It seems like everyone has bones to pick with Lucretius, even his mostly-fans. Cicero was lukewarm (or was he? His judgment is famously cryptic). Early Modern Christian readers lambasted his "atheism" and its pernicious threat, while here and there imitating his poetry. Modern scientists know his physics of atoms doesn't hold up, though he still gets some credit for being ahead of his time. Rumor has it many Classics grad students these days would rather not see him on their reading lists: too alien, weird idiom, too much thinky philosophy.
In this course, we will bravely dip our toes into the De Rerum Natura to judge Lucretius for ourselves--and enjoy him! We'll survey key passages from throughout his poem that highlight its range of themes and poetic modes, including the puzzling but lyrical opening hymn to Venus, sections that retell Greek myths vividly just to criticize the traditional religion underlying them, and descriptions of Epicurus' hardly-dull atoms, wacky ideas about the origins of life, and compact analysis of human cultural evolution. Throughout our sessions, we will focus on understanding the poet's philosophical ideas and appreciating the philosopher's poetry, seeing first-hand how inseparable the two are.
Selections will be drawn from the LLPSI series' Lucretius reader, which gives us significant help understanding the text together tantum Latine and can support students' (strictly optional!) independent encounters with Lucretius outside of class.
Type: Speaking and Reading | Level: Intermediate to Advanced Speaking
Language of instruction: Latin
Class size cap: 8 | Platform: Zoom
Dates: April 4, 2026 - May 23, 2026
Meets (EST*): Saturdays, 12:00 PM | 8 sessions (1h each)
Materials: Special materials: The De Rerum Natura reader in the LLPSI series, available from Vivarium Novum
Sessions will be recorded and made available to enrolled participants for review or in case they missed a session.
Zoom
Decent internet connection
Earphones
Microphone
Webcam (preferred but optional)
A quiet space for classes
*The course will observe US time and thus will change according to daylight saving time.
Major US federal holidays are observed. If a participant misses a session due to their observance of a religious holiday, they can arrange a separate session with the instructor.
Education should be accessible. Choose the tier that fits your situation — no proof required, no shame included.
Supported — USD 200 total ($25 /hour)
for students, caretakers, or anyone stretched right now.
Standard — USD 280 total ($35 /hour)
full-value rate; covers the cost of small-group instruction.
Sustainer — USD 350 total (Standard Tier total + 25%)
full-value rate & your contribution to our LAC scholarship fund. Thank you!
It seems like everyone has bones to pick with Lucretius, even his mostly-fans. Cicero was lukewarm (or was he? His judgment is famously cryptic). Early Modern Christian readers lambasted his "atheism" and its pernicious threat, while here and there imitating his poetry. Modern scientists know his physics of atoms doesn't hold up, though he still gets some credit for being ahead of his time. Rumor has it many Classics grad students these days would rather not see him on their reading lists: too alien, weird idiom, too much thinky philosophy.
In this course, we will bravely dip our toes into the De Rerum Natura to judge Lucretius for ourselves--and enjoy him! We'll survey key passages from throughout his poem that highlight its range of themes and poetic modes, including the puzzling but lyrical opening hymn to Venus, sections that retell Greek myths vividly just to criticize the traditional religion underlying them, and descriptions of Epicurus' hardly-dull atoms, wacky ideas about the origins of life, and compact analysis of human cultural evolution. Throughout our sessions, we will focus on understanding the poet's philosophical ideas and appreciating the philosopher's poetry, seeing first-hand how inseparable the two are.
Selections will be drawn from the LLPSI series' Lucretius reader, which gives us significant help understanding the text together tantum Latine and can support students' (strictly optional!) independent encounters with Lucretius outside of class.
Type: Speaking and Reading | Level: Intermediate to Advanced Speaking
Language of instruction: Latin
Class size cap: 8 | Platform: Zoom
Dates: April 4, 2026 - May 23, 2026
Meets (EST*): Saturdays, 12:00 PM | 8 sessions (1h each)
Materials: Special materials: The De Rerum Natura reader in the LLPSI series, available from Vivarium Novum
Sessions will be recorded and made available to enrolled participants for review or in case they missed a session.
Zoom
Decent internet connection
Earphones
Microphone
Webcam (preferred but optional)
A quiet space for classes
*The course will observe US time and thus will change according to daylight saving time.
Major US federal holidays are observed. If a participant misses a session due to their observance of a religious holiday, they can arrange a separate session with the instructor.
Education should be accessible. Choose the tier that fits your situation — no proof required, no shame included.
Supported — USD 200 total ($25 /hour)
for students, caretakers, or anyone stretched right now.
Standard — USD 280 total ($35 /hour)
full-value rate; covers the cost of small-group instruction.
Sustainer — USD 350 total (Standard Tier total + 25%)
full-value rate & your contribution to our LAC scholarship fund. Thank you!
NOTA BENE: Classes require a minimum number of participants to run although they may run with fewer participants, at the instructor’s discretion.
More than a week before the start of the course: 100% refund or credit
Less than a week before the first class up until the second class: credit
