B u l l e t i n - Noble and Greenough School

nile Mosaic of palestrina. pillows can
be stuffed with the feathery head of
the reed for extra comfort. Do be
aware of fire-wielding marauders,
though, as they tend to make quick
work of the reed structures.
Finally, no day is complete without
the soundtrack to our lives. skip You-
Tube and iTunes and go for the versatile
tunes of the fistula (flute-reed) or the
aulus (pipe-reed). somber enough for
religious processions, yet lively enough
for satyr bashes. [Check out Ovid for
illustration By jon Cannell
stories to accompany the music, and
Theophrastus for recs on the specs.]
—DAVE ULriCH
The preceding piece was inspired by a more
scholarly article originally published in the
new England Classical Journal 38.4
(2011) 267–284, as Classics teacher Dave
Ulrich began noticing the botanical elements
in the background of classical art
and decided to bring these elements to the
fore. Ulrich was astounded by the role that
a plant as simple as the reed could play in
the development of civilization, from
simple hunting and gathering to the complex
creature comforts of advanced cultures.
“The varied manifestations of the
reed,” he says, “show how man has manipulated
his natural surroundings in order
to procure dwelling, bedding and alimentation;
to partake in commerce, transport
and warfare; to obtain pleasure with
writing, decoration and entertainment.”
Ulrich teaches Latin, Spanish
Cinema, Aventuras americanas de los
españoles and Roman Civilization.
ThE NOBLES BULLETiN SprING 2012 17