxford Classical Dictionary. You should also search Acorn to see what books are available in this library.

Then search for articles and books in the Classics databases. These sources index recent scholarship, and will provide references to items published on a subject, whether or not they are owned by the Vanderbilt libraries. To determine whether the library has an article, in print or online, look up the journal title (not the article title) in Acorn.

Selected Library Resources

Many sources for this field are only available in print, and may never come online. Resources for Classical Studies links to key databases, electronic journals, and Internet sites. The remainder of this guide identifies particularly significant print sources in the Central Library.

Bibliographies For Older Scholarship

• L'Année Philologique [Ref - Z 7016 M35A]
  The most comprehensive indexing source for the discpline. 1959 onwards is available on the web. Older volumes from 1924- are located in the reference collection.
   
• Year's Work in Classical Studies [Ref - PA 11 C7]
  Covers 1906-1947. Subject areas are divided into chapters, with the citations given at the end of each bibliographic essay.
   
• A Bibliographical Guide to Classical Studies [Ref - Z 6207 C65 W485 1997, 4 vols]
  A guide to monographic publications from 1873-1980. Vol 1: Literature: Accius-Aristophanes; Vol 2: Literature: Aristotle-Fulgentius; Vol 3: Literature: Gaius-Pindaros; Vol 4: Literature: Plato-Semonides of Amorgos
   
• Classical Scholarship: An Annotated Bibliography [Ref - Z 6207 C65 H34 1986]
  Chapters include bibliographies, history and criticism of Greek and Latin literature, history and influence of classical tradition, transmission (textual studies), language and grammar, music, epigraphy, political and cultural history, numismatics, art and archaeology, religion and mythology, philosophy, science and technology, teaching aids, collections. Considered an update to the following item.
   
• Introduction to Classical Scholarship: A Syllabus and Bibliographical Guide [Ref - Z 7016 M25 1961]
  The "syllabus" is intended as an overview of the nature and methodology of classical studies for a beginning graduate student. The book contains many useful citations in regards to the history and practice of classical scholarship.
   

Guides to Resources

• Classical Studies: A Guide to the Reference Literature [Ref - Z 7016 J4 1996]
  Annotated guide to bibliographic sources, information sources, and organizations. Focus is on book-length works, not articles.
   
• Dictionary of Bibliographic Abbreviations Found in the Scholarship of Classical Studies and Related Disciplines, Rev. ed. [Ref - PA 99 W44 2003]
  Provides a listing of commonly used abbreviations for journals, series, and standard works. More complete, though perhaps less convenient, than the online abbreviation sources.
   

General Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

• Oxford Classical Dictionary [Ref - DE 5 O9 2003, 3rd ed rev, and online, 1996]
  Covers all aspects of the classical world. Entries usually include bibliographic references to ancient and modern sources, so the OCD is useful as a starting point to your research. For example, information about Greek and Roman authors includes a brief list of texts, translations, commentaries, bibliographies, companions, and studies.
   
• Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization [Ref - DE 5 O946 1998, and online]
  This encyclopedia is designed to reach a wider audience than OCD, but is still considered an authoritative source since the articles are often based on those in the OCD (references to sources are made within an entry, not at the end). It is illustrated - including maps - and has a thematic listing of entries and chronologies.
   
• The New Pauly/Der Neue Pauly: Enzyklopädie der Antike [Ref - DE 5 N484 1996]
  This is the revision of the Pauly-Wissowa Real-Encyclopädie der classischen Altertumwissenschaft, the standard scholarly German work that covers all fields within classical studies. Entries are written by specialists, with extensive bibliographies.

Ancient History

• Dictionary of Ancient History [Ref - DE 5 D53 1994]
  Intended for a general reading audience, this dictionary covers all aspects of ancient history, from the years 776 BC to AD 476. Entries are signed, and there is a bibliography at the end of the volume. The appendix includes maps and genealogies.
   
• Cambridge Ancient History [Ref - D 57 C252, 3rd ed.]
  This survey of ancient history is organized chronologically and by geographical location. Essays provide overviews, including citations to other works. Maps also included.
   
• Chronology of the Ancient World [Ref - D 54.5 B5 1980]
  Contains information about calendars (Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and zodiac) and discussions of issues related to relative and applied chronology. It includes many tables and lists (such as a list of Roman emperors).
   
• Who's Who in the Greek World [Ref - DE 7 H39 2000 and Online]
  A biographical dictionary, aimed at a general reading audience, of important literary and historical figures from Homeric times to the Roman Imperial period. Some entries include a selected bibliography. A glossary, chronology, maps, and list of rulers are also included.
   
