Fred Porta (PhD, Harvard, 1999) is a classicist with specialties in Greek poetry and Greek religion. His dissertation was on Greek ritual utterances, which were the words and phrases spoken in the performance of ancient Greek religious rituals. Though these do not survive complete, there are some bits and pieces of them preserved mostly as quotations in ancient authors whose works have survived. Since some of these texts are in verse, this topic combines his two main interests of Greek poetry and Greek religion.
For the last four years, Fred has been here at Stanford teaching in the Introduction to the Humanities Program, a rich and excellent set of classes required of all entering freshmen. This year, however, he has the fortune to be in the Classics department, teaching ancient Greek. During his time at Stanford, Fred has also taught Sanskrit through the Special Language Program, Old Irish, Mycenaean Greek, Old Persian, Khotanese, and Sogdian. This year, in addition to Greek and Sanskrit and more Sogdian, Fred will also be teaching Pali Language and Literature, and for the Religious Studies department an Introduction to the Zoroastrian Religion.
Work Address Bldg 250, Room 252C
Mail Code: 2080
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-2080
dept fax: 650-725-3801
