Classic Education

[barry1010]

I am very aware that my education is lacking, my secondary modern school didn't quite stretch to the Classics. I need to Google many of Colin Dexter's references in his Morse series and I'm sure many go unnoticed.
A top-class education is the only thing I envy in people but is there any way a mature adult can educate himself in Latin, Greek, Roman Mythology at home?

[Jackdaw33]

There are books available but I think the simplest thing would be just to google the classical term as and when required.

[AuntPollyGrey]

yes, the Internet .
http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/search-result/classical-studies

[davebro]

a. By reading a lot I guess.
b. If you are really serious: http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/arts/degrees/ba-classical-studies-q85

I did Latin O-level at school but it was just language rather than culture & mythology. Most of my knowledge in that regard comes from watching films like "Jason and the Argonauts" !!

[AuntPollyGrey]

I did Latin at school which was a complete waste of time except I can recite Amo,Amas,Amat etc and thats it.

[Jackdaw33]

I loved Latin and took it to A level. It is truly timeless. I can still recite by heart Horace's ode, 'O Fons Bandusiae'.

[barry1010]

The Diploma of Higher Education in Classical Studies looks very interesting. I will have to give it a lot of thought. Thanks all

[bednobs]

when there are so many things one could expand their horizons with, I honestly don't get why you'd want to improve your knowledge on a dying subject. However, if it's one that interests you I suppose that's better than studying something that doesn't interest you :)
I could recommend Stephen fry's Myths trilogy (greek)as they are a nice easy way in IMO

[davebro]

Pompeii adsum iam forti, Caesar aderat. Pompeii sed virs mi omnibus hasta sinit.

[barry1010]

Thank you, bednobs.
What subject would you choose to expand your knowledge if you had the time?

[Jackdaw33]

It's only a dying subject because education has been dumbed down. Until the 60s, unless you had O level Latin, you couldn't get in to Oxford or Cambridge, no matter how brilliant you were at your chosen subject. Boris read Classics, and look where he is now!

[carrot99]

I have always wanted to speak another language and found a very simple, free app called Duolingo. I taught myself quite a bit of Spanish vocabulary before eventually taking Spanish lessons at the local college.

You can teach yourself Latin on Duolingo. The app gets you to read, write, listen and speak but you can mute it and just do the reading and writing. They've made it simple by using pictures and very short sentences and quite often you pick the words from a selection given so less the typing.

I also found a lot of Spanish lessons on You Tube so you could try that too.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Bednobs lol! Greek mythology is hardly a dying subject. Reminds me of when I studied geology and was told its wasn't worth the paper it was written on - got me a six figure sum job in the Canadian oil fields though lol!

[Jackdaw33]

//Pompeii sed virs mi omnibus hasta sinit.\\

I remember it as 'Pompey sic in omnibus, Caesar is at'.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Oh God here we go.............

[bednobs]

I suppose I was particularly thinking of Latin (which as jack confirms is a dying subject) Maybe it'll re-surge :)
I didn't mean to be rude about your chosen subject Barry, and I find your question to me very interesting as I have never thought about it before as I NEVER have time. I am married to a "serial" learner - he is just on the cusp of finishing his second masters degree, and the same time as doing an A level in Maths. For him it's the sheer joy of learning, and he gets a bit fed up once the qualification is obtained. I have no such hankerings as life is too full of other stuff but if I were to be able to I suppose something in the physics/engineering line

[bednobs]

but that's only because it sort of aligns to my current job. If i'd managed to stay as a nurse, I wouldn't have had a clue how interesting engineering was

[woofgang]

jackdaw a friend of mine at school wanted to do Oxbridge entrance in 1969. She needed both Latin and Greek at O level. Latin was taught at my school but not greek so the classics mistress ran a class just for her.
I did basic latin but dropped it before o level as it was an elective at exam level. It was jolly useful when I went on to do anatomy at college and still is because I am a gardener.
barry I would suggest google as you go so far as Morse is concerned if that's the only reason you want to learn.

[barry1010]

I didn't think your comment rude, bednobs. Engineering is a mystery to me, and shall remain so :D
I got a degree as a mature student just because the subject interested me, I enjoyed that far more than the work-related qualifications I had to study for.
I envy your husband, an enquiring mind coupled with the dedication to study. I can think of worse hobbies

[Karolina82]

In the 1990s, when tattoos weren't as common as they are today, my friend had tattooed on to his arm, "Angus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi miserere nobis". How cool was that?

[bednobs]

I don't know as I don't know latin!