https://impactum-journals.uc.pt/bec <p>The <em>Bulletin of Classical Studies</em> (BEC) is an annual Publication promoted by the <em>Portuguese Association of Classical Studies</em> (APEC), in collaboration with the <em>Institute of Classical Studies</em> of the Faculty of Letters of the University of Coimbra and the Center for Classical and Humanistic Studies (CECH) of the University of Coimbra. The main mission of the BEC is to promote research and dissemination in Classical Studies from a teaching perspective and by learning pedagogical contexts, at secondary schools and universities. The BEC encourages the dialogue between researchers, specialists, teachers, students and amateurs of Classical Antiquity, with special focus on what is researched in Classical Studies (language, culture, literature, pedagogy and didactics, reception), but also on what happens in the contemporary world that reflects the relevance of Classical Studies in understanding everyday events.</p> Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra pt-PT Boletim de Estudos Clássicos 0872-2110 <p>Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a&nbsp;<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_new">Creative Commons Attribution License</a>&nbsp;that allows sharing the work with recognition of authorship and initial publication in Antropologia Portuguesa journal.</p> https://impactum-journals.uc.pt/bec/article/view/17249 <p>This article explores the symbolic, theological, and cosmological significance of light in Sumerian and Greek mythology. Drawing upon primary sources such as the Hymns to Shamash, the Enuma Elish, Hesiod’s Theogony, and Homeric hymns, as well as modern comparative scholarship, the study investigates how each tradition conceptualizes light as both a physical and divine principle. In Sumerian cosmology, the emergence of light from the primeval sea (Nammu) and its embodiment in the sun god Utu/Shamash reflect the association of luminosity with justice, truth, and divine order. In Greek myth, light personified by Aether, Hemera, Helios, and Apollo similarly functions as a medium of reason, clarity, and revelation, yet arises in a distinct cosmogonic sequence that subordinates illumination to cosmic hierarchy. Through comparative mythographic and hermeneutic analysis, this article demonstrates that both civilizations regarded light as a primary expression of divine rationality and cosmic balance, while differing in their theological interpretation of its origin and moral dimension. The findings contribute to broader discussions in comparative mythology and the history of religious symbolism, highlighting the intercultural resonance of light as a universal metaphor for order, consciousness, and truth.</p> Łukasz Copyright (c) 69 https://impactum-journals.uc.pt/bec/article/view/17189 <p>This article examines the role of women in Sallust’s <em>Historiae</em>, focusing on the fragment 2.92 M. By analyzing Sallust’s depiction of women as likely ‘rhetorical actors’, the study highlights how oratory functions as a lens through which gender and power converge. Beyond a mere textual analysis, the article tries to propose new pedagogical approaches for teaching Sallust in contemporary classrooms. These strategies have the potential to encourage students (and teachers) to engage critically with questions of voice, authority, and gender in Roman historiography, integrating interdisciplinary perspectives from rhetoric, gender studies, and reception history.</p> Giuseppe Eugenio Rallo Copyright (c) 69 https://impactum-journals.uc.pt/bec/article/view/16413 Izabel de Rohan Copyright (c) 69 https://impactum-journals.uc.pt/bec/article/view/16693 <p>This systematic bibliometric review examines the evolving landscape of research on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in advancing gender equity, with particular emphasis on women's representation in leadership positions. Utilizing data extracted from Scopus-indexed publications (2015-2025), we employed VOSviewer and Biblioshiny to conduct comprehensive performance analysis and science mapping. Our findings demonstrate a remarkable surge in scholarly output, with publication rates increasing sixfold from 2015 to 2025. Citation patterns reveal growing academic influence, particularly following 2021, coinciding with global social movements and policy shifts toward gender equality. The research domain exhibits strong interdisciplinary characteristics, spanning management studies, organizational psychology, and higher education research. Key emerging themes include intersectional approaches to equity, structural barriers in leadership pipelines, and institutional strategies for inclusive workplace cultures. Geospatial analysis identifies significant disparities in research production, with North American and European institutions contributing 78% of publications, while Global South perspectives remain markedly underrepresented. The co-citation network reveals three distinct research clusters: (1) organizational diversity management, (2) pedagogical approaches to inclusion, and (3) policy implementation challenges. Notably, our Lotka's Law analysis indicates a highly skewed productivity distribution, with only 2.5% of authors contributing multiple publications. These findings have important implications for both academic research and organizational practice. We identify critical knowledge gaps regarding technological dimensions of DEI implementation and cross-cultural variations in gender equity approaches. The study concludes with recommendations for developing more globally inclusive research agendas and evidence-based strategies for achieving substantive gender parity in leadership structures.</p> Edi Wijaya Copyright (c) 69 https://impactum-journals.uc.pt/bec/article/view/16579 <p>In this paper, I explore why classics are designated as “classics” and why they continue to endure. I argue that classics are not merely relics of antiquity but living expressions of human wisdom that transcend time and culture. While rooted in the literary, philosophical, and artistic traditions of ancient Greece and Rome, classics persist because they contain universal truths about the human condition. The relevance of classics lies in their ability to serve as patterns for living—a <em>specimen vivendi</em>. I explain that the literature and films function as contemporary channels for transmitting classical wisdom, enabling succeeding generations to encounter timeless and timely truths in accessible forms. Hence, their endurance depends on our commitment to preserve, practice, and reinterpret them in dialogue with the present.</p> Francisco Pantaleon Copyright (c) 69