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Current PhD candidates

Ben Clarkson

Ben Clarkson profile photo. BSc(Hons), DipGrad (Classics), BA(Hons), MA (Otago)

The Chimeric Nature of Belief: A Cognitive Examination of Homeric Myth, Oracles and Occultism

The principal aim of this research is to examine Homer's Iliad from a cognitive perspective, and to use approaches from the field of cognitive science in an attempt to elucidate how features of the narrative structured the engagement of the individual in the classical context. I hope to examine both the roles of the narrator and the audience of the text in this regard, and aim to pay special attention to the piece as a performative work - viz. as a spoken text and a piece of (originally) oral composition. As an extension of this I intend to examine the role of seers and oracles in the Iliad, as there are several interesting passages dealing with manteis that warrant examination.

Supervisors: Arlene Allan and Joseph Watts (Religion)

Karl Hart

Primary supervisor: Sean McConnell

Christopher Hext

Chris Hext profile photo. MA (London), LL.B.(Hons) (Leicester), BSc (Otago)

The Character and Origin of the Paschal Computus

The Paschal computus is a complicated function used by the Christian church to determine the date of its most important festival, Easter day. The calculation involves, in particular, a cycle of dates predicting incidences of the full moon. The reasons for the complexity, and for the involvement of the moon at all, are far from being immediately obvious; especially given that other Christian festivals, such as Christmas and saints' days, are simply assigned to fixed dates in the civil calendar.

In the first five centuries the computus was a remarkable preoccupation of church leaders and scholars, and it generated substantial controversy. It is a very unusual fusion of theological and scientific thought. The object of this research is to achieve a better appreciation of the principles underlying the character and origin of the computus, and an understanding of why it developed the way it did. Important areas to be considered are the connection between the computus and Jewish calendrical practice ; the extent to which the computistical ideas of the seventh century and later can safely be projected back to the early period ; and the relationship between the calendric parameters of the computus system, which are i) the range of dates on which Easter day can possibly fall, ii) the range of dates on which relevant full moon can possibly fall, and iii) the range of the number of days which are allowed to intervene between the two.

Supervisors : Sean McConnell and Paul Trebilco (Theology)

Jaymie Orchard

Jayme Orchard profile photo. BA(Hons) (University of British Columbia), MA (University of Western Ontario

The Manipulation of Roman Social Memory through the Curated Display of Plunder

Around the turn of the second century BCE, the practice of plundering culturally significant artifacts from conquered communities and bringing them back to Rome for display became an increasingly important aspect of identity creation for Rome, as an empire, as well as for individuals. Plunder entered Rome for the first time to be seen by the public in the triumph, a highly ritualized military procession, and was subsequently displayed in more permanent public spaces.

I investigate how the display of plundered cultural artifacts was curated by victorious generals to manipulate the social memory of events of conquest, how this display created positive narratives of Roman imperialism among the citizenry, and how the display of plunder was used as a tool of empire building. Though, I focus on ancient Rome, I also consider the ongoing modern practice of the display of stolen cultural artifacts still housed in museums around the world.

Supervisors: Gwynaeth McIntyre and Dan Osland

Matthew Watts

Matt Watts profile photo. BA, BA(Hons), MA (Otago)

The Metz Epitome: Translation and Historical Commentary

The Epitoma rerum gestarum Alexandri Magni, more commonly known as the Metz Epitome, was likely composed during the 4th or 5th century CE. This text is understudied and often overlooked despite providing valuable information on Alexander the Great’s campaigns through Bactria, Sogdiana, and India. Though the sole manuscript containing the text was destroyed in 1944 during an Allied bombing raid over the city of Metz, the text has survived in several critical editions, with P H Thomas’ 1966 edition serving as the standard text for scholarly use. The text itself has been viewed simply as an abridgement of the Cleitarchic tradition and disregarded in favour of more complete narratives. This PhD project translates the text and provides a historical commentary of the source. Through the utilisation of a functionalist lens, this project investigates the text and its intended audience. It situates the Metz Epitome in the context of other historical sources of Alexander and refutes the notion that the text was only a simple abridgement of the Cleitarchic tradition. Instead, this project argues that the Metz Epitome should be read as a conscious condensation and compilation of the historical traditions surrounding Alexander’s campaigns.

