Bio

Christopher B. Krebs studied classics and philosophy in Berlin, Kiel (1st Staatsexamen 2000, Ph. D. 2003), and Oxford (M. St. 2002). He was a lecturer at University College (Oxford) and an assistant (2004-09) and then associate professor (2009-12) at the department of the Classics at Harvard, before he joined the Classics department at Stanford. In the spring of 2007 he was the professeur invité at the École Normale Supérieure (Paris), in 2008/9 the APA fellow at the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae in Munich (on which see his “You say putator” in the TLS), and, most recently, the recipient of the Christian Gauss Book Award from the Phi Beta Kappa Society.

His publications include Negotiatio Germaniae. Tacitus’ Germania und Enea Silvio Piccolomini, Giannantonio Campano, Conrad Celtis und Heinrich Bebel (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2005), and A most dangerous book. Tacitus’s Germania from the Roman Empire to the Third Reich (New York: W.W. Norton, 2011), which has or will be translated into six languages. He has also co-edited a volume on Time and Narrative in Ancient Historiography: The ‘Plupast’ from Herodotus to Appian (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012). He is currently preparing a commentary on Caesar’s Bellum Gallicum 7 as well as an intellectual history of the late Roman Republic (with W.W. Norton); he is also co-editing the Cambridge Companion to Caesar. Other long-term projects and interests focus on Posidonius, Sallust and Tacitus, Latin lexicography, Thersites and Prometheus, and Annio di Viterbo.

He organized and co-chaired a seminar on Classical Traditions at Harvard Humanities Center, where he also co-hosted a conference on “The Reception of Odysseus in Literature, Art, and Music” (April 2009). He co-organized a conference on “The historians’ Plupast” (2006), an APA Panel on “Caesar the ‘Litterator’” (January 2012), and a conference on “Caesar: Writer, Speaker and Linguist,” at Amherst College (September 2012). He will deliver the third annual Herbert W. Benario lecture in Roman Studies (at Emory University) in the fall of 2013 and the forty-third Skotheim Lecture in History (at Whitman College) in the spring of 2014. In the summer of 2014 he will co-teach in France a seminar on Caesar in Gaul for the Paideia Institute.

Most recent and forthcoming articles include: “Annum quiete et otio transiit: Tacitus (Agr. 6.3) and Sallust on liberty, tyranny, and human dignity” (A Companion to Tacitus), “M. Manlius Capitolinus: the metaphorical plupast and metahistorical reflections” (The historians’ Plupast), “Caesar, Lucretius and the dates of De Rerum Natura and the Commentarii” (Classical Quarterly), and “Caesar’s Sisenna” (Classical Quarterly).

In 2012-13 he will offer the following courses: Advanced Latin: Cicero and Sallust on Catiline; Reinventing the Other: Greeks, Romans, Barbarians (cross-listed in Anthropology); a freshman seminar Eloquence Personified: How to Speak Like Cicero; and a graduate seminar on Sallust and Virgil. In 2013-14 he will offer graduate seminars on The fragmentary Roman Historians and Lucan and the poetics of civil war, advanced Greek: Attic Orators and advanced Latin: Tacitus. He also teaches at Stanford Continuing Studies: a course on Tacitus (Tacitus: Character Assassin, Satirist, and Trenchant Historian) in the winter term, and a course on Lucan (The Dark Genius: Lucan, his civil war epos, and the court of Nero) in the spring.

Academic Appointments

  • Professor, Classics
  • Professor (By courtesy), German Studies
  • Professor (By courtesy), Comparative Literature

Administrative Appointments

  • Lecturer, University College, Oxford (2002 - 2003)
  • Teaching fellow, Harvard University (2003 - 2004)
  • Assistant Professor of the Classics, Harvard University (2004 - 2009)
  • Associate Professor of the Classics, Harvard University (2009 - 2012)
  • Associate Professor of Classics, Stanford University (2012 - Present)
  • Fellowship, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschafi (2000 - 2003)
  • Teaching of undergraduate classes in philosophy and classics, University of Kiel (1998 - 2000)
  • Research assistant to Prof. Dr. Haye at the department of classical studies, University of Kiel (1999 - 2000)
  • Latin teacher, Toni-Jensen-Gesamtschule (2001 - 2001)

