Reception history Classical Antiquity is more than a dessert

Dr. Susanna de Beer has been appointed Professor of the Reception of Classical Antiquity at the Faculty of Arts, effective October 1st of this year. She is currently Head of Antiquity and Classical Reception and Vice-Director of the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome (KNIR).

Our current Western world is largely shaped by ideas and stories that originate in classical antiquity. This partly explains why it remains interesting to study that antiquity and to continually reassess how we relate to that history. But it is equally interesting to study why classical antiquity has been so influential for so long.

De Beer: "Reception studies are more than just a tasty dessert. They're not meant to put antiquity on a pedestal, but rather to show why this has happened time and again, and who has benefited from it. The way we teach antiquity in secondary school and university is itself part of this history. This historical awareness is fundamental to being able to critically examine the field."

The chair can also contribute to societal debate. De Beer: "In my current research, I examine the myth of the return of the Golden Age and the use of nostalgia in political propaganda throughout history. In addition, as part of a RUG-KNIR research project, I'm studying the role of classical models and ideas in settler colonialism. These are all themes that are relevant today."

Interdisciplinary work

"Reception studies help us understand how powerful these myths and ideas can be. I enjoy discussing with colleagues how we should deal with this in the present. And I don't just mean colleagues at GLTC or Ancient History." De Beer wants to emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration in the coming years, just as he does at the KNIR. "I'd like to bring together as many disciplines as possible in this chair. From archaeology to art history and from language and cultural studies to philosophy and religion, we all face similar questions."

Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut in Rome

This academic year, De Beer completes a four-year term at the KNIR (Royal Dutch Research Institute), which has a long history of high-quality research and education in the humanities. The KNIR is a collaboration between six Dutch universities and is managed by the University of Groningen (UG). Starting next academic year, Dr. Susanna de Beer will combine her position as endowed professor at the UG with her appointment as associate professor at Leiden University.

The chair was established on behalf of the Nederlands Klassiek Verbond, an association for anyone interested in Greco-Roman antiquity, classical languages, archaeology, and history. The Stichting Leerstoel NKV aims to promote research and education in the field of reception history of classical antiquity.