Sydnie C
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at Yale University
Expertise
Classics, Ancient Greek, Women in Antiquity, Greco-Roman Mythology, Magic and Witchcraft in Antiquity
Bio
Χαῖρε/Salve (Hello)! I'm Sydnie, and I grew up in Los Angeles, California. I've always had such a fascination with the literature and mythology of Ancient Greece and Rome, so it felt natural for me to major in Classics at Cornell University. After I finished my undergraduate degree there in 2020, I started a PhD program in Classical Philology at Yale University. The "Philology" part of Classical Philology means I focus on reading texts, though I also love looking at artifacts and traveling around Greece visiting archaeological sites too. Some of my broader interests within antiquity include magic and witchcraft, cross-cultural interaction, the roles of women, and tragic performance. When I'm not busy readings Greek plays or Latin poetry, I like to play music, go on hikes, and learn new things. I love finding connections between the past and present and reading books inspired by mythology. I also absolutely love teaching and helping people develop their own passions--I often find that teaching others is when I learn the most myself!Project ideas
Who's the Real Hero of the Odyssey?
In this project, we'll read Homer's Odyssey and discuss what a "hero" was to the Ancient Greeks and how that definition is similar or different to a "hero" today. Then, we'll discuss all the mortals and gods who play a key role in Odysseus' journey home, and it will be up to you to decide who the real hero is. This project can be done by reading the Odyssey entirely in English translation, or, if you have prior knowledge of Ancient Greek, can be done by incorporating select key passages of the original text into our weekly readings. The final project for this could take the form of an extended essay, translation work with an accompanying thematic commentary, a youtube video, or podcast.
Writing Tragedy
In this project, we'll discuss Greek tragedy in its historical context. We'll read select plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides and explore what made their plays so enticing to ancient and modern audiences. Then, you will write your own version of a Greek tragedy. This project can be done by reading the Odyssey entirely in English translation, or, if you have prior knowledge of Ancient Greek, can be done by incorporating select key passages of the original Greek into our weekly readings. If you have prior experience in Greek composition, your own version of a Greek tragedy can be done in Greek. The final project for this could take the form of your written tragedy or a video or podcast performance of your written work.