Honors & Awards

  • Scholarship to study at Oxford, Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (2001-2002)
  • Chercheur invite, Ecole Norm ale Superieure (2005)
  • Professeur invite, Ecole Norm ale Superieure (2007)
  • Loeb Classical Library Foundation Award, Harvard University Press (2007)
  • Thesaurus Linguae Latinae Fellowship, American Philological Association (2008)
  • Loeb Classical Library Foundation Award, Harvard University Press (2012)
  • Christian Gauss Book Award, Phi Beta Kappa Society (2013)
  • Harvard University Clark Awards, Harvard University (2004)
  • Harvard University Clark Awards, Harvard University (2005)
  • Harvard University Clark Awards, Harvard University (2008)
  • Harvard University Clark Awards, Harvard University (2009)
  • Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Junior Faculty Research Awards, Harvard University (2005)
  • Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Junior Faculty Research Awards, Harvard University (2006)
  • Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Junior Faculty Research Awards, Harvard University (2007)
  • Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Junior Faculty Research Awards, Harvard University (2008)
  • Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Junior Faculty Research Awards, Harvard University (2011)
  • The New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice, New York Times Book Review (2011)
  • Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year, Times Literary Supplement Book (2011)
  • Winner of Phi Beta Kappa's 2012 Christian Gauss Book Award, Phi Beta Kappa (2012)
  • Bok teaching award (Greek A), Harvard University (2004)
  • Bok teaching award (Latin 112a), Harvard University (2004)
  • Dean's recognition of "excellence in teaching", Harvard University (2005)
  • Thomas Temple Hoopes prize, Harvard University (2006)
  • CUE award for distinction in teaching, Harvard University (2006)
  • Thomas Temple Hoopes prize, Harvard University (2008)
  • Thomas Temple Hoopes prize, Harvard University (2010)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

  • Director of Undergraduate Studies, Harvard University (2005 - 2007)
  • Member, Graduate Committee, Harvard University (2007 - 2008)
  • Member, Graduate Committee, Harvard University (2009 - 2010)
  • Member, Graduate Committee, Harvard University (2010 - 2011)
  • Reviewer, American Journal of Philology
  • Reviewer, Arethusa
  • Reviewer, Classical Philology
  • Reviewer, Classical Quarterly
  • Reviewer, Harvard Studies in Classical Philology
  • Reviewer, Cambridge University Press
  • Reviewer, Harvard University Press

Professional Education

  • Ph.D., Kiel University, Latin Philology (2003)
  • Master of Studies, University of Oxford, Greek Language and Literature (2002)
  • Master, Kiel University, Latin Philology and Philosophy (2000)
  • B.A., Kiel University, Philosophy/ Latin /Greek (2001)

Contact

  • Academic
    cbkrebs@stanford.edu
    University - Faculty Department: Classics Position: Professor
    • 557 ESCONDIDO MALL
    • STANFORD,  California  94305 

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 2145

Links

2024-25 Courses

Stanford Advisees

All Publications

  • PAINTING CATILINE INTO A CORNER: FORM AND CONTENT IN CICERO'S IN CATILINAM 1.1 CLASSICAL QUARTERLY Krebs, C. B. 2020; 70 (2): 672–76

    View details for DOI 10.1017/S0009838820000762

    View details for Web of Science ID 000629570000017

  • The Conquest of Ruins: The Third Reich and the Fall of Rome (Book Review) CENTRAL EUROPEAN HISTORY Book Review Authored by: Krebs, C. B. 2020; 53 (3): 683–85

    View details for DOI 10.1017/S0008938920000643

    View details for Web of Science ID 000587995400022

  • 'GREETINGS, CICERO!': CAESAR AND PLATO ON WRITING AND MEMORY CLASSICAL QUARTERLY Krebs, C. B. 2018; 68 (2): 517–22

    View details for DOI 10.1017/S0009838818000484

    View details for Web of Science ID 000489601400010

  • THE WORLD'S MEASURE: CAESAR'S GEOGRAPHIES OF GALLIA AND BRITANNIA IN THEIR CONTEXTS AND AS EVIDENCE OF HIS WORLD MAP AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHILOLOGY Krebs, C. B. 2018; 139 (1): 93–122

    View details for DOI 10.1353/ajp.2018.0003

    View details for Web of Science ID 000427558300004

  • THE BURIED TRADITION OF PROGRAMMATIC TITULATURE AMONG REPUBLICAN HISTORIANS: POLYBIUS' Pi PA Gamma MATEIA, ASELLIO'S RES GESTAE, AND SISENNA'S REDEFINITION OF HISTORIAE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHILOLOGY Krebs, C. B. 2015; 136 (3): 503-524

    View details for Web of Science ID 000361851400005

  • CAESAR'S SISENNA CLASSICAL QUARTERLY Krebs, C. B. 2014; 64 (1): 207-213

    View details for DOI 10.1017/S0009838813000657

    View details for Web of Science ID 000334589700016

  • CAESAR, LUCRETIUS AND THE DATES OF DE RERUM NATURA AND THE COMMENTARII CLASSICAL QUARTERLY Krebs, C. B. 2013; 63 (2): 772-779

