Anyone who can say 'sum, es, est', can probably manage 'asmi, asi, asti', the Sanskrit equivalent. While Indian and European classical studies obviously have a lot in common, there are some tantalising contrasts, contrasts which inspire some envy on both sides. In this talk, McComas Taylor will explore these parallels, and will talk about the joys and challenges of being a classicist on the other side of the Bosphorus. Associate Professor McComas Taylor is Reader in Sanskrit at the ANU, where he has been teaching and researching Sanskrit as a living tradition for over a decade. His electronic textbook The Joy of Sanskrit (with Grazia Scotellaro), was ANU Press's third most popular title in 2016. His colleagues laugh at him behind his back for being the only person in the world who truly believes that Sanskrit is the language of the future.

Limited places, so please phone the restaurant on 6257 2718 for reservations and payment by Friday, 19 May. Seating allocation will be made by a committee member at tables of 8; so please list names of guests for whom you are booking, and indicate if you wish to be seated with other Friends.