Katarzyna Kołakowska

Dr. Katarzyna Kołakowska serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Greek Philology at the Institute of Literary Studies, Faculty of Humanities, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL). Her academic profile spans classical philology, ancient philosophy, and manuscript studies with particular expertise in Greek paleography and codicology. She maintains active international collaborations, including research partnerships with the Russian Academy of Sciences and participation in the American Philological Association.

Her research interests center on Presocratic philosophy—especially Empedocles and Orphic traditions—with significant contributions to Derveni Papyrus scholarship and Greek manuscript collections in Poland. Kołakowska examines intersections between ancient religious practices, philosophical thought, and literary forms, while also exploring classical reception in modern contexts such as hip-hop culture. Her methodological approach integrates textual criticism, paleographic analysis, and comparative studies of papyrological evidence from Herculaneum and Berlin collections.

Kołakowska's publication record reveals consistent engagement with Orphic studies and Empedoclean philosophy across two decades, demonstrating methodological evolution from textual analysis toward broader cultural interpretations. Her work increasingly connects ancient manuscript traditions with contemporary theoretical frameworks in political philosophy and cultural studies, particularly evident in her Aristotle-Voegelin comparative analyses and classical reception research.

• Inner Reward Award of the Rector of KUL for scientific activity (2007)
• Individual Award, Second Degree (2015)
• Editor-in-Chief of Littera Antiqua journal (2010-2016)

She has directed major research initiatives including 'Greek manuscripts in Poland - a forgotten heritage' (Ministry of Education project) and 'The Greek Romance: The First European Novel' (state-funded). Kołakowska organized the Colloquia Orphica conference series and served as expert for national educational programs including 'Samorządowy Lider Edukacji'. Her international collaborations with Moscow's Institute of Paleography and participation in Athens workshops demonstrate her transnational scholarly network.

Kołakowska leads research teams focused on Polish collections of Greek manuscripts, directing projects that document Kraków, Elbląg, and Toruń holdings while developing preservation methodologies for Berlin State Library materials. Her work bridges Polish academic institutions with international paleography communities through the Koinos Logos research group.