    View details for DOI 10.1017/S0009838813000244

    View details for Web of Science ID 000330358200024

  • Cesare: scrittore, oratore e linguista. Amherst, Massachusetts, Amherst College 13-16 settembre 2012 Bollettino di studi Iatini Krebs, C. B., Grillo, L. 2013; 43: 252-5
  • Germania, Germani The Virgil Encyclopedia Krebs, C. B. edited by Thomas, R. F., Ziolkowski, J. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. 2013: 541–542
  • Gaius Julius Caesar The Virgil Encyclopedia Krebs, C. B. edited by Thomas, R. F., Ziolkowski, J. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. 2013: 694–695
  • magalia, mapalia The Virgil Encyclopedia Krebs, C. B. edited by Thomas, R. F., Ziolkowski, J. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. 2013: 779–780
  • Gallia and Galli The Virgil Encyclopedia Krebs, C. B. edited by Thomas, R. F., Ziolkowski, J. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. 2013: 519
  • Gaius Sallustius Crispus The Virgil Encyclopedia Krebs, C. B. edited by Thomas, R. F., Ziolkowski, J. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. 2013: 1115–1116
  • Ethnography The Virgil Encyclopedia Krebs, C. B. edited by Thomas, R. F., Ziolkowski, J. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. 2013: 456–57
  • A Most Dangerous Book Krebs, C. B. Seoul: GoldenCompass. 2012
  • Annum quiete et otio transiit: Tacitus (Agr. 6.3) and Sallust on liberty, tyranny, and human dignity A Companion to Tacitus Krebs, C. B. edited by Pagán, V. E. Oxford: Blackwell. 2012: 333–45
  • Rare, rarenter, rariter TLL Blundell, J., Krebs, C. B. 2012: 42–5
  • M. Manlius Capitolinus: the metaphorical plupast and metahistorical reflections The historians' Plupast Krebs, C. B. 2012: 139-55
  • Ein gefährliches Buch. Die «Germania» des Tacitus und die Erfindung der Deutschen Krebs, C. B. München: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt. 2012
  • Rarescere TLL Krebs, C. B. 2012: 128–30
  • Rarefacere TLL Krebs, C. B. 2012: 128
  • The historian's 'Plupast.' A theoretical introduction The historians' Plupast Krebs, C. B., Grethlein, J. 2012: 1-16
  • Time and Narrative in Ancient Historiography: The 'Plupast' from Herodotus to Appian Krebs, C. B., Grethlein, J., Krebs, C. B. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2012
  • Un libro molto pericoloso Krebs, C. B. Ancona: 11 Lavoro Editoriale. 2012
  • El libra más peligroso. La Germania de Tácito. Del imperio romano al Tercer Reich Krebs, C. B. Barcelona: Crítica . 2011
  • Het gevaarlijke boek. De Germania en de opkomst van het nazisme Krebs, C. B. Utrecht: Het Spectrum. 2011
  • An Innocuous Yet Noxious Text: Tacitus's Germania Historically Speaking Krebs, C. B. 2011; 12: 2-4
  • A most dangerous Book. Tacitus's Germania from the Roman Empire to the Third Reich Krebs, C. B. New York: W. W. Norton. 2011
  • The Continuing Message History Today Krebs, C. B. 2011; 72
  • ... Jhre alte Muttersprache ... unvermengt und unverdorben: zur Rezeption der taciteischen Germania im 17. Jahrhundert Philologus Krebs, C. B. 2010; 154: 119-39
  • You say ‘putator’. The first word on the first day of a Latin lexicographer The Newsletter of the American Philological Association Krebs, C. B. 2010; 33 (3-4)
  • Borealism: Caesar, Seneca, Tacitus, and the Roman discourse about the Germanic North Cultural Identity and the Peoples of the Ancient Mediterranean Krebs, C. B. edited by Gruen, E. S. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. 2010: 202–221
  • You say 'putator' TLS-THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT Krebs, C. B. 2009: 14-15

    View details for Web of Science ID 000263220200025

  • A dangerous book: the reception of Tacitus' Germania The Cambridge Companion to Tacitus Krebs, C. B. edited by Woodman, A. J. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2009: 280–99
  • Putatrix TLL Krebs, C. B. 2009
  • Putator TLL Krebs, C. B. 2009
  • A SEEMINGLY ARTLESS CONVERSATION: CICERO'S DE LEGIBUS (1.1-5) CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY Krebs, C. B. 2009; 104 (1): 90-106

