Prof Vasti Roodt, Dean of Arts and Social Sciences, invites you to join us as we celebrate this milestone in the academic journey of  Prof Philip Bosman.

?Date: Thursday 18 September 2025
Time: 17:30 SAST
Venue: Jannasch Hall, SU Conservatorium, 45 Victoria Street, Stellenbosch, 7600

Click here to RSVP for in-person attendance.
(RSVP by 15 September – limited seating available.)

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(Livestreaming starting at 17:30)

The Greeks and us: ancient texts in the academic quest

In his inaugural lecture, Prof Philip Bosman explores the role of classical philology, particularly ancient Greek philology, within the modern tertiary education landscape. He revisits his 2012 lecture on the concept of the “School of Athens" as reflected in Pericles' funeral oration (a tribute to Athenian democracy), Raphael's iconic Vatican painting (an idealised depiction of intellectual harmony), and John Henry Newman's vision of universities as institutions for cultivating the intellect. Since Newman's time, the humanities disciplines have matured to independence from their metropolis. While Altertumswissenschaft, or the study of antiquity, could at the dawn of the 20th century still be hailed as the “queen of the sciences", it found itself increasingly isolated in a tertiary education environment progressively driven by utilitarian priorities. Over the past five decades, the study of Greco-Roman antiquity has faced persistent challenges and intense self-scrutiny. In South Africa, the elimination of Latin as a requirement for legal studies dealt a significant blow to Classics, leading to a decline in departments nationwide. More recently, the discipline has encountered two additional pressures: its perceived association with outdated ideologies, and the growing emphasis on national interests over a universalist view of humanity. These challenges are compounded by the rise of the corporate university, where centralised objectives often leave scholars dedicated to formative disciplines with a sense of alienation.

Despite these and other difficulties, the study of antiquity in all its facets has demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability. At Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 and other institutions, strategies such as offering courses on the ancient world without ancient language requirements, and consolidating independent disciplines into broader programmes, such as Ancient Cultures, have alleviated some of the pressure. However, significant hurdles remain, notably a widespread lack of understanding – even among humanities scholars – of what Classical Philology entails. Yet the discipline offers unique rewards: the opportunity to engage with some of the most influential and captivating works of literature ever written, and to contribute to the ongoing revitalisation of our understanding of the ancient world.

In the remainder of his address, Prof Bosman explores three areas of his current research to illustrate the tension that scholars of antiquity face in balancing contextual relevance with contributions to the global academic discourse. The three research areas are reconstructing a contemporary source on Alexander the Great, examining the reception of Cynic philosophy in the early Roman Empire, and analysing how the governance structures of Late Antiquity addressed population wellbeing. He concludes by proposing strategies to integrate the literature, history and culture of the ancient Greeks more closely into the core quest of the humanities.

Short bio

Philippus Rudolph Bosman grew up in Groblersdal, a Bushveld town, as the fifth of six children to teacher parents. After matric, he went on to complete a BA (1985), a BAHons in Greek and Semitic Languages (1987) and a BD (1989) at the 中国体育彩票 of Pretoria (UP). In 1990, he began his academic career at the 中国体育彩票 of South Africa (Unisa), where he completed a master's degree in Greek under Prof Jan Barkhuizen. 

In 1992, Bosman joined Unisa's Department of Classics, where Prof Danie Lombard introduced him to Classical Philology. He began his doctoral studies in New Testament Science, spending formative periods at the universities of Freiburg (Germany) and Utrecht (the Netherlands). At Unisa, he developed course material in Greek language and literature, and expanded to teach Greek literature in translation, culture and history. In 1996, he completed his PhD at UP under Prof André du Toit. His thesis on the concept of conscience in ancient Greek and Hellenistic Jewish literature was published in the Siebeck-Mohr series Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament in 2003. 

Bosman completed a BScHons degree in Information Systems (2004) at Unisa before returning to his primary focus, ancient texts. He was promoted to associate professor in 2009, and to full professor in 2012, receiving the Unisa Chancellor's Prize for Excellence in Research twice (2008 and 2012). In 2017, he relocated to Stellenbosch to join the Department of Ancient Studies, where he served as chair of the Classical Association of South Africa (2017–2019) and later also departmental chair (2021–2024).

