This paper focuses on a short term plan for a computerized multimedia expert system in the field of the classics that is under development at the University of California at Los Angeles. Noting both increased enrollments in classics courses and the problems associated with finding textbooks for courses in ancient civilizations that cover a variety of subjects, the paper describes the creation of a flexible three-part framework of software: (1) a core of multimedia databases; (2) an inner ring of scholarly utilities for using and modifying the databases; and (3) an outer ring of pedagogical applications, which use the scholarly utilities and databases. A sample lesson--an exploration of the city of Rome with a friendly student interface called "Cicero"--shows how the outer ring will be used in computer assisted instruction for students of classical civilization and Latin. A figure illustrates the organization of the software framework. (EW)