Supervisors: Sean McConnell and Dan Osland

Current MA students

Hannah Schmierer

'Men Who Conform to the Will of God': The Judaean Experience under the Early Ptolemies, According to Josephus

In his Judaean Antiquities and Against Apion, Josephus presents the first three Ptolemies as showing particular respect for their Judaean subjects. This thesis intends, firstly, to examine to what extent this presentation aligns with other evidence for Judaean experiences under Ptolemies I-III. Secondly, factors that could have influenced Josephus' accounts will be considered – in particular, the context in which he was writing, and the intended audience(s) and purpose(s) of his work. Lastly, if Josephus' presentation is found to be supportable – that is, if there is evidence of these Ptolemies having chosen to treat their Judaean subjects benevolently or grant them unique privileges – the context and outcome of their policies will be explored. Ultimately, a clearer picture should emerge of both the significance of such policies to the early Ptolemies' governance, and the significance of these historical examples to Josephus and what he was seeking to do.

Supervisor: Pat Wheatley

Completed PhDs

Dean Alexander BA (Hons), MA (Otago)

Ultimus Romanorum: The Rise of Cassius the Tyrannicide

Supervisors: Jon Hall and Robert Hannah (Dean, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, University of Waikato)

Kara Braithwaite-Westoby PgDip, BA (Otago)

Epameinondas and the Theban Hegemony

Supervisors: Pat Wheatley and Sean McConnell

Charlotte Dunn BA (Hons), MA (Otago)

The Career of Demetrius Poliorcetes

Supervisors: Pat Wheatley and Jon Hall.

Kyle Gervais BSc (Hons), MA Classics (Queen's University)

A Commentary of Statius, Thebaid 2

Supervisors: William Dominik and John Garthwaite

Joel Gordon BMus, BA(Hons), MA (Victoria), GradDip (App Theol)

Imagining the Underworld: Topography Versus Eschatology

Supervisors: Arlene Allan and Sean McConnell

Thomas Köentges BA, MA (Leipzig)

A Commentary on the "pre-Cena" Section of Petronius' Satyrica

Supervisors: John Garthwaite and William Dominik

Maria Mackay BA, Dip Tchng, DCE, PGDipArts (English, Classics), Dip Grad (English, Classics), MA (Otago)

Klytaimestra: Gene and Gender Conflict in Greek Tragedy.

Supervisors: Arlene Allan and Brian Boyd (University of Auckland)

Cameron McPhail BA (Hons), MA (Otago)

The Continents and Panhellenism: From Homer to Herodotus.

Supervisors: Robert Hannah (Dean, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, University of Waikato) and Pat Wheatley

Stefan Pedersen BA (Massey), PGDipArts, MA (Otago)

Regularly Irregular Motion in Proclus' Celestial Physics

Supervisors: Robert Hannah (Dean, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, University of Waikato), Peter Anstey (Department of Philosophy)

Susan Pelechek BA (Coe College), PG Dip (Otago)

Representations and Receptions of Scipio Africanus

Supervisors:William Dominik, Jon Hall, and Pat Wheatley

Alessandra Pugliese BA, MA (Università Cattolica)

The Greek World and Rome in the Late Hellenistic Period

Supervisors: Pat Wheatley and Robert Hannah (Dean, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, University of Waikato)

Bill Richardson BA (Hons) (UTAS)

The Origin of Philip II's Panhellenism

Supervisors: Pat Wheatley and Sean McConnell

Constance Sleeth BA (Hons) (Trent), MA (Royal Holloway, U. of London)

Euripides' Zeus, Seneca's Jupiter: The Tragic 'Father of Gods and Men'

Supervisors: Arlene Allan and William Dominik

Andrew Stopyra BA (Hons) (Otago), MPhil (Cambridge)

Diodorus Siculus on Alexander

A transalation and commentary of Diodorus Siculus Book 17 on Alexander the Great.