He has presented papers and guest lectures across multiple continents and conducted research in Germany, Greece, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Belgium. He has been a member of several academic societies, including the Australasian Society for Classical Studies, the American Philological Society, the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies, the Classical Association of South Africa, the International Plutarch Society, and the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns. Since 2010, he has held a National Research Foundation rating and is currently recognised internationally for the high quality and impact of his research (B2).

His research focuses on ancient intellectual history, exploring how traditional concepts manifest in historical contexts. Bosman has published extensively on the Cynic tradition, Alexander the Great, Plutarchan biography, Lucian of Samosata's satire, and the works of the emperor Julian. He regularly organises international conferences and has edited volumes such as Mania: Madness in the Greco-Roman World (2009), Corruption and Integrity in Ancient Greece and Rome (2012), Alexander in Africa (2015), Ancient Routes to Happiness (2017), Intellectual and Empire in Greco-Roman Antiquity (2019) and Ancient Philosophy and Early Christianity: Studies in Honor of Johan C. Thom (2022). He currently leads a joint research project with the universities of the Western Cape and Ghent on responsive governance and population wellbeing in late Antiquity (2024–2026).

?Datum: Donderdag 18 September 2025
Tyd: 17:30 SAST
Plek: Jannasch-saal, US Konservatorium, Victoriastraat 45, Stellenbosch, 7600

Klik hier om te RSVP vir in-persoon bywoning.
(RSVP teen 15 September – beperkte aantal sitplekke beskikbaar.)

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(Regstreekse stroomuitsending begin om 17:30.)

Die Grieke en ons: antieke tekste in die akademiese strewe?

Prof Philip Bosman ondersoek in sy intreerede die rol van Klassieke Filologie, veral Antieke Griekse Filologie, in die moderne tersiêre onderwyslandskap. Hy oordink sy lesing van 2012 oor die konsep van die “Skool van Athene" soos dit weerspie?l word in Perikles se lykrede ('n huldeblyk aan Atheense demokrasie), Rafael se ikoniese Vatikaan-skildery ('n ge?dealiseerde uitbeelding van intellektuele harmonie), en John Henry Newman se visie van universiteite as instellings waar die intellek ontwikkel word. Sedert Newman se tyd het die geesteswetenskaplike dissiplines gegroei en algaande onafhanklik van hulle metropolis geword. Hoewel Altertumswissenschaft, oftewel die studie van die oudheid, by die aanvang van die 20ste eeu nog as die “koningin van die wetenskappe" bestempel kon word, het dit mettertyd ál hoe meer ge?soleerd geraak in 'n tersiêre onderwysomgewing wat toenemend deur utilitaristiese prioriteite voortgedryf word. Die studie van die Grieks-Romeinse oudheid het die afgelope vyf dekades voor aanhoudende uitdagings en intense selfondersoek te staan gekom. In Suid-Afrika was die wegdoening met Latyn as 'n vereiste vir regstudie 'n gevoelige slag vir die Klassieke, en het dit landwyd tot 'n afname in departemente gelei. Twee bykomende faktore plaas die afgelope tyd verdere druk op die dissipline: die veronderstelde band wat dit met verouderde ideologie? het, en die toenemende klem op nasionale belange bo 'n universalistiese siening van die mensdom. Hierdie uitdagings word vererger deur die opgang van die korporatiewe universiteit, waar gesentraliseerde doelwitte vakkundiges in formatiewe dissiplines dikwels met 'n gevoel van vervreemding laat.

Ondanks hierdie én ander probleme toon die studie van die oudheid in ál sy fasette merkwaardige veerkragtigheid en aanpasbaarheid. Strategie? soos die aanbieding van kursusse oor die antieke wêreld sonder dat antieke tale 'n vereiste is, en die konsolidasie van onafhanklike dissiplines in bre?r programme, soos Antieke Kulture, slaag by die Universiteit Stellenbosch en ander instellings daarin om van die druk te verlig. Nietemin is daar nog aansienlike struikelblokke, veral 'n wydverspreide gebrek aan begrip – selfs onder geesteswetenskaplikes – van wat Klassieke Filologie behels. Tog bied die dissipline unieke belonings: die geleentheid om van die invloedrykste en boeiendste letterkundige werke wat al ooit geskryf is te bestudeer, en om tot die voortdurende vernuwing van ons begrip van die antieke wêreld by te dra.

