A Professor's Lessons on Democracy
My ancient history professor, Martin Ostwald, taught me all about Athens in the golden age, the fifth century B.C. -- and more.
Somehow he circled back to me early in the year 2024 A.D.
His seminar of four students met once a week, Thursday afternoons, for time travel that raced like chariots. Famous in his field, the pipe-smoking German Jew lavished wisdom on us.
I remember each face and name with clarity but could never forget the old-world pipe-smoking professor. Steeped in Pericles the orator, Aristotle the philosopher, Themistocles the sea general who won the Battle of Salamis.
Ostwald once started chanting and marching in a strange language. He was in character as Darius, the Persian king. Solid, short and square in stature, he could have won an Oscar for acting the role.
"Mr. Ostwald," I say, "You make history come alive."
His eyes gleam as he answers, "History is alive!"
And it became so. Largely thanks to his teaching, I majored in history, though English came more easily. I keep the faith in my way, giving history talks here in Washington.
A confession: At 17 or 18, I didn't know what "classics" was. In the dining hall, I joined a classics dinner in a side room, thinking it was a discussion of great books.
Soon it dawned on me the subject was Homeric Greek and Cicero's Latin, Athens and Rome. I was starting from nothing but a kind of innocent enthusiasm.
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