Postgate Lecture: Professor Denis Feeney
Central Teaching Hub, Lecture Theatre A, The University of Liverpool, L697BX
Tuesday 8th December 2026 5:15PM
The Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology at the University of Liverpool is delighted to announce our Postgate Lecture for 2026-27, open to the public and to members of the University. This year’s lecture will be given by Professor Denis Feeney (Princeton University). The title will be:
“Religion and the citizenship in the Roman middle republic”
Lecture Summary: In the aftermath of the “Latin War” of 341-338 BC the Romans systematically rethought their relations with their neighbours, and in the process reconceived their citizenship. The talk will address the role of religion in the decisions they took over the citizenship in these years, highlighting how central participation in cult was to the Roman state and to the citizenry that comprised that state.
The lecture will take place on Tuesday 8 December at 5 for 5.15 pm, Lecture Theatre A, Central Teaching Hub. This venue is Building 221 on the campus map:
https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/files/docs/maps/liverpool-university-campus-map.pdf
After the lecture, there will be a drinks reception open to all those attending: please sign up here on Ticketsource in order that we can plan for catering.
Denis Feeney FBA is Giger Professor of Latin Emeritus at Princeton University. He has published widely on Latin literature and on Roman culture more broadly, including Roman religion and time. His extensive publications include books on The Gods in Epic, Literature and Religion at Rome, Caesar’s Calendar: Ancient Time and the Beginnings of History, Beyond Greek: The Beginnings of Latin Literature, as well as the two volumes of his Explorations in Latin Literature.
The annual Postgate Lecture series is supported by the University of Liverpool's Postgate endowment, funded by a generous bequest from Professor John Percival Postgate (1853–1926), Professor of Latin at the University of Liverpool from 1909 to 1920. Postgate is remembered for his lasting work in Latin textual criticism and for his editing of the corpus of Latin poets: he was also a key founding figure in the activities of the Classical Association. His bequest to the University continues to support not only the Postgate Lecture, but also other classical activities undertaken in the Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology.
“Religion and the citizenship in the Roman middle republic”
Lecture Summary: In the aftermath of the “Latin War” of 341-338 BC the Romans systematically rethought their relations with their neighbours, and in the process reconceived their citizenship. The talk will address the role of religion in the decisions they took over the citizenship in these years, highlighting how central participation in cult was to the Roman state and to the citizenry that comprised that state.
The lecture will take place on Tuesday 8 December at 5 for 5.15 pm, Lecture Theatre A, Central Teaching Hub. This venue is Building 221 on the campus map:
https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/files/docs/maps/liverpool-university-campus-map.pdf
After the lecture, there will be a drinks reception open to all those attending: please sign up here on Ticketsource in order that we can plan for catering.
Denis Feeney FBA is Giger Professor of Latin Emeritus at Princeton University. He has published widely on Latin literature and on Roman culture more broadly, including Roman religion and time. His extensive publications include books on The Gods in Epic, Literature and Religion at Rome, Caesar’s Calendar: Ancient Time and the Beginnings of History, Beyond Greek: The Beginnings of Latin Literature, as well as the two volumes of his Explorations in Latin Literature.
The annual Postgate Lecture series is supported by the University of Liverpool's Postgate endowment, funded by a generous bequest from Professor John Percival Postgate (1853–1926), Professor of Latin at the University of Liverpool from 1909 to 1920. Postgate is remembered for his lasting work in Latin textual criticism and for his editing of the corpus of Latin poets: he was also a key founding figure in the activities of the Classical Association. His bequest to the University continues to support not only the Postgate Lecture, but also other classical activities undertaken in the Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology.
Event Details
Doors Open at 5:00PM
Starts at 5:15PM
