Video Games and the Classical Past

On Monday 6 December the Institute will host its second event of the 2021-2022 academic year. This will be an in-person lecture in the auditorium of the Institute’s new premises (Orminiou 3A, Ilisia).

Starting at 18.30, Dr. Craig I. Hardiman (Associate Professor, Department of Classical Studies, University of Waterloo) will give a talk entitled, "Video Games and the Classical Past: Problems, Potential and Pedagogy".

“The use of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome as settings in video games has a long, and perhaps checkered, past. Archaeology especially has often been used as a means to find an object, solve a quest or solve a puzzle, and characters such as Lara Croft have long blurred the lines between treasure hunting and archaeology. Even while some games attempt a certain amount of archaeological and/or historical accuracy in architecture or surroundings, it is often within a game that presents fantastical or outlandish characters and circumstances, often with a mythological base. Some games, such as the Assassin’s Creed series by Ubisoft, have attempted to address some of these issues. Two of their games, Assassin’s Creed: Origins (2017) and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey (2018), dealing with (respectively) events at the end of Ptolemaic Egypt and the Peloponnesian War, have tried to craft an “accurate” vision of antiquity. So much so that they tout using the game as an educational tool for the classroom. Yet Ubisoft themselves discuss choices they had to make between accuracy and fun gameplay. One can encounter as many historical inaccuracies and anachronisms in these games as not. With an increased emphasis on “gaming” the classroom (using games as a pedagogical tool), can we fully trust the broad view of Ancient Greece and Rome to for-profit companies whose first duty is to the creation of fun gameplay? These issues and others will be explored, alongside games that (mis)represent a “classical past”.”

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, attendance is limited. Places will be reserved on a first-come first-served basis at info@cig-icg.gr. All attendees must present a certificate of vaccination.

We look forward to welcoming you to our new premises for what promises to be a fascinating presentation.

Jonathan Tomlinson
Assistant Director