[Usyd_Classics_Events] CAH Research Seminar 9th March

[Tamara Neal]

Dear Friends of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Sydney,
We are delighted to invite you to the very first presentation of 2026 in the Classics and Ancient History research seminar series.

March 9th (Mon, 12.15pm UTC+11)
V. Gordon Childe Boardroom (Level 2, Madsen Building)
Chair: Dr. Eleanor Cowan

Zoom link: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/j/89574510422


Henriette van der Blom (University of Birmingham)

Valerius Maximus on maiestas: treason, res publica and public speech

Valerius Maximus’ Facta et dicta memorabilia (‘Memorable deeds and sayings’, written 27-31 CE) provides substantial material on maiestas, a loose equivalent to modern-day ‘treason’, and in highly politicised contexts. His discussions reflect both the historical situations he decides to include and the major issue of treason trials under ‘his’ emperor Tiberius, which were often invoked along political fault lines. The Tiberian treason trials also often related to allegations of speaking too freely, and Valerius’ exempla around maiestas in the republican period also include public speech or allegations of oratorical licentia. As part of a larger project on Valerius’ engagement with Roman republican speech, this presentation focuses on Valerius’ representation of maiestas in his oratorical anecdotes in order to understand his knowledge and use of republican speech as well as his understanding of political action and the remits of the state in the republican period and his own – often in conflict with Tacitus’ dominant interpretation.

Professor van der Bloom specialises in the history and political life of the Roman Republic. Her research focuses on republican politics in the City of Rome, Roman oratory, all aspects of Cicero, and Roman approaches to the past. She has a strong interest in political oratory across historical periods – including current British political speech – and is the founding director of the Network for Oratory and Politics<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/Y-NpCoV1kpfPNMXy9T1fzSpQiDa?domain=birmingham.ac.uk>.

We look forward to seeing you.

Tamara

----------------------------------------
DR TAMARA NEAL FHEA | Senior Lecturer in Ancient Greek (Education Focused) | FASS Academic Advisor | Accredited University-wide Peer Reviewer of Teaching<https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/16284/pages/12-dot-1-peer-review-of-teaching-module-overview>
President Classical Association of NSW<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/9o2_Cp81lrtOrGzRkHDh5SGtWgo?domain=classics.org.au>
Classics & Ancient History | School of Humanities│Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
[cidimage001.png at 01D70E99.9CD0BE30]  I acknowledge and pay respect to the traditional custodians of the land (the Cammeraygal and Gadigal of the Eora Nation). It is upon their ancestral lands that I live and work.
I support the University of Sydney Pride Network

CRICOS 00026A
This email plus any attachments to it are confidential. Any unauthorised use is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please delete it and any attachments.
Please think of our environment and only print this e-mail if necessary.




-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.sydney.edu.au/pipermail/usyd_classics_events/attachments/20260302/ae9cd76e/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 311 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <http://mailman.sydney.edu.au/pipermail/usyd_classics_events/attachments/20260302/ae9cd76e/attachment-0001.png>