Vilnius University Faculty of Philology

Department of Classical Philology

Head of the Department: Doz. Dr. Nijolė Juchnevičienė

Postal address:
Klasikinės filologijos katedra
Vilniaus Universitetas
Universiteto 5, LT-01513
Vilnius, Lithuania

Telephone: (+370-5) 268-72-20
(+370-5) 268-72-21
 

Electronic mail: klasik.fil@flf.vu.lt

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History of the Department

The Department of Classical Philology is the oldest department of the University. It was part of the original Jesuit College of 1570, before the University itself was founded in 1579. Here ancient Greek and Latin languages were taught and the works of the classical Greek and Roman authors were read and analysed. The methods of the College – the classes in Grammar, Poetics and Rhetoric, the lecture syllabus, and teaching techniques – survived unchanged during the whole early period of Vilnius University, until 1773.

The head of the Department of Classical Philology from 1805 to 1825 was Professor Gotfried Ernest Groddeck. Under his rule the traditional classes in the ancient Greek language, Latin language, history of Greek literature, and history of Roman literature were supplemented with new courses in ancient religion, mythology, archaeology, and numismatics.

From 1919 to 1939 there were two separate Departments of Latin and Greek Literatures in the University of Vilnius, headed respectively by Professor Jan Oko and Professor Stefan Srebrny; at the same time in the University of Vytautas the Great in Kaunas the classical philology disciplines were conducted by Professor Vladimiras Šilkarskis, Professor Pranas Brenderis and others. After the Second World War all classical philology courses were concentrated in the University of Vilnius. For fifteen years, from 1945 to 1960, the head of the Classical Philology Department was the famous Greek language and literature scholar Professor Jonas Dumčius. For many years the Fellows of the Department were Professors Merkelis Račkauskas, Benediktas Kazlauskas, Marcelinas Ročka and Leonas Valkūnas. The latter was the head of the Department from 1960 to 1976.

At present the Department consists of twenty five Fellows: Prof. Dr (Habil.) Henrikas Zabulis, Prof. Dr (Habil.) Eugenija Ulčinaitė, five Drs Dozents, one Senior Assistant and fourteen Lecturers. Since 1984 to 1999 the Head of the Department was Prof. Dr (Habil.) Eugenija Ulčinaitė. Since 1999 to 2001 the Head of the Department was Doz. Dr Dalia Staškevičienė. Since 2001 to 2006 Prof. Eugenija Ulčinaitė has again taken the office of the Head. Since September 1, 2006 the Head of the Department is Doz. Dr Nijolė Juchnevičienė.
 

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