Supervisors: Pat Wheatley and Jon Hall

Completed MAs

Scott Bezett

Searching for the Graecian Gesamtkunstwerk : The aesthetics of ancient tragedy as a model in opera from the Renaissance to Wagner

Supervisors: Gwynaeth McIntyre and Terence Dennis (Music)

John Blackler

Laughter in Plato

Supervisor: Sean McConnell

Chloe Bray

The Many Faces of the Moon: Lunar Mythology and Religion in the Ancient World

Supervisors: John Garthwaite and Robert Hannah (Dean, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, University of Waikato)

Tyler Broome

Ventriloquism in Ciceronian Oratory

Supervisor: Jon Hall

Campbell Calverley

The Rhetoric of Incest in Senecan Drama and Histories of Nero

Supervisor: Gwynaeth McIntyre

Ben Clarkson

Magic, Marriage and the Maiden: Love Magic and the Individual in the 5th and 4th Centuries B.C.E.

Supervisor: Arlene Allan

Jen Copedo

There's something in the Water: Personified dangers of the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic.

Supervisor: Alene Allan

Supun Ekanayake

'Ruling “the other”: Roman provincial administration and its hegemony during the Late Republic as reflected in selected works of Cicero'

Supervisor: Jon Hall

Will Harvey

Reflections on the Enigmatic Goddess: The Origins of Hekate and the Development of her Character to the End of the Fifth Century B.C.

Supervisor: John Garthwaite

Chelsea Johnston

Beware of that Cup!: The Role of Food-tasters in Ancient Society

Supervisor: Pat Wheatley

Lila Knight

From Commodus to Constantine: The Function and Administration of the Roman Imperial Mints in the Third Century CE

Supervisor: Dan Osland

Amanda Macauley

Plutarch and the Virtues of the Roman matrona: Feminine First Person Discourse in the Parallel Lives

Supervisor: Jon Hall

Andy MacManus

Roman Glass in the Otago Museum

Supervisor: Dan Osland

John Matthews

Doctor Ovid: Teaching what to whom in Tristia 2?

Supervisor: Jon Hall

Rhys Maurer

Agis III: Rebellion and Resistance – A historiographical account of Agis' rule and revolt in the context of Alexander's empire

Supervisor: Pat Wheatley

Jacqui Moate

'Alleviating Death Anxiety in Epicureanism'

Supervisor: Sean McConnell

Jon Rolfe

The Politics and Social Prestige of Priesthoods in the Late Republic

Supervisor: Jon Hall

Jessy Ruiter

Cultural Influences on Roman Burial Practices in the West

Supervisor: Dan Osland

Nathan Watson

From Philosophising Ass to Asinine Philosopher: Satire in Book 11 of Apuleius' Metamorphoses

Supervisor: John Garthwaite

Matthew Watts

India and South East trade with the Greek West: an examination of cross-cultural trade relations in the 4th Century BCE

Supervisor: Pat Wheatley

Classics BA with Honours

Classics BA (Honours) 2022

Ingrid Hurle

The Modern Identity Crisis for the Vestal Virgins
Supervisor: Gwynaeth McIntyre

Ruby Mackle

Influences on Virgil's Italian Landscapes
Supervisor: Dan Osland

Classics BA (Honours) 2021

Samuel W E Gamble

Fit For A God: The Emergence of the Greek Temple
Supervisor: Dan Osland

Taichi Kojima

The Man of Many Turns: The Heroism, Suffering, and Intellect of Odysseus
Supervisor: Gwynaeth McIntyre

Michael Mckenzie

The Arms and Armour of Alexander the Great's Macedonian Army
Supervisor: Pat Wheatley

Alessandro Pezzuto

The Golden Statesmen: Augustus and Pericles?
Supervisor: Gwynaeth McIntyre

Hannah Schmierer

Everywhere but His Back: The Injuries and Illnesses of Alexander the Great
Supervisor: Pat Wheatley

Morgan Page-Browne

Airs, Waters, Places: Ethnography or Medicine
Supervisor: Jon Hall

Lauryn Hortle

The Lion, the Witch, and the Weaver: A study in Modern Receptions of Homer's Odyssey
Supervisor: Gwynaeth McIntyre

Classics BA (Honours) 2020

Scott Bezett

Xenophon's Spartan Fabrication: The Construction of an Ideal State in Xenophon's Constitution of the Lacedaemonians
Supervisor: Sean McConnell

