CLST 205: Ancient Humour

Specialized encyclopedias, bibliographies, dictionaries, handbooks and companions provide a useful starting point to find background information on your topic. 

The types of information that a background search in a specialized reference work can provide include:

• Broad overview of the subject
• Definitions of the topic
• Introduction to key concepts/issues
• Names of people who are authorities in the subject field
• Major dates and events
• Keywords and subject-specific vocabulary terms that can be used for database searches
• Bibliographies that lead to additional resources

• Brill's New Pauly: Encyclopaedia of the Ancient World
• Cambridge Ancient History
• The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization
• Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome
• Oxford Reference Online: Classics

Consult biographical dictionaries to find brief information about people, dates and events. 

• Who's Who in the Greek World
• Who's Who in the Roman World

• Oxford Bibliographies Online