Professor, Greek and Roman History, and Latin
Chair
BA, MA (Queen’s), PhD (McMaster)
Phone: 905 688 5550 x3796
Fax: 905 984 4859
Email: [email protected]
Fall 2025 Teaching
CLAS 1P91: Discovering Ancient Greece,
CLAS/KINE 2P40: Ancient Sport and Spectacle
Winter 2026 Teaching
CLAS/HIST/ITAL 2P97: History of the Early Roman Empire
My primary research interest relates to the social and cultural significance of gladiatorial contests and similar (Roman) spectacles in the Greek, eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. I am concerned especially with the effect that the adoption and adaptation of such thoroughly Roman spectacles in the Greek world had on Greek society and identity. Related to this, I am interested in the logistics involved with the production of these spectacles, such as financing and organization, the multi-sensorial nature of the arena-games, and in associated entertainments spectacles, such as animal shows, martyrdoms, and ancient athletics. I am also interested in Roman history more broadly, Romanization, Topography of Rome, Greek and Latin language, epigraphy, and historiography.
2014 recipient of the Humanities Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity
2013 recipient of the Faculty of Humanities Award for Excellence in Teaching
Forthcoming. “Chapter 14. Entertainment in the Roman World”. In M. Gibbs and M. Nikolic (eds.) Themes in Roman Society. Third Edition. (Oxford U Press).
Forthcoming. “Sport, Entertainment, and Spectacles in Ancient Rome”. In J. Rüggemeier and S. Feist (eds.) Early Christian Centers, Volume 2: Rome (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck).
Forthcoming. “Clamor Ingens Totius Populi. Creating a Sonic Community in the Roman Amphitheatre”. In S. Bell and N. Elkins (eds.) The Spectacle of Everyday Life: Sport and Spectacula in Roman Social Practice and Material Culture. (De Gruyter).
Forthcoming. With Nadine Brundrett: “A Tomb for CIL X 1074 and the Family of Aulus Clodius Flaccus at Pompeii”. Mouseion. Journal of the Classical Association of Canada.
2024. With Nadine Brundrett. “The Spectacles of Aulus Clodius Flaccus at Pompeii (CIL X 1074d)”. Phoenix. Journal of the Classical Association of Canada, Vol. 78.3-4: 242-262.
2021. “Chapter 18: Gladiators”. A. Futrell and T. Scanlon (eds). The Oxford Handbook of Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World (Oxford U Press) 232-241.
2020. “Combat Sports in the Ancient World.” In Linda Fibiger, Garrett G. Fagan, and Mark Hudson (eds.) The Cambridge World History of Violence. Volume 1 – The Prehistoric and Ancient Worlds. Overall series editors: Philip Dwyer and Joy Damousi. 493-511.
2018. “Armorum Studium: Gladiatorial Training for Youth.” In P. Ripat and S. Bell (eds.) Childhood and Competition: Festschrift for Mark Golden. Institute of Classical Studies 61. University of London. 119-131.
2015. “Bloodbath: Artemidorus, Apotomos Combat and Ps.-Quintilian’s The Gladiator.” Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 193: 39-52.
2015. With J. Edmondson. “Spectacle in Rome, Italy, and the Provinces”. In J. Edmondson and C. Bruun (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Roman Epigraphy (Oxford) 535-556.
2014. “Landscaping the Roman Arena.” Studies in the History of Gardens & Designed Landscapes 35 (2015). (Published online 17 July 2014: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14601176.2014.940176)
2014. “Romanization through Spectacle in the Greek East.” In D.G. Kyle and P. Christesen (eds.) Companion on Sport and Spectacle in Greek and Roman Antiquity (Wiley-Blackwell) 619-632.
2013. “Persuade the People: Violence and Roman Spectacles in the Greek East.” In S. Ralph (ed.) The Archaeology of Violence (Institute for European and Mediterranean Archaeology, Buffalo) 158-168.
2011. “Blown Call? Diodorus and the Treacherous Summa Rudis.” Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 177: 63-69.
2010. “Gladiators and Monomachoi: Greek Attitudes to a Roman Cultural Performance.” In Z. Papakonstantinou (ed.) Sport in the Cultures of the Ancient World (Routledge) 150-174.
