Opening up the Classics to the digital world

Our Department of Classics and Ancient History has made freely available Diogenes and DiogenesWeb, open-source software providing digital access to the Classics.

Professor Peter Heslin is the developer of Diogenes, a desktop application, and DiogenesWeb, an app for phones and tablets.

The pathway to ancient literature

Diogenes combines access to the full range of classical literature with sophisticated search functionality. The user can also click on any word to get an instant analysis of its form along with the associated definitions.  

This means that people from all over the world, especially in developing countries where access to printed resources is limited, can access the totality of ancient literature along with integrated, authoritative dictionaries.

Diogenes is regularly used by secondary and undergraduate students globally alongside people with an interest in classical languages.  

The Diogenes desktop app is entirely self-contained and does not require an Internet connection for any of its functionality.

DiogenesWeb needs an Internet connection but does not require installing any software.

Find out more

• Learn more about the work of Peter Heslin, Professor in our Department of Classics and Ancient History, and member of the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies.
• Explore the Diogenes desktop application and the DiogenesWeb web application.
• Read a review article on the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae and a discussion of the possibilities of digital resources for studying classical literature.
• Interested in studying at Durham? Explore our undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Classics and Ancient History, which is ranked 13th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022.