• Who's Who in the Roman World [Ref - DG 203 H39 2000]
  Aimed at a general audience, provides biographies of major figures in Roman history from the 5th century BC to AD 364. Some entries include a selected bibliography. There are maps, chronologies, and a glossary.
   
• Who Was Who in the Greek World, 776 BC - 30 BC [Ref - DF 208 W48 1982]
  A biographical dictionary of major figures in Greek history. Also includes a glossary, maps, and genealogies (called "stemmata").
   
• Who Was Who in the Roman World, 753 BC - AD 476 [Ref - DG 203 W46]
  A biographical dictionary, published in 1980, of major figures in Roman history. Includes a glossary, maps, and genealogies ("stemmata").
   

Atlases

• Atlas of the Greek World [Ref - DF 77 L43 1984]
  Maps and illustrations are organized by time period and topic. For example, there is a map of Dark Ages sites around the Aegean and an essay on the Homeric World, which is illustrated with photography and art.
   
• Atlas of the Roman World [Ref - DG 77 C597 1982]
  As with the preceding title, includes maps and illustrations organized by time period and topic. For example, includes a map of Italy during the Second Punic War in the essay on the conquest of Italy and the Mediterranean. Numerous photographs and illustrations are included.
   
• Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World [Ref Atlas - G 1033 B3 2000]
  A major recent work. The maps in this atlas are useful for the study of the ancient Greeks and Romans, as well as the lands and cultures with which they had contact in Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. Maps cover the time period from 1000 BC to AD 640.
   

Classical Philosophy

• Encyclopedia of Classical Philosophy [Ref - B 163 E53 1997]
  Entries provide biographical information about ancient philosophers and their works, as well as analysis of important movements, schools, and subjects. At the end of each entry is a brief bibliography for further reading. Also includes a chronological outline and a guide to bibliography.
   
• Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy [online, and Ref - B 51 R68 1998]
  Covers all areas of philosophy, including ancient Greek and Roman topics. Has scholarly articles on individual philosophers and concepts, as well as surveys of major themes. Many entries include selected bibliographies.
   

Classical Literature

• The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature [Ref - PA 31 H69 1989, 2nd ed]
  This encyclopedia provides overviews of authors, places, mythological and historical figures, and other topics relevant to classcial studies. Biographical information about authors is included, as well as brief plot summaries of important works. Maps and a chronological table are located at the back of the book.
   
• Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism (Gale) [Ref - PA 3001 C438]
  Poetry Criticism (Gale) [Ref - PN 1010 P499] - Homer, Martial, Ovid, Pindar, Sappho, Vergil
  Drama Criticism (Gale) [Ref - PN 1601 D59] - Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Euripides, Menander, Seneca, Sophocles, and Terence
  The Gale series provide historical surveys of critical responses to an author or work. Brief biographies and bibliographies are provided, as well as excerpts from important scholarly interpretations and commentaries. The compilations for authors and works are often updated, so check in the cumulative author or title indexes of the most recently published volume of the series you are using. These indexes may also refer you to relevant volumes in other Gale series. Warning: citing directly from these excerpts is not advised because reading only a portion of a longer work may not give you a sense of the entire critical argument. Use these excerpts as you would abstracts: to help you decide if you want to track down the complete original article or book.
   
• Ancient Writers: Greece and Rome [Ref - PA 3002 A5 1982, 2 v.]
  Provides essays on 47 major authors: biographical information, a critical assessment of their works, and selected bibliography (e.g. texts, translations, commentaries, grammars, concordances, indexes, lexicons, bibliographies, and selected literary studies).
   
• Greek and Latin Authors, 800 BC - AD 1000 [Ref - PA 31 G7]
  This handbook, published in 1980, focuses on the approximately 370 major authors fromn 800 BC to AD 1000. Each entry contains biographical information and summaries of his work. At the end of the entry, you will find a brief list of works, editions (and those with translations), and "works about" the author.
   
• Greek and Roman Authors: A Checklist of Criticism [Ref - Z 7016 G9 1982, 2nd ed.]
  Includes citations to books and articles, organized under general works, then alphabetically by author (including some early medieval authors). Within each author's section, citations are grouped under the headings of general studies and then by specific texts.
   
• Crowell's Handbook of Classical Literature [Ref - PA 31 F4]
  This handbook, published in 1964, provides overviews of authors, works, and major characters and deities. It is aimed at a general reading audience who might want a plot summary or help identifying a classical allusion.
   
