Gordon Kelly

Gordon Kelly is an Associate Professor with term in Humanities and Department Chair of Classics. He received a Ph. D. in Classical Studies from Bryn Mawr College in 1999, with a concentration in Ancient History. He has taught courses on Latin and Greek language and literature, Roman and Greek History, Classical Mythology, Roman Law, and the family in the Roman World. Professor Kelly’s research has focused on the connection of politics, law, and social history in the Roman Republic, and he is the author of the forthcoming book, A History of Exile in the Roman Republic (Cambridge University Press). He is also interested in how ancient military practices reflect the social ideals of the Greco-Roman world, and has served as a rower on the reconstructed ancient Greek warship Olympias during three sea-trials in the 1990s.

Specialty

Latin and Greek language and literature, Roman and Greek history

Academic Credentials

PhD 1999, MA 1993 Bryn Mawr College

BA 1991 Rutgers University

BA 1985 Villanova University

Teaching

Spring 2025 Courses

GRK 102: Classical Greek
MWF 9:10am - 10:10am
Beginning classical Greek. Emphasis on basic vocabulary and grammar necessary to read classical texts and writings from the Hellenistic period. Conversational and modern Greek not covered. May be used toward the world languages requirement.

HIST 216: Ancient Greece
MWF 12:40pm - 1:40pm
An introduction to the history and civilization of Ancient Greece, from the early Archaic era in mid-eighth-century B.C. to the death of Socrates in 399 B.C. Topics include constitutional changes from monarchy through oligarchy and tyranny to democracy, the development of the Greek polis, contacts with Near Eastern civilizations, hegemony and imperialism, social structure, trade, and colonization. Readings will focus on ancient historical writings in translation and will highlight the challenges in interpreting evidence from antiquity.

LATN 202: Virgil’s Aeneid
MWF 10:20am - 11:20am
Readings in advanced Latin. Emphasis on reading Latin texts of the classical period. May be repeated once with a change of topic. (See registrar’s office for assistance with registering for a second iteration.)