Barbara Kowalzig

Barbara Kowalzig is an Associate Professor of Classics and History at New York University's College of Arts & Science, specializing in ancient Greek religious and cultural history within the broader Mediterranean context. Her research integrates sociology of music and performance with economic transformations in antiquity.

She has held prestigious fellowships at institutions including the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, Stanford Humanities Center, and Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin. Her academic leadership includes serving as Director of Graduate Studies in Classics at NYU.

Key research areas include:

• Religion and anthropology of ancient Greece
• Music and performance in antiquity
• Social and economic history of the Mediterranean
• Cognitive aspects of ancient religions
• Comparative approaches to pre-modern societies
• Intercultural Mediterranean dynamics

Her recent publications analyze religious-economic networks, dithyramb's role in social change, and maritime cultural interactions, reflecting her interdisciplinary methodology.

Scientific awards include the Conington Prize and Hellenic Foundation Prize for doctoral work. She teaches courses spanning Greek history, ethics in ancient economies, and Mediterranean drama.