New profile of Symbolae Osloenses

With Vol. 72 (1997), Symbolae Osloenses introduced some changes in its scholarly profile and editorial policy as well as its lay-out. The journal's new subtitle, "Norwegian Journal of Greek and Latin Studies", formally acknowledges the fact that academic study of the classical languages in Norway is no longer confined to the University of Oslo (as it was in the 1920s when the journal got its present name). In fact, Greek and Latin studies have long since also been established in the three younger universities, which now all have their representatives in our Editorial Board.

Furthermore, by choosing "Greek and Latin" rather than "Classical Studies" in the subtitle, we indicate that Medieval and Neo-Latin as well as Byzantine Greek studies are nowadays important parts of the discipline. This wider chronological perspective will naturally be mirrored in the contents of the journal.

Each volume of Symbolae Osloenses will from now on be divided into three main sections. The first section, called "SO Debate", will normally feature a major debate article on some topic of current interest, followed by comments from an international panel of scholars and by an extensive bibliography. While new topics may be introduced in each or every second volume, further contributions to the previous debates are also welcome. Scholars are invited to send in their suggestions for subsequent debate topics; major debate articles which the journal commissions will be remunerated.

The second section will contain scholarly articles on topics related to Greek and Latin texts of all periods, composed in English, French or German and selected according to the same criteria as have guided the editors of Symbolae Osloenses through the years. While the intrinsic interest and quality of the contribution is, of course, the main criterion for inclusion, priority may be given to articles (a) written by scholars attached to Norwegian universities, (b) related to the Oslo papyrus collection or other national text resources, or (c) continuing the discussion from articles previously published in the journal. All articles submitted are refereed.

The third section will be devoted to review articles, bibliographical surveys, Forschungsberichte etc., as well as information on current Greek and Latin studies in Norwegian universities, including a selected list of scholarly work published in the previous year and doctoral theses in progress. After decades of a rather modest mode of existence, classical studies are at present encouraged by the Norwegian Research Council and the universities, and it is to be hoped that Symbolae Osloenses in its new format will be able to reflect the development and prospective growth of the discipline.