Classics

Ancient Greek and Roman texts, such as those by Plato, Aristotle, or Cicero, were not originally published with page numbers. So, rather than page numbers, citations of ancient Greek or Roman texts typically include references to specific sections, books, paragraphs, sentences or lines, depending on the work. This allows readers to locate the quoted or referenced passages within the broader work. This also helps maintain consistency and accessibility across different editions and translations of the text. 

Important: There are different ways to cite Greek and Roman sources. Before using this guide speak to your professor to confirm they approve of this format.

Follow this format for your endnote or footnote: 

Ancient author, Title, Book, Paragraph, Sentence, Line (if applicable). 

Examples: 

Thucydides, History of Peloponnesian War, 2.15.2 

This endnote or footnote refers to book two, paragraph fifteen, sentence two of the History of the Peloponnesian War by the author Thucydides. 

Homer, Odyssey, 9.102‐110. 

This endnote or footnote refers to lines 102 through 110 of Book 9 of Homer’s Odyssey. 

Aeschylus, Seven Against Thebes, 830‐ 840. 

This endnote or footnote refers to lines 830 through 840 of Aeschylus’ Seven Against Thebes. 

Follow this format for your bibliography: 

Last name of translator, first name initials., trans., Ancient author: Title. Place of publication: Publisher,

year of publication.

Examples: 

Warner, R., trans., Thucydides: History of the Peloponnesian War. London: Penguin, 1972 

Hecht, A. & Bacon, H. H., trans., Aeschylus: Seven Against Thebes.  New York: Oxford University Press,

1991.