From ancient Rome and Greek mythology to Shakespeare, Dante and Homer, a new lecture series at the National Library of Malta will explore the enduring influence of classical culture through the centuries.

The National Library of Malta has announced its ninth Public Lecture Series, Secular Threads: Greek and Latin Culture in Later Print, running from October 2026 to May 2027. Organised in partnership with the Malta Classics Association, the series will explore the secular side of classical literature, bringing together perspectives from a range of academic fields.

The programme opens on 28 October with There was Once a Dream that was Rome, examining how Italian writers Petrarch, Dante and Machiavelli engaged with ancient literature and how their fascination with the Classics contributed to the development of modern libraries.

On 25th November, Prof. Krista Bonello Rutter Giappone will explore Shakespeare and the Classics, while Prof. Horatio C.R. Vella will examine the moral values promoted through the works of Vergil and Horace on 16th December.

The programme continues into 2027 with lectures exploring Dante’s classical demons, ecological themes in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Ulysses in Italian literature, and the relationship between Homer and Malta. The final lecture, on 26th May, will explore the mystery of Sappho and the survival of her poetry through the centuries.

All lectures will take place at the National Library of Malta in Valletta at 18:30. Delivered in English, they are free to attend, with no booking required.

Will you be attending these lectures?