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'''Classics''' or '''Classical Studies''' is the branch of the [[Humanities]] dealing with the [[language]]s, [[literature]], [[history]], [[art]], and other aspects of the ancient [[Mediterranean]] world; especially [[Ancient Greece]] and [[Ancient Rome]] during the time known as [[classical antiquity]], roughly spanning from the Ancient Greek [[Bronze Age]] in 1000 [[BCE]] to the [[Dark Ages]] circa [[Common Era|CE]] 500. The study of the Classics was the initial field of study in the humanities.  The word "Classics" also refers to the literature of that period.

'''Classics''' or '''Classical Studies''' is the branch of the [[Humanities]] dealing with the [[language]]s, [[literature]], [[history]], [[art]], and other aspects of the ancient [[Mediterranean]] world; especially [[Ancient Greece]] and [[Ancient Rome]] during the time known as [[classical antiquity]], roughly spanning from the Ancient Greek [[Bronze Age]] in 1000 [[BCE]] to the [[Dark Ages]] circa [[Common Era|CE]] 500. The study of the Classics was the initial field of study in the humanities.  The word "Classics" also refers to the literature of that period.

The word "classics" is derived from the [[Latin]] [[adjective]] ''classicus'' meaning "belonging to the highest class of citizens," and has further connotations of superiority, authority, and [[perfectionism|perfection]]. The first, recorded use of the word "classics" was by [[Aulus Gellius]], a [[second century]] Roman author who, in his [[miscellany]] ''Noctes Atticae'' (19, 8, 15), refers to ''classicus scriptor, non proletarius''. He ranked writers per the classification of the Roman taxation classes.

The word "classics" is derived from the [[Latin]] [[adjective]] ''classicus'' meaning "belonging to the highest class of citizens," and has further connotations of superiority, authority, and [[perfectionism|perfection]]. The first, recorded use of the word "classics" was by [[Aulus Gellius]], a [[second century]] Roman author who, in his [[miscellany]] ''Noctes Atticae'' (19, 8, 15), refers to ''classicus scriptor, non proletarius''. He ranked writers per the classification of the Roman taxation classes.

This method was started when the Greeks were constantly ranking their cultural work. The word they used was ''[[wikt:canon|canon]]''; ancient Greek for a carpenter's rule. Moreover, early [[Christianity|Christian]] Church Fathers used this term to classify authoritative texts of the [[New Testament]]. This rule further helped in the preservation of works since writing platforms of vellum and papyrus and methods of reproduction was not cheap. The title of ''canon'' placed on a work meant that it would be more easily preserved for future generations. In modern times, a [[Western canon]] was collated that defined the best of [[Western culture]].  

This method was started when the Greeks were constantly ranking their cultural work. The word they used was ''[[canon]]''; ancient Greek for a carpenter's rule. Moreover, early [[Christianity|Christian]] Church Fathers used this term to classify authoritative texts of the [[New Testament]]. This rule further helped in the preservation of works since writing platforms of vellum and papyrus and methods of reproduction was not cheap. The title of ''canon'' placed on a work meant that it would be more easily preserved for future generations. In modern times, a [[Western canon]] was collated that defined the best of [[Western culture]].  

At the Alexandrian Library, the ancient scholars coined another term for canonized authors, ''hoi enkrithentes''; "the admitted" or "the included."  

At the Alexandrian Library, the ancient scholars coined another term for canonized authors, ''hoi enkrithentes''; "the admitted" or "the included."  

Classical studies incorporate a certain type of methodology. The rule of the classical world and of Christian culture and society was Philo's rule:  

Classical studies incorporate a certain type of methodology. The rule of the classical world and of Christian culture and society was Philo's rule:  

:"Philo's rule dominated Greek culture, from Homer to Neo-Platonism and the Christian Fathers of late antiquity. The rule is: "μεταχαραττε το θειον νομισμα" ("metacharatte to theion nomisma"). It is the law of strict continuity. We preserve and do not throw away words or ideas. Words and ideas may grow in meaning but must stay within the limits of the original meaning and concept that the word has."{{Fact|date=April 2007}}

:"Philo's rule dominated Greek culture, from Homer to Neo-Platonism and the Christian Fathers of late antiquity. The rule is: "μεταχαραττε το θειον νομισμα" ("metacharatte to theion nomisma"). It is the law of strict continuity. We preserve and do not throw away words or ideas. Words and ideas may grow in meaning but must stay within the limits of the original meaning and concept that the word has."

Classical education was considered the best training for implanting the life of moral excellence [[arete (excellence)|arete]], hence a good citizen. It furnished students with intellectual and aesthetic appreciation for "the best which has been thought and said in the world." Edward Copleston, an Oxford classicist, said that classical education "communicates to the mind...a high sense of honour, a disdain of death in a good cause, (and) a passionate devotion to the welfare of one's country." Edward Copleston, in ''The Victorians and Ancient Greece,'' Richard Jenkyns, 60. [[Cicero]] commented, "All literature, all philosophical treatises, all the voices of antiquity are full of examples for imitation, which would all lie unseen in darkness without the light of literature."

Classical education was considered the best training for implanting the life of moral excellence [[arete (excellence)|arete]], hence a good citizen. It furnished students with intellectual and aesthetic appreciation for "the best which has been thought and said in the world." Edward Copleston, an Oxford classicist, said that classical education "communicates to the mind...a high sense of honour, a disdain of death in a good cause, (and) a passionate devotion to the welfare of one's country." Edward Copleston, in ''The Victorians and Ancient Greece,'' Richard Jenkyns, 60. [[Cicero]] commented, "All literature, all philosophical treatises, all the voices of antiquity are full of examples for imitation, which would all lie unseen in darkness without the light of literature."

