Alison Griffith

Dr. Alison Griffith is an Associate Professor and Head of Department in Classics at the University of Canterbury, Faculty of Arts, where she has been employed since January 1997. She also served as Dean of Arts (Academic) from 2017-2019 and Associate Dean of Arts (Academic) from 2014-2016. Her office is located at 103C UC Arts City, 3 Hereford Street, Christchurch.

Dr. Griffith's research has three primary foci:

• Her current book project "The Mysteries of Mithras in Imperial Rome" combines expertise in Roman religion with knowledge of ancient Rome's topography
• A book-length study of family violence in Roman myths, focusing on Livy's "Ab Urbe Condita" and Valerius Maximus' "Facta et Dicta Memorabilia"
• Completion of a project to catalogue and publish the ancient coin collection in the Canterbury Museum

Dr. Griffith's publications demonstrate a strong focus on Roman religion, particularly the Mithras cult, Roman mythology, and religious practices in ancient Italy. Her work frequently adopts a holistic approach combining material evidence with literary sources, often incorporating cognitive history perspectives to understand ancient religious experiences. She has published extensively on topics including religious rituals, sacred spaces, healing practices, and the intersection of religion with daily life in the Roman world.

Dr. Griffith has served in various professional capacities:

• Member of the Australasian Society for Classical Studies since 2013
• Vice President of Australasian Women in Ancient World Studies since 2012
• Editorial work for the Electronic Journal of Mithraic Studies
• Extensive conference abstract reviewing for the Australasian Society for Classical Studies
• Journal reviewing for Latomus and Wiley-Blackwell publishers

Dr. Griffith has supervised numerous research students across a wide range of topics in Classical Studies. Her students have explored subjects including the Mithras cult, Roman baths and healing practices, Roman topography, and ancient coins. She has also been involved in museum-related projects, particularly with the Canterbury Museum's classical collections, including work on oil lamps and ancient coins.