Institute of Classical Studies (ICS)

Description

The Institute of Classical Studies (ICS) was established in 1953 as a collaboration between the University of London's Senate and the Hellenic and Roman Societies. In 1958, the Institute and the two Societies moved from their previous headquarters at 50 Bedford Square to purpose-built premises at 31-34 Gordon Square. For nearly 40 years, this address held the esteemed status of being recognised as the national headquarters of the classical studies profession.

Since its inception, the Institute of Classical Studies has been devoted to promoting research on the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean and neighbouring regions. This encompasses various disciplines, including languages and literature, art and archaeology, history, and philosophy, spanning from prehistory to Late Antiquity.

Throughout the academic year, the Institute organises an extensive Events programme, featuring seminars, guest lectures, and conferences with distinguished speakers from the UK and around the world. It also publishes the twice-yearly journal BICS, available in both print and online formats, as well as an important series of monographs known as BICS Supplements.

The Institute actively supports multiple Research Projects and is committed to providing valuable research training for postgraduate students. It offers teaching for several modules within the Intercollegiate MA programme and provides supervision for PhD students. Additionally, the Institute houses one of the world's leading research libraries, developed in close collaboration with the Societies for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies and Roman Studies. Its location in Senate House, situated in the heart of Bloomsbury, facilitates close cooperation with other parts of the University of London, as well as the British Library and the British Museum.

As one of the eight member Institutes of the University of London's School of Advanced Study, the ICS actively contributes to the promotion, facilitation, and practice of research and scholarship in various aspects of the Humanities.

The Institute of Classical Studies is home to several significant archives, including the Ventris Papers, Mycenaean Seminar Archive, and Theatre Archive.

Currently, the Institute is engaged in two long-running research projects. The Ancient Theatre Project aims to identify and catalogue the extensive archaeological and iconographic evidence related to Greek and Roman drama. The project's findings have been published in a series of BICS Supplements, and efforts to digitise the Theatre Archive are well underway.

Aegean seals and sealings, with over 10,000 extant examples spanning more than 1500 years, offer valuable insights into the Greek Bronze Age. The Aegean Seals Project seeks to facilitate study in this rich field and has provided support for work on the seals' database, accessible through ARACHNE. The Institute is also actively collaborated on the Naukratis Project.

Since 2017, the ICS/SAS, in partnership with the Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies, has directed the Prosopography of the Byzantine World project. This national undertaking aims to create an analytical prosopography of individuals active in the Byzantine world. Over the past decade, the project has focused on the eleventh and twelfth centuries (1025-1180).

Digital methods play a crucial role in fulfilling the ICS and SAS's national and global objectives. Electronic media are integral to their publication operations, ensuring widespread accessibility to events and promoting engagement with the public. Digital infrastructure supports the provision of resources to the national community, training in and promotion of best practices in digital methods, and the development of the Combined Library. The ICS also takes on the responsibility of coordinating Digital Humanities research in Classics, fostering national and international collaborations, and curating their outputs. Notable initiatives include the 3D Lab, EpiDoc, Linked Open Data, Digital Classics Advisory Committee, Digital Classicist seminar, The Stoa: a Blog for Digital Classics, and Digital Humanities

Offers funding

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Founding year

1953

Contact details

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University affiliation(s)

University of London
Senate House
Malet St
London
WC1E 7HU

Partner Infrastructures

Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies

The Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies was established in 1983, with the object of furthering study and knowledge of the history and culture, language and literature of the Byzantine Empir… read more about Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies

University Of St. Andrews
Medieval History Department
69-71 South Street
St. Andrews
KY16 9QW
United Kingdom

Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies

The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies, generally known as the Hellenic Society, was founded in 1879 to advance the study of Greek language, literature, history, art and archaeology in the … read more about Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies

University Of London
Senate House
Malet Street
London
WC1E 7HU
United Kingdom

Digital Humanities Research Hub (DHRH), London

The Digital Humanities Research Hub (DHRH) at SAS is a leading centre for digital research in the School of Advanced Study. Its interdisciplinary team comprises academics from various disciplines, inc… read more about Digital Humanities Research Hub (DHRH), London

University Of London
Senate House
Malet Street
London
WC1E 7HU
United Kingdom

Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies (SPRS)

The Roman Society was founded in 1910 to advance the understanding of ancient Rome and the Roman Empire. Today the Roman Society has almost 2,000 members worldwide and is the leading organisation for … read more about Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies (SPRS)

University Of London
Senate House
Malet Street
London
WC1E 7HU
United Kingdom

Senate House MakerSpace

The MakerSpace is a shared space for digitisation and experimentation. Located in Senate House, it provides facilities for knowledge exchange, capacity building and training within and beyond the Scho… read more about Senate House MakerSpace

WC1E 7HU
United Kingdom