Roberto Nickel

Roberto Nickel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Classics and Archaeology at Brock University, part of the Faculty of Humanities. He holds a BA from the University of British Columbia and an MA and PhD from the University of Toronto. His research focuses on ancient epic poetry, particularly Homer, Hesiod, and the Homeric Hymns, with specialties in oral poetic theory and narratology. Current projects explore narrative constructions of the past in Odyssey, Heracles in epic traditions, and Hera’s role in Hesiodic poetry.

Education:

• BA, University of British Columbia
• MA, University of Toronto
• PhD, University of Toronto

Research interests include interdisciplinary approaches to ancient texts, combining literary analysis with performance studies. Recent work examines mythological archetypes, character transformation (e.g., Paris in epic), and gender dynamics in Homeric narratives. His publications bridge classical scholarship with modern critical theory.

Recent presentations include talks on opera adaptations of Greek myths (e.g., Handel’s Acis and Galatea and Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride), illustrating connections between ancient literature and later artistic forms. He has also contributed reviews on Homeric scholarship in leading journals.