In die laaste gedeelte van sy aanbieding verken prof Bosman drie van sy huidige navorsingsgebiede om die spanning te illustreer waarvoor vakkundiges op oudheidsgebied te staan kom om enersyds kontekstueel relevant te bly en andersyds tot die wêreldwye akademiese diskoers by te dra. Die drie navorsingsgebiede is die rekonstruksie van 'n kontemporêre bron oor Alexander die Grote, 'n ondersoek na die ontvangs van Siniese filosofie in die vroe? Romeinse Ryk, en 'n ontleding van hoe die regeringstrukture van die Laat Oudheid na die welstand van die bevolking omgesien het. Ten slotte stel hy strategie? voor om die literatuur, geskiedenis en kultuur van die antieke Grieke nouer in die wesenstrewe van die geesteswetenskappe te integreer.

Kort biografie

Philippus Rudolph Bosman het op die Bosvelddorp Groblersdal grootgeword as die vyfde van sy onderwyser-ouers se ses kinders. Hy het ná matriek aan die Universiteit van Pretoria (UP) gaan studeer en 'n BA (1985), 'n HonsBA in Grieks en Semitiese Tale (1987) en 'n BD (1989) verwerf. In 1990 begin hy sy akademiese loopbaan aan die Universiteit van Suid-Afrika (Unisa), waar hy 'n meestersgraad in Grieks onder leiding van prof Jan Barkhuizen voltooi. 

Bosman sluit hom in 1992 by Unisa se Departement Klassieke aan, waar prof Danie Lombard hom aan Klassieke Filologie bekend stel. Hy begin sy doktorale studie in Nuwe Testamentiese Studie en bring formatiewe tydperke by die universiteite van Freiburg (Duitsland) en Utrecht (Nederland) deur. By Unisa ontwikkel hy kursusmateriaal in Griekse taal en letterkunde, en gee hy ook klas in vertaalde Griekse literatuur, kultuur en geskiedenis. In 1996 verwerf hy sy PhD aan die UP onder leiding van prof André du Toit. Sy tesis oor die konsep van gewete in antieke Griekse en Hellenistiese Joodse literatuur het in 2003 in die Siebeck-Mohr-reeks Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament verskyn. 

Bosman verwerf ook 'n HonsBSc in Inligtingstelsels (2004) aan Unisa voordat hy na sy hooffokus, antieke tekste, terugkeer. Hy word in 2009 tot medeprofessor en in 2012 tot volprofessor bevorder, en ontvang twee maal Unisa se Kanseliersprys vir Uitnemende Navorsing (2008 en 2012). In 2017 verhuis hy na Stellenbosch om hom by die Departement Antieke Studie aan te sluit, waar hy as voorsitter van die Klassieke Vereniging van Suid-Afrika (2017–2019) en later ook as departementele voorsitter (2021–2024) dien.

Hy het al op etlike vastelande referate en gaslesings gelewer en in Duitsland, Griekeland, Switserland, die Verenigde Koninkryk en Belgi? navorsing onderneem. Hy behoort tot verskeie akademiese verenigings, waaronder die Australasiese Vereniging vir Klassieke Studie, die Amerikaanse Filologiese Vereniging, die Vereniging vir die Bevordering van Hellenistiese Studie, die Klassieke Vereniging van Suid-Afrika, die Internasionale Plutargosvereniging, en die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns. Bosman beskik sedert 2010 oor 'n gradering van die Nasionale Navorsingstigting en word tans internasionaal erken vir die ho? gehalte en impak van sy navorsing (B2).

Sy navorsing konsentreer op antieke intellektuele geskiedenis en die studie van hoe tradisionele konsepte hulle in historiese kontekste manifesteer. Bosman het al wyd gepubliseer oor die Siniese tradisie, Alexander die Grote, Plutargos se biografie?, die satire van Lukianos van Samosata, en die werke van die keiser Julianus. Hy re?l gereeld internasionale konferensies en is die samesteller van bundels soos Mania: Madness in the Greco-Roman World (2009), Corruption and Integrity in Ancient Greece and Rome (2012), Alexander in Africa (2015), Ancient Routes to Happiness (2017), Intellectual and Empire in Greco-Roman Antiquity (2019) en Ancient Philosophy and Early Christianity: Studies in Honor of Johan C. Thom (2022). Hy lei tans 'n gesamentlike navorsingsprojek met die universiteite van Wes-Kaapland en Gent oor responsiewe regering en bevolkingswelstand in die Laat Oudheid (2024–2026).