Irene (Yue) Wu

Irene (Yue) Wu graduated from Peking University with a B.A. in World History in 2022. She joined the Classics Studies Program at Peking University and studied Latin and Greek with a specific focus on ancient Mediterranean history. In addition, she explored classical Syriac and touched on Biblical Aramaic out of her interest in the religious minorities in Late Antiquity. Her undergraduate thesis, entitled “Piety and Logoi: A Reading of the ‘Hellenism’ in Libanius’ Antiochikos,” examined the rhetorical strategies employed in Libanius’ Olympic oration in 356 CE to reconcile the Antiocheans’ virtues with his interpretation of Hellenism, particularly with respect to religious piety. She furthered her language skills in Greek, Latin, and French and took courses on Classics and Late Antiquity in the Post-Baccalaureate Program at UCLA after graduation. Her research interests primarily lie in Greek and Roman historiography, Syriac literature, and the intellectual history of Late Antiquity.