A really great way to start researching a new topic is by getting an overview or in-depth background information.  One of the (many) great things about reference works in classics is that they are written by scholars in the field and often include references to primary sources.

• Specialized online encyclopedias such as:
  • Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World
  • Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization
  • Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome
  • Oxford Companion to Classical Literature
     
• Print reference sources in classics are located in the Reference section, on the 1st Floor of the Library. Print and online reference sources are searchable via OneSearch.
  • Oxford Classical Dictionary
    DE5 .O9 2003
  • Classical Studies: A Guide to the Reference Literature
    PA91 .J4 2006
     
• Online reference databases such as:
  • Brill's New Pauly (Encyclopedia of the Ancient World)
  • Gale Virtual Reference Library
  • Oxford Reference