Changes

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 [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.

===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.