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Dr Elena Theodorakopoulos is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology at the University of Birmingham. Specializing in Roman poetry and classical reception studies, she teaches courses spanning Roman poetry and prose, Athenian drama, Latin language, and intersections between Classics and contemporary literature/film. Current research focuses on women’s writing and classical reception Expertise in translation/adaptation of classical texts by women writers Published extensively on Catullus and classical themes in modern media Her research supervision includes topics like: Elizabeth Cook’s feminist reception of Achilles Ali Smith’s gender analysis of Ovid’s Metamorphoses Recent publications explore the reception of Homer in women's writing, closure mechanisms in Roman poetry, and Fellini’s cinematic Rome. She co-edits volumes on classical reception and contributes to academic debates on pedagogical approaches to ancient texts.

• Roman Poetry (Republic and Principate)
• Classical Reception Studies
• Classical Literature in Contemporary Film
• +5 more

Prof Catharine Edwards holds the position of Professor of Classics & Ancient History at Birkbeck, University of London, within the School of Historical Studies. She specializes in Roman cultural history, Latin literature (particularly Seneca and Cicero), and the reception of antiquity in 19th-century European culture. She earned her PhD from the University of Cambridge and is a Fellow of the British Academy (2021). Research Interests: Subjectivity, gender, and self-construction in ancient texts Roman cultural history with focus on late Republic/early Principate Reception studies, especially 19th-century interpretations of Rome Teaching & Supervision: Leads modules on Roman history, Latin literature, and classical reception. Currently supervises 5 PhD students including Alex Smith (Ovid's Heroides commentary) and Andrew Regan (classical receptions in Burton/Browne). Notable alumni include Alexandra Atkins (classical portrait busts in 18th-century country houses). Key Contributions: Authored/edited major works such as Seneca: Selected Letters (2019), Roman Presences (2007), and Death in Ancient Rome (2007). Her research bridges ancient texts with modern cultural formations, exploring how classical antiquity shapes later identities.

• Roman Cultural History
• Gender Studies
• Latin Literature
• +3 more

Timothy Smith is a Departmental Lecturer in Roman History at the University of Oxford, affiliated with Brasenose College. He holds a DPhil from Oxford and MA degrees from Victoria University of Wellington in Classics and Literary Translation. His research explores popular political participation in the Roman world, focusing on how urban environments reflected interactions between citizens and elites. Current projects include transforming his doctoral thesis on the Roman aedileship into a book and translating Claudio Pasi's poetry. Teaching focuses on Roman history and Cicero's works. Recent publications analyze censorship in the early Principate, electoral authoritarianism under Sulla, and the spatial politics of Roman governance. His work bridges ancient political structures with modern interpretations of urban sociology. Research highlights include examining state terrorism in the late Republic and reconstructing electoral practices through material culture. No specific awards are listed, though his academic contributions reflect sustained innovation in classical historiography. Advising and grants information is not provided in available records. Collaborative work includes co-editing volumes on Roman censorship and hosting interdisciplinary dialogues on translation studies.

• Roman History
• Political History
• Classical Studies
• +3 more