Maria Parani

Maria Parani is an Associate Professor at the University of Cyprus' Department of History and Archaeology, specializing in Byzantine and medieval Cypriot material culture. With academic credentials from Athens, University College London, and Oxford, she has held prestigious fellowships at Dumbarton Oaks and Princeton University.

• Current affiliations: University of Cyprus (since 2005), Archaeological Research Unit
• Teaching: Byzantine archaeology, art history, and cultural identity

Research Focus: Byzantine dress and identity, imperial ceremonial, gender in visual arts, and material culture of daily life. Her work bridges textual analysis with archaeological evidence, particularly in Cyprus.

Publication Trends: 2018-2025 publications reveal a trajectory from material culture studies to gender analysis and digital humanities projects like the ByzAD database. Her recent book chapters in Byzantine Dress: A Guide (2025) and Routledge Handbook on Gender and Sexuality in Byzantium (2024) highlight evolving scholarly priorities.

Awards & Collaborations: Recipient of Dumbarton Oaks and Princeton fellowships. Collaborated with international institutions across Cyprus, Greece, Italy, and the U.S. Currently coordinating digital corpus projects and postdoctoral research initiatives.

Teaching Portfolio: Courses spanning from Introduction to Byzantine Archaeology to specialized topics on imperial iconography and post-Byzantine art, serving both undergraduate and interdepartmental master's programs.