معرفی
Professor Rhiannon Ash is a renowned academic specializing in Roman historiography and Latin literature, particularly the works of Tacitus. She holds a position at the University of Oxford's Department of Classics and serves as a Fellow and Tutor at Merton College. Her research focuses on analyzing the syntax and narrative techniques of Latin imperial prose authors, with a deep engagement in Tacitus' representation of Roman emperors and civil wars. She co-authored Fifty Key Classical Authors (Routledge 2002) and a children’s book, Mystery History of the Roman Colosseum (Aladdin 1997), emphasizing accessibility in classical studies. Currently, she is working on a monograph exploring Pliny the Elder’s Natural History as a lens for Flavian imperial power.
Education:
- MA DPhil, University of Oxford
- MA, University of Toronto
Research Interests: Professor Ash's work spans Latin prose literature of the imperial era, Roman historiography, and ancient epistolary studies. She examines how Tacitus’ linguistic choices shape historical interpretation, and her recent project reinterprets Pliny the Elder’s marine biology writings (Book IX of Natural History) to reflect broader imperial dynamics. She also studies Greek and Roman biography, battle narratives, and the interplay between rhetoric and historiography in ancient texts.
Publications Trends: Her recent articles highlight thematic consistency: exploring political symbolism (e.g., The Fasces), analyzing Tacitus’ narrative techniques (e.g., Heralding a Proem in the Middle), and deconstructing civil war tropes through spatial and rhetorical frameworks (e.g., Tiberius in Space). These works underscore her focus on textual innovation and historiographical bias in the transition from Republic to Principate.
Awards:
- R.D. Milns Visiting Professor (2017), University of Queensland
Teaching and Grants: She teaches Latin literature modules for Oxford’s Mods and Greats programs, including Tacitus and Tiberius special subjects. While no explicit grants are noted, her roles at Merton College and academic staff status suggest institutional support. Her collaborative works with Dr. Alison Sharrock exemplify interdisciplinary approaches to classical education.
Labs/Teams: Engages in Oxford’s Classics department research networks, contributing to textual commentaries and historiography projects. Her current monograph project involves cross-disciplinary analysis of Pliny’s Natural History, blending literary and imperial studies methodologies.
