معرفی
James B. Rives is the Kenan Eminent Professor of Classics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis (1981) and a Ph.D. from Stanford University (1990). Before joining UNC in 2006, he taught at Columbia University and York University in Toronto. He entered phased retirement in 2024-25 but continues teaching a graduate seminar on Apuleius and an undergraduate Greek course on the Gospel of Mark. His research focuses on religion in the Roman imperial period, particularly its interplay with socio-political power and religious change from the 1st BCE to 4th CE. Key works include Animal Sacrifice in the Roman Empire (2024), a monograph exploring the role of sacrifice in Roman religious transformation, and edited works like revised translations of Suetonius and Tacitus for Penguin Classics. His articles analyze topics such as Roman law on magic, persecution of Christians, and Apuleius’ legal rhetoric. Rives’ work bridges ancient historiography, ethnography, and cultural analysis, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding Graeco-Roman religious dynamics.
Education:
- B.A., Classics, Washington University in St. Louis (1981)
- Ph.D., Classics, Stanford University (1990)
Research Interests:
- Religion in Roman imperial contexts
- Socio-political power dynamics
- Roman historiography and ethnography
- Latin prose and ancient scholarship
- Cultural/intellectual history of the high Roman Empire
Recent Work Trends: His publications consistently address animal sacrifice as a lens for understanding religious change, legal frameworks governing sacred practices, and intersections between religious identity and imperial power. Recent articles emphasize Constantine’s policies, provincial religious practices, and gendered participation in ritual.
Teaching: Currently teaches courses on Apuleius and early Christian texts, reflecting his expertise in ancient religion and literature. Previous courses covered Roman history, Latin prose, and myth/religion in antiquity.
Labs/Teams: No specific lab affiliations noted; primarily an individual scholar with collaborative editorial work.
