Matteo Martelli

Matteo Martelli is a Full Professor in the History of Science at the University of Bologna’s Department of Philosophy. He specializes in the history of alchemy and medicine across ancient, Byzantine, Syriac, and Arabic traditions. His research focuses on textual transmission, cross-cultural knowledge exchange, and the socio-technical practices of pre-modern science.

Education: PhD in History of Science (2012, University of Pisa); PhD in Classics (2007, University of Bologna); MA in Classics (2002). He has held positions at institutions including the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften and the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

Research Interests: Graeco-Egyptian alchemy, Byzantine medical compendia, Syriac translations of scientific texts, and the reception of ancient alchemical knowledge. He directs the ERC-funded project ‘AlchemEast’ exploring alchemy’s origins from 1500 BCE to 1000 AD.

Major Achievements: Awarded prizes for his book on Pseudo-Democritus’ alchemical texts (2011, 2013). Editor for Archives Internationales d’Histoire des Sciences and Ambix. Organized over 20 international conferences on topics like late antique pharmacology and medical knowledge transfer.

Grants & Leadership: ERC Consolidator Grant (2017–2022), Rita Levi Montalcini Grant nominee, and co-applicant on multiple international grants. Serves on editorial boards and scientific committees globally.