CLASSICALIA 2024 RECAP · Torch: U.S. · Spring 2024
17
Julianna Lee, MA
Van Muller, GA
I am fascinated by the development of classical culture, especially with how it is shaped by minority groups. This summer, I was fortunate enough to travel to Greece to see the current refugee crisis firsthand, which has inspired me to research refugees and migration in antiquity, especially in comparison to the present day. I chose to focus on early Roman policy because of how much migrants shaped Roman culture during this period and how the Punic wars and the expansion of Roman culture on a large scale marked a major turning point in policy until the late Roman Empire.
2. What drew you to speak during Classicalia?
Classicalia was such a great opportunity to engage with the national JCL community. I really loved getting to meet people from across the country and show how much this wonderful organization has inspired me to learn. In addition, I really wanted to share my interest in the topic of migration during antiquity and showcase my love of the classics to an equally passionate crowd.
I ran my presentation with a focus on the role of beans in ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt! When researching Lupercalia, I found that beans were an integral part of the festivities, as they often were in many other Roman traditions and rituals. This inspired me to look into exactly how beans were viewed in three ancient civilizations, and what that might say about their differing cultures.
2. What drew you to speak during Classicalia?
What interests me most about the Classics is the
cross-cultural interactions from antiquity and their impact on the interactions of today. As MassJCL's 1st VP, I had the opportunity to run our annual Classics Day event in late November, bringing together students and professors who led workshops on the theme, "Ancient Greece, Rome, and Beyond." The presentations exposed me to many Classical topics that we don't know enough about today, from the Greco-Arabic outlook on mental illness to Nubian identity through art. When the opportunity arose to give my own presentation at NJCL Classicalia, I wanted to speak on something that I believed didn't receive enough limelight: beans, and the cross-cultural interactions that resulted from these legumes.