Dimitris Plantzos

Dimitris Plantzos is a Professor of Classical Archaeology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, where he has taught since the early 2000s. Educated at Athens and Oxford, he combines empirical research with critical theory to explore Greek art, archaeological theory, and modern receptions of antiquity.

• Member of the Society of Antiquaries of London
• Director of the Argos Orestikon Excavation Project

His research spans archaeology, cultural theory, and identity politics, focusing on Hellenistic and Roman visual culture, the discipline’s history, and the intersection of heritage with contemporary political discourse. He critiques how archaeology legitimizes nationalist and colonial narratives, particularly in Southeastern Europe.

Recent publications analyze funerary practices in Ptolemaic Alexandria, archaeogenetics in modern politics, and repatriation as a tool for reasserting Greece’s whiteness. His work often addresses the biopolitical use of antiquity in framing national identity during crises.

Scientific awards:

• Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London

He directs the Argos Orestikon excavations and contributes to debates on the politicization of archaeology, advocating for a more reflexive discipline.