===[[Philology]]===

===[[Philology]]===

Traditionally, classics was essentially the [[philology]] of ancient texts. Although now less dominant, philology retains a central role. One definition of classical philology describes it as "the science which concerns itself with everything that has been transmitted from antiquity in the [[ancient Greek|Greek]] or [[classical Latin|Latin]] language. The object of this science is thus the Graeco-Roman, or Classical, world to the extent that it has left behind monuments in a linguistic form." J. and K. Kramer, ''La filologia classica'', 1979 as quoted by [Christopher S. Mackay [http://www.ualberta.ca/~csmackay/Philology.html]. Of course, classicists also concern themselves with other languages than Classical Greek and Latin including [[Linear A]], [[Linear B]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Oscan]], [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]], and many more. Before the invention of the [[printing press]], texts were reproduced by hand and distributed haphazardly. As a result, extant versions of the same text often differ from one another. Some classical philologists, known as textual critics, seek to synthesize these defective texts to find the most accurate version.

Traditionally, classics was essentially the [[philology]] of ancient texts. Although now less dominant, philology retains a central role. One definition of classical philology describes it as "the science which concerns itself with everything that has been transmitted from antiquity in the [[ancient Greek|Greek]] or [[classical Latin|Latin]] language. The object of this science is thus the Graeco-Roman, or Classical, world to the extent that it has left behind monuments in a linguistic form." J. and K. Kramer, ''La filologia classica'', 1979 as quoted by [Christopher S. Mackay [https://www.ualberta.ca/~csmackay/Philology.html]. Of course, classicists also concern themselves with other languages than Classical Greek and Latin including [[Linear A]], [[Linear B]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Oscan]], [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]], and many more. Before the invention of the [[printing press]], texts were reproduced by hand and distributed haphazardly. As a result, extant versions of the same text often differ from one another. Some classical philologists, known as textual critics, seek to synthesize these defective texts to find the most accurate version.

===[[Archaeology]]===

===[[Archaeology]]===

Thanks to popular culture, such as the movie ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'', classical [[archaeology]] is often seen as very exciting. Philologists rely on archaeological excavation, so that they may study the literary and linguistic culture of the ancient world. Likewise, archaeologists may rely on the philological study of literature in order to contextualize the excavated remains of the classical civilizations of [[Mesopotamia]], [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]], Greece, and Rome. The artifacts they find are key to all the other sub-disciplines and help provide new evidence for the understanding of the ancient world.

Thanks to popular culture, such as the movie ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'', classical [[archaeology]] is often seen as very exciting. Philologists rely on archaeological excavation, so that they may study the literary and linguistic culture of the ancient world. Likewise, archaeologists may rely on the philological study of literature in order to contextualize the excavated remains of the classical civilizations of [[Mesopotamia]], [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]], Greece, and Rome. The artifacts they find are key to all the other sub-disciplines and help provide new evidence for the understanding of the ancient world.

Some classicists use the information gathered through philology, archaeology, and art history to seek an understanding of the history, culture, and civilization. They critically use the literary and physical artifacts to create and refine a narrative of the ancient world. Unfortunately, imbalances in the evidence available often leave a huge vacuum of information about certain classes of people. Thus, classicists are now working to fill in these gaps as much as possible to get an understanding of the lives of ancient women, slaves, and the lower classes. Other problems include the under-representation in the evidence of entire cultures. For example, [[Sparta]] was one of the leading [[city-state]]s of Greece, but little evidence of it has survived for classicists to study. That which has survived has generally come from their key rival, [[Athens]]. Likewise, the domination and the expansion of the [[Roman Empire]] reduced much of the evidence of earlier civilizations like the [[Etruscans]].

Some classicists use the information gathered through philology, archaeology, and art history to seek an understanding of the history, culture, and civilization. They critically use the literary and physical artifacts to create and refine a narrative of the ancient world. Unfortunately, imbalances in the evidence available often leave a huge vacuum of information about certain classes of people. Thus, classicists are now working to fill in these gaps as much as possible to get an understanding of the lives of ancient women, slaves, and the lower classes. Other problems include the under-representation in the evidence of entire cultures. For example, [[Sparta]] was one of the leading [[city-state]]s of Greece, but little evidence of it has survived for classicists to study. That which has survived has generally come from their key rival, [[Athens]]. Likewise, the domination and the expansion of the [[Roman Empire]] reduced much of the evidence of earlier civilizations like the [[Etruscans]].

===[[Philosophy]]===

===[[Ancient Philosophy]]===

The roots of [[Western philosophy]] lie in the study of the classics. The very word [[philosophy]] is Greek in origin—a term coined by Pythagoras to describe the "love of wisdom." It is not surprising, then, that many classicists study the wealth of philosophical works surviving from Roman and [[Greek authors|Greek philosophy]]. Among the most formidable and lasting of these thinkers are [[Socrates]], [[Plato]], [[Aristotle]], and the [[Stoics]].

The roots of [[Western philosophy]] lie in the study of the classics. The very word [[philosophy]] is Greek in origin—a term coined by Pythagoras to describe the "love of wisdom." It is not surprising, then, that many classicists study the wealth of philosophical works surviving from Roman and [[Greek authors|Greek philosophy]]. Among the most formidable and lasting of these thinkers are [[Socrates]], [[Plato]], [[Aristotle]], and the [[Stoics]].