Dr. Tori Lee, an assistant professor of classics at Davidson College, discusses her favorite authors, especially Catullus, and her MA thesis on how English translators handle obscenity, including euphemism, omission, and dysphemism, arguing for the importance of studying modern translations and noting that free online versions can be more censored. She outlines a current project on pastoral literature’s “dark underbelly,” examining how idyllic countryside worlds rely on oppression of women, enslaved people, lower-class men, animals, and landscapes. She also discusses outreach and community-building through Eidolon, the SCS blog, AAACC, and Crip Antiquity, plus challenges and ethics in reception and social media research. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Bluesky, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com!

Originally recorded February 12, 2026.

Learn more about Dr. Lee: https://www.davidson.edu/people/tori-lee

Check out the Asian and Asian American Classical Caucus (AAACC): https://www.aaaclassicalcaucus.org/

Check out Crip Antiquity: https://cripantiquity.com/

Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.

Want a transcript of the episode? Email us at theozymandiasprojectpodcast@gmail.com and we can provide one.

Ancient Office Hours is a proud member of Mnemosyne: The Memory Collective, a podcast network and creator collective for historians, archaeologists, artists, and other creators and educators dedicated to sharing content about and featuring the ancient world that is accurate, accessible, and inclusive. To learn more about the collective and its contributors, check out collectivemem.com.

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