Gunnar Seelentag

Prof. Dr. Gunnar Seelentag is Professor of Ancient History at Leibniz University Hannover, Faculty of Philosophy, Historical Seminar. Since 2019 he leads the master’s programme in History, serves on the Examination Board for Atlantic Studies, and advises students and prospective scholars.

Education & Career:

• 1991–1998: Studies in History, Latin and English, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg
• 2002: Dr. phil., University of Freiburg
• 2011: Habilitation, University of Cologne
• 2012: Heisenberg Fellowship, German Research Foundation (DFG), Goethe University Frankfurt
• 2014–2019: Professor of Ancient History, University of Rostock
• Since 2019: Professor of Ancient History, Leibniz University Hannover

Research Focus: Seelentag’s work explores the social and political history of the Greco-Roman world with special attention to archaic Greece and the early Roman imperial period. He investigates processes of institutionalisation, forms of competition among elites, and the construction of citizenship and social identity, especially on Crete. Methodologically, his projects combine historical, epigraphic, archaeological and legal perspectives to model how communities create and contest norms.

Current flagship project: Competitive challenges from Principes and Senators (DFG, 2022-) produces a monograph analysing honour-based competition between emperors and senatorial aristocracy. Earlier networks, funded by the DFG and the EU, examined competition and institutionalisation in archaic Greece (2014-2020), yielding the 2020 edited volume Competition and Institutionalization in the Greek Archaic Period.

Scientific Awards:

• Bruno Snell Prize of the Mommsen Society for the monograph Trajan's deeds and virtues (2004)

Advising & Grants: As contact professor for the master’s programme in History, Seelentag mentors graduate students and coordinates examination procedures. His research is continuously supported by grants from the German Research Foundation (DFG) and European academic networks.

Laboratory/Research Group: At Leibniz University Hannover, Seelentag heads a research group on archaic and imperial history, hosting workshops and international visitors within the DFG-funded project Competition among (Un)Equals.