• Crowell's Handbook of Classical Drama [Ref - PA 3024 H35]
  Aimed at a general reading audience, this handbook provides information about authors and plays, as well as myths - with a focus on how the myth appears in drama rather than in other genres; proper names; and places mentioned.
   
• The Classical Epic: An Annotated Bibliography [Ref - Z 7018 E63 S55 1991]
  Begins with a section of general studies on the epic form, then sections for Homer and Vergil. Citations in these author sections include texts, important topics, literary studies, and influence.
   
• The Classical World Bibliography of Greek Drama and Poetry [Ref - Z 7023 D7 1977]
  Reprints of bibliographic surveys from Classical World from 1953 to 1976. Some surveys are lists of citations, while others are annotated. Date ranges for the scholarship vary.
   
• The Classical World Bibliography of Roman Drama and Poetry and Ancient Fiction [Ref - Z 7026 C53]
  Published in 1978. Reprints bibliographic surveys from Classical World.
   

Language Dictionaries

• Greek-English Lexicon [Ref - PA 445 E5 L6]
  The standard Liddell and Scott dictionary published by Oxford.
   
• A Latin Dictionary [Ref - PA 2365 E5 A7 1969]
  The standard Lewis and Short dictionary published by Oxford.
   

Classical Mythology and Art

• Cassell Dictionary of Classical Mythology [Ref - BL 715 M37 1998]
  An illustrated dictionary of mythological characters that summarizes the myths but includes major variants. Entries include citations to classical texts. At the end of the book are maps, genealogies, and a 1 page "Select Bibliography".
   
• Oxford Guide to Classical Mythology in the Arts, 1300-1990s [Ref - NX 650 M9 R45 1993, 2 vols]
  A catalog that attempts to trace depictions of mythological figures and themes, from the late Middle Ages to the present, in many countries and media (including music and dance). Each entry contains a brief description of a figure or theme with a list of classical sources, followed by a list of authors and artists with a citation to the artistic work that includes information such as the museum holding the piece, titles of poems or plays, or performance information.
   
• Guide to Research in Classical Art and Mythology [8th Floor Arts - N 7760 V3 1991]
  This guide to reference materials covers all aspects of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman art, architecture, sculpture, vases, gems, coins, and interior decoration. Also includes a section on mythology in literature and art.
   

Guides to Translations

• Oxford Guide to Literature in English Translation [Ref - PR 131 O94 2000]
  Use this work to help you decide what might be the best and most reliable translation of a foreign-language work into English. Part I contains an overview of the theories of translation, history, and text types, presented in the form of essays signed by scholars in the field. A short list of general works for further reading is provided. Part II contains evaluative descriptions of translations into English of writing from around the world, including classical literature. Chapters are arranged by geographical area and/or language groups.
   
• Encyclopedia of Literary Translations into English [Ref - PN 241 E56 2000, 2 vols]
  Provides entries on individual authors, with a brief biography, bibliographic citations of important translations, evaluative analysis of translations of "historic interest", and a list for further reading. Not a comprehensive source, but useful for identifying major translations of major works.
   
• The Classics in Translation: An Annotated Guide to the Best Translations of the Greek and Latin Classics into English [Ref - Z 7018 T7 E87 1968]
  Includes surveys of the theory and history of translation, beginning with the Tudors (English Renaissance) up to the 1960s. The Greek and Roman authors, including some patristic and early medieval authors, are arranged in alphabetical order.
   

Finding Standard Critical Editions

Classicists place great emphasis on using the most authoritative text for a work in Greek or Latin. Such an edition is one based on a scholarly examination of the manuscript tradition in order to find the most accurate renderings of the text as possible. This text usually has alternative readings of words and lines either at the bottom of the page or in an appendix.

Often the standard edition is in the Oxford Classical Text series. You can search in Acorn for the author or title, and look for the Scriptorum classicorum bibliotheca Oxoniensis as the name of the series in the full record. Another authoritative series is published by Teubner (series name: Bibliotheca scriptorum Graecorum et Romanorum Teubneriana.)

You can find the standard critical edition listed at the end of the Oxford Classical Dictionary entry for that author.

Another commonly used series of classical texts is that of the Loeb Classical Library series. These editions may be critical editions, but this series is best known for the facing page translation (which often emphasizes literal accuracy over readability). If you wish a more readable, literary translation, check the "Guides to Translations" sources mentioned above.

Created by Martha Kallstrom, updated by Janice Adlington
August 2004