Nothing goes better with ancient history than a good cocktail.

The UT Humanities Center is extending education beyond campus in the first installment of the “Conversations and Cocktails” series at The Orangery restaurant. The first lecture, “Damned to the Beasts,” will feature Director of UT’s Humanities Center Thomas Heffernan speaking on the early persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire.

“What I’m looking at is the beginnings of the Christian religion while it’s still a very small cult,” Heffernan explained, noting the causes of religious persecution have parallels to current violence in France and the Middle East. “In some ways it’s an ongoing perennial problem … It’s basically ignorance on both sides.”

In addition to examining the initial and frequently brutal persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire, Heffernan plans to add a human element to the history through his examination of the world’s oldest autobiography of a woman. He originally translated the true account of a 22-year-old mother and Roman aristocrat who, after refusing to denounce Christianity, was fed to wild animals in front of an arena crowd. Heffernan noted it took him nearly 15 years to translate the autobiography, traveling to such locations as Paris, Jerusalem and North Africa where the woman was originally from.

Rebecca Kiger, owner of The Orangery where the lecture will take place, looks forward to showcasing the unique look of her restaurant.

“When (the organizers of the series) came and talked to us, they said they loved the look of the indoor courtyard,” Kiger said, citing her establishment’s European look as ideal for the historical lectures to be held there.

Heffernan’s lecture “Damned to the Beasts” will be held Jan. 13 from 6-7:30 p.m. All drinks served during the lecture will be sold at happy hour prices, while The Orangery’s courtyard and fine dining menus will be made available to attendees.

Reservations are encouraged and can be made with The Orangery at (865-588-2964).