Aging in Antiquity: UKZN Classics Department Explores Old Age in Ancient World

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The Classics Department at UKZN recently hosted the 35th Biennial Conference of the Classical Association of South Africa under the theme: ‘Old Age in Antiquity’.

Held from 23 to 27 June, 2025, the conference covered various topics related to the ancient world and its reception.

Founded in 1908, the Classical Association of South Africa brings together academics and students dedicated to the study of the ancient world, as well as members of the public with a keen interest in this discipline.

Dr Francesco Lupi from the University of Venice, Italy, delivered an overview of the representation of old age in Greek drama, while Professor William Dominik from the University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil, highlighted the complex portrayals of old age in Latin poetry in the Flavian period.

Dominik emphasised how poets of this era depicted aging with a mix of reverence, criticism, and irony, reflecting broader cultural and social attitudes toward the elderly. These portrayals often explored themes of decline, wisdom, exclusion, and transformation, revealing the complex role of old age in Roman literary and societal contexts.

Lupi’s presentation focused on themes of agelessness, as well as the contrasts between old age and death, and the positive aspects of aging. He discussed traditional wisdom surrounding aging, posing the question: “If only we could be young (twice): the ‘second youth’ motif allows one to remedy past mistakes - why can’t mortals be twice young and twice old?” He illustrated the point with a relatable example: if something goes wrong at home, we might set it right with second thoughts, however, we cannot do the same with our lives. “If we were twice young and old, we could correct our mistakes upon receiving our life’s second portion,” he said.

Lupi also referenced the myth of Tithonus - a lover of Eos - who asked Zeus to grant him (Tithonus) immortality. This request did not, however, include the retention of youth, leading to burdensome old age. Lupi elaborated on the golden age of humanity, when the first human beings were created by the immortals on Olympus. In the time of Cronus, these beings lived carefree lives - free from distress and were not burdened by old age. They experienced death as if it were simply a peaceful sleep. This golden race enjoyed abundance, with the fields producing crops of their own accord.

The conference was opened by Professor Nhlanhla Mkhize, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Humanities, who was introduced by Professor Nobuhle Hlongwa, Dean of the School of Arts.

The keynote address, titled: ‘Teaching Latin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Contribution of a new Latin Anthology for Sub-Saharan Africa’ was delivered by Professor Dudu Musway, Head Professor of Latin at the University of Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Musway, who holds a PhD in Classical Philology from the University of Hamburg, is a Universal Peace Ambassador and Congolese member of parliament. He advocates for the support of Latin in Congolese education, highlighting its value for African youth.

The Classics Department also celebrated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UKZN Classics Department and the Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations (IHAC), a renowned research institute at Northeast Normal University in Changchun, People’s Republic of China.

“This MoU strengthens ties with the Institute for the History of Ancient Civilisations, where I worked as a Foreign Expert in 1995/96. IHAC’s Journal for Ancient Civilizations is a notable SAPSE-accredited publication, and we are honoured to have one of their delegates, Professor Sven Guenther, representing them,” said Dr Elke Steinmeyer, Head: Classics at UKZN.

Words: Sinoyolo Mahlasela

Photographs: Supplied