Ben Clarkson

Binding and Demons: δαίμονες in Ancient Greek κατάδεσμοι
Supervisor: Arlene Allan

Kiri Lenagh-Glue

Paene potius puer: The use and manipulation of age identifiers in Cicero's Philippicae
Supervisor: Jon Hall

Lydie Leurquin

To what extent did the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures influence the Late Bronze Age Aegean? A preliminary study of eastern Aegean tombs and the origins of the material culture.
Supervisor: Dan Osland

Rhys Maurer

The Tragic Rule of Lysimachus: A Thematic Study of the Exclusion of Lysimachus' Rule in the History of the Diadochi
Supervisor: Pat Wheatley

Megan Snell

The Roman Empire and Gaul, 260–476
Supervisor: Dan Osland

Eliza Thompson

Ideological change in Athenian Funerals: A Case Study of the Lekythoi Vases in the Otago Museum
Supervisor: Dan Osland

Classics BA (Honours) 2019

Tyler Broome

'Moral decline in Sallust's Bellum Catilinae and Bellum Iugurthinum'
Supervisor: Gwynaeth McIntyre

Madeleine Fountain

'Life on the Northern Frontier of Roman Britain'
Supervisor: Dan Osland

Pia Huston

'Gender in the Underworld'
Supervisor: Arlene Allan ​

Helena Jones

'Aristophanes' wives and lovers'
Supervisor: Arlene Allan

Sarah MacManus

'On the side of man: Athena as a civilizing force'
Supervisor: Gwynaeth McIntyre

Jacqui Moate

'Homer and the Presocratics on the soul'
Supervisor: Sean McConnell

Classics BA (Honours) 2018

Samantha Ball

'“...the Macedonians would never tolerate being governed by a woman” (Plut. Alex. 68.4). The Macedonian royal women as successors'
Supervisor: Pat Wheatley

John Blackler

'Deface the philosopher: a consideration of Lucian's contribution to Cynicism'
Supervisor: Sean McConnell

Robyn Cooper

'The archaeological evidence of Roman household religion'
Supervisor: Dan Osland

Heather Hutchings

'Form and function in Vergil's Georgics'
Supervisor: Sean McConnell

Charlotte Murray

'Mistresses, priestesses, and wives: an analysis of female power in fifth century Athens'
Supervisor: Arlene Allan

Jessy Ruiter

'The development of the Roman military shield'
Supervisor: Dan Osland

Matthew Watts

'Silver and sand: economic policies of Ptolemy I Soter'
Supervisor: Pat Wheatley

Classics BA (Honours) 2017

Tom Brown

Creating an Emperor: Examining the Augustan Persona through Time and Author
Supervisor: Gwynaeth McIntyre

Mallory Heslop

'Dying with Artemis: Greek women's lives, liminality, and encounters with death'
Supervisor: Arlene Allan

Lila Knight

Perceptions of Caligula's Relationship with the Roman Army on Imperial Coinage
Supervisor: Gwynaeth McIntyre

Tabitha Moe

Minoan Prowess
Supervisor: Dan Osland

Classics BA (Honours) 2016

Serena Gold

Deciphering Lost History: Arrian's τὰ μετὰ Ἀλέξανδρον and its Historical Significance
Supervisor: Pat Wheatley

Gene Haggie

Origins of felicitas in Sulla's Reign
Supervisor: Gwynaeth McIntyre

Libby Neumann

Seen but Not Heard: An Exploration of Childhood and the Role of Children in the Art and Archaeology of Campania
Supervisor: Dan Osland

Rowan Newton

Cognitive Spectatorship in Greek Theatre and Performative Ritual
Supervisor: Arlene Allan

Classics BA (Honours) 2015

Campbell Calverley

A Woman Scorned: Literary Representations of Phaedra
Supervisors: William Dominik and Jon Hall

Katie Greene

Iambic Invective: The Protest Music of Archaic Greece
Supervisor: Arlene Allan

Christopher Hawtin

An innovative proof of concept webpage featuring the first one-hundred lines of Virgil's Aeneid with digital annotations
Supervisor: Dan Osland

Ruth Tae'iloa

The Value of a Virtue: Homeric Masculinity in Traditional Tonga
Supervisor: Sean McConnell

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