    View details for Web of Science ID 000266236100008

  • Putamen TLL Krebs, C. B. 2009
  • Ulrich von Hutten's Arminius: An English Translation with Analysis and Commentary (Book Review) RENAISSANCE QUARTERLY Book Review Authored by: Krebs, C. B. 2009; 62 (4): 1320-1322

    View details for Web of Science ID 000272197400076

  • CATILINE'S RAVAGED MIND: VASTUS ANIMUS (SALL. BC 5.5) CLASSICAL QUARTERLY Krebs, C. B. 2008; 58 (2): 682-686

    View details for DOI 10.1017/S0009838808000773

    View details for Web of Science ID 000262204800027

  • MAGNI VIRI: CAESAR, ALEXANDER, AND POMPEY IN CAT. 11 PHILOLOGUS Krebs, C. 2008; 152 (2): 223-229

    View details for Web of Science ID 000261731300005

  • Hebescere virtus (Sall. Cat.12.1): metaphorical ambiguity Harvard Studies in Classical Philology Krebs, C. B. 2008; 129 (4): 231-6
  • Le discours indirect chez les historiens latins, écriture ou oralité? Histoire d'un style Gnomon Krebs, C. B. 2008; 80: 122-6
  • THE IMAGERY OF "THE WAY" IN THE PROEM TO SALLUST'S BELLUM CATILINAE (1-4) AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHILOLOGY Krebs, C. 2008; 129 (4): 581-594

    View details for Web of Science ID 000262205100005

  • Suffugium hiemis ... rigorem frigorum: Tacitus (Germ. 16.3) and Seneca (de ira 1.11.3) Rheinisches Museum Krebs, C. B. 2007; 150 (4): 429-34
  • Caesar in Gaul and Rome: War in Words. Journal of Roman Studies Krebs, C. B. 2007; 97: 41-3
  • "Imaginary geography" in Caesar's 'Bellum Gallicum' AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHILOLOGY Krebs, C. B. 2006; 127 (1): 111-136

    View details for Web of Science ID 000237520100005

  • Leonides Laco quidem simile apud Thermopylas fecit: Cato and Herodotus Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies Krebs, C. B. 2006; 49: 93-103
  • Review of Cato Censorius in der Forschung des 20. Jahrhunderts. Eine kommentierte chronologische Bibliographie für 1900-1999 nebst systematischen Hinweisen und einer Darstellung des Schriftstellers M Porcius Cato (234-149 v. Chr.) Bryn Mawr Classical Review Krebs, C. B. 2005
  • Negotiatio Germaniae. Tacitus' Germania und Enea Silvio Piccolomini, Giannantonio Campana, Conrad Celtis und Heinrich Bebel. Hypomnemata 158 Krebs, C. B. Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. 2005
  • Carl Joachim: Antike Rhetorik im Zeitalter des Humanismus Bryn Mawr Classical Review Krebs, C. B. 2004
  • Review of Formen römischer Geschichtsschreibung von den Anftingen bis Livius. Gattungen - Autoren - Kontexte Bryn Mawr Classical Review Krebs, C. B. 2003
  • Das Problem der amicitia in der 18. Epistel des Horaz Hermes Krebs, C. B. 2002; 130: 81-99
  • Teutamos Der Neue Pauly Krebs, C. B. 2002
  • Review of Sallust, Studienbücher Antike Bryn Mawr Classical Review Krebs, C. B. 2002
  • Teuthras Der Neue Pauly Krebs, C. B. 2002
  • Strophios Der Neue Pauly Krebs, C. B. 2001
  • Prometheus Der Neue Pauly Krebs, C. B. 2001
  • Review of Klassiker der politischen Philosophie Das Historisch-Politische Buch Krebs, C. B. 2001; 49: 442-3
  • Medienethische Überlegungen anhand von Fernsehwerbung Fernsehwerbung. Theoretische Analysen und empirische Befimde Friedrichsen, M., Krebs, C. B. edited by Friedrichsen, M., Jenzowsky, S. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag. 1999: 43–60
  • Medienpädagogik in Schleswig-Holstein: Status Quo, kritische Reflexion, Perspektiven Friedrichsen, M., Krebs, C. B. Kiel: Unabhängige Landesrundfunkanstalt. 1999
  • Friesische und niederdeutsche Programmangebote im schleswig-holsteinischen Rundfunk: Bestandsaufnahme und konkrete Perspektiven Friedrichsen, M., Krebs, C. B., Wysterski, M. Kiel: Unabhängige Landesrundfunkanstalt. 1999