“Myth is much more important and true than history. History is just journalism and you know how reliable that is.”
— Joseph Campbell
Welcome to the
International Classics Olympiad
The International Classics Olympiad is an essay competition broken up into two stages: Regional and International. Join the ranks of high school students from around the world who immerse themselves in the stories of the civilizations that shaped the foundations of Western thought and culture.
Explore the myths of Ancient Greece
Understand the stories that built Rome
Articulate the importance of myth
Participants will come to understand:
The link between ancient myths and modern stories
Mythology's influence on the world
The roots of archetypical characters
Through critical analysis and scholarly research, participants will discover the enduring influence of the ancient world on today’s societies and showcase their academic excellence on the world stage.
Join a distinguished community of young scholars competing for the chance to stand out in their university applications, win prizes, and get published.
Essays are to written in article format, include a biblography, and be submitted via a Typeform link.
How does the Olympiad work?
The Classics Olympiad is an individual competition in two essay stages: Regional and an International, both conducted fully online.
Regional Round:
Students will write a creative and research-backed essay in response to one of the three questions about Classical texts we will provide on the competition launch date.
Students will have 7 days to answer and submit their response. Responses must be in an essay format (with a 1000 word limit, see Guidelines and Rules) and submitted to a Typeform link we will send.
International Round:
Finalists from each region will be invited to participate in the international olympiad essay competition, in which they will investigate further the annals of mythology and its impact.
Step 2
Receive the questions and submit your response by the deadline.
Step 3
Submissions will be reviewed by our panel of professors, and scholars.
Step 4
Top finalists in each region will advance to the International Round.
Step 5
Winners of the International Classics Olympiad will be announced and featured on our website.
Why You Should Participate
Esteemed Judges
Recognition & Prizes
Stand Out for Admissions
Submissions are reviewed by professors and scholars from top classics departments worldwide.
Finalists receive global recognition, publication on our website, letters of recommendation, and college consulting credits.
Show admissions your ability to research and articulate that which others often overlook and show your appreciation for the ancient arts.
General Timeline
See our Timeline page for more a more detailed schedule.
June
Registration
July
Olympiad Begins
August
Finalists Announced
Register for the Olympiad
“Myths are the earliest forms of science.”
— Carl Sagan
Classics Olympiad Judges
Our judges are internationally respected scholars in Ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian history, literature, and archaeology. Their expertise ensures that all submissions are evaluated with academic rigor and fairness.
Dr. Marcus Whitfield
PhD, Classics – Princeton University
PhD Minor, Ancient Philosophy – Princeton University
MA, Classical Languages – University of Chicago
BA, Classics – Harvard University
Dr. Marcus Whitfield is a professor of Classics whose scholarship spans Greco-Roman literature, ancient philosophy, and the intellectual history of the classical world. His research explores the intersection of classical texts with political theory, rhetoric, and early modern reception. Dr. Whitfield currently serves as Chair of the Department of Classics at the University of Chicago and lectures as a visiting professor at Stanford University.
Testimonials
“Classics has given me the tools to analyze modern culture and ancient philosophy. I was able to see the stories that have shaped society.”
— Samira Kashani
“I didn’t realize how much the myths and stories of Greece, Rome, and Egypt are still with us today in books, in politics, even in pop culture.”
— Dante Russo
“I used my Olympiad submission in my college apps, I later found out that it was the kicker my application needed to get admitted."
— Julia Nwosu