Retrospect
Journal.

EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY'S HISTORY, CLASSICS AND ARCHAEOLOGY MAGAZINE

Blog: https://retrospectjournal.com/
Profile: https://retrospectjournal.com/author/retrospectsubmissions/

Between Confinement and Power: The Female Body in Classical Greek Society

In Euripides’ Medea, the exploration of gender inequality reveals women in Classical Greece as constrained despite their essential contributions through motherhood. Angelina Castrucci evaluates how the female body is constructed under subordination and limited public agency, highlighting societal contradictions regarding women’s power and identity.
Is Gossiping Feminist? The History Behind the Villainisation of ‘Tell-Tales’

Abbie Teal explores the history of gossip as a female practice and how perceptions of this have evolved over time.
Desire and Transformation: Sex and Love in Apuleius’s Metamorphosis

Apuleius’s Metamorphosis intricately explores the themes of sex and love through the protagonist Lucius’s experiences in the Roman Empire. Marnie Camping-Harris analyses how these elements shape the narrative, revealing societal standards and showcasing both heterosexual and homoerotic relationships throughout the novel.
The President and Economy: How Much Power Does the President of the United States Have Over the Economy?

During the recent US election, when asked, most registered Republican voters said that ‘the economy’ was the most pressing issue for them. Kilan Duan explains the power the president truly holds over the US economy.
Review: The Apprentice

In the wake of Donald Trump’s election as the 47th US President, Emilio Luppino reviews The Apprentice.
“Strange divinity! Why Do You Deceive Me So?”: The Evolution of Aphrodite

Arianne North Castell traces how the iconic figure of Aphrodite evolved from mythological roots, reflecting diverse cultural influences throughout ancient history.
A Coin for the Waterman

In this fiction piece by Ailsa Fraser, a young man scavenges a dead family’s riches from their home amidst the plague-stricken silence of London.
What Do We Truly Know About the Vikings: Helmets, Masculinity, and Violence

Vikings are instantly recognizable for their horned helments and battle-born attitudes, but how much of that is accurate to history. Michaela Hamman discusses how popular perceptions of vikings do not match the archaeological realities of Scandinavia.