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Dr Ruth Westgate
Uwch Ddarlithydd mewn Hanes yr Henfyd ac Archaeoleg
- Ar gael fel goruchwyliwr ôl-raddedig
Trosolwyg
Research and teaching interests
- Greek archaeology and social history
- Greek and Roman art and architecture
- Domestic space in classical antiquity
- Ancient mosaics and painting, especially in the Classical and Hellenistic periods
Cyhoeddiad
2025
- Nissin, L. and Westgate, R. 2025. Sleeping arrangements. In: Matuszewski, R. ed. A Cultural History of Sleep and Dreaming in Antiquity. A Cultural History of Sleep and Dreaming Bloomsbury Academic
2024
- Westgate, R. 2024. Housing in the Ancient Mediterranean World: Material and Textual Approaches, J.A. Baird and A. Pudsey (eds.) [Book Review]. Bryn Mawr Classical Review
2021
- Westgate, R. 2021. Housing and inequality in ancient Greece. In: Cerasuolo, O. ed. The Archaeology of Inequality: Tracing the Archaeological Record. Institute for European and Mediterranean Archaeology Proceedings Vol. 10. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, pp. 211-234.
2020
- Westgate, R. 2020. Household organization. In: Pache, C. ed. The Cambridge Guide to Homer. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 346-351.
2018
- Westgate, R. 2018. A survey of approaches to Greek and Roman Art - (C.) Marconi (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Art and Architecture [Review]. Classical Review 68(1), pp. 200-202. (10.1017/S0009840X17001615)
2017
- Westgate, R. 2017. A.Glazebrook and B.Tsakirgis (eds.), Houses of Ill Repute: The archaeology of brothels, houses, and taverns in the Greek World [Book Review]. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 9, article number: 58.
2016
- Westgate, R. 2016. F. Venturini, I Mosaici Di Cirene Di Età Ellenistica E Romana: Un Secolo Di Scoperte (Cirene ‘Atene d'Africa’ 5; Monografie di archeologia libica 34). [Book Review]. Journal of Roman Studies 106, pp. 312-313. (10.1017/S0075435816000927)
2015
- Westgate, R. 2015. Space and social complexity in Greece from the early Iron Age to the Classical period. Hesperia 84(1), pp. 47-95. (10.2972/hesperia.84.1.0047)
2014
- Westgate, R. C. 2014. Greek and Roman mosaics. Oxford Bibliographies: Classics, article number: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780195389661-0104. (10.1093/obo/9780195389661-0104)
2013
- Westgate, R. C. 2013. Making yourself at home in the Hellenistic world. In: Ager, S. L. and Faber, R. A. eds. Belonging and Isolation in the Hellenistic World. Phoenix. Supplementary volume Vol. 51. Toronto: University of Toronto Press
2012
- Westgate, R. 2012. A landmark in mosaic studies. Review article on D.S. Neal and S.R. Cosh, The Roman Mosaics of Britain, volumes III and IV (Society of Antiquaries, London, 2009, 2010). Britannia 43, pp. 423-425. (10.1017/S0068113X12000414)
- Westgate, R. C. 2012. Mosaics, Roman Empire. In: Bagnall, R. S. et al. eds. The Encyclopedia of Ancient History. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 4598-4602.
- Westgate, R. C. 2012. Mosaics. In: Smith, T. J. and Plantzos, D. eds. A Companion to Greek Art. Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 186-199.
2011
- Westgate, R. C. 2011. Party animals: the imagery of status, power and masculinity in Greek mosaics. In: Lambert, S. D. ed. Sociable Man: Essays on Ancient Greek Social Behaviour in Honour of Nick Fisher. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales, pp. 291-322.
2010
- Westgate, R. C. 2010. Interior decoration in Hellenistic houses: context, function and meaning. In: Ladstätter, S. and Scheibelreiter, V. eds. Städtisches Wohnen im östlichen Mittelmeerraum, 4. Jh. v. Chr. – 1. Jh. n. Chr.: Akten des Internationalen Kolloquiums vom 24.–27. Oktober 2007 an der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Archäologische Forschungen Vol. 18. Vienna: Austrian Academy of Sciences, pp. 497-528.
2007
- Westgate, R. C. 2007. House and society in Classical and Hellenistic Crete: a case study in regional variation. American Journal of Archaeology 111, pp. 423-457.
- Westgate, R. C. 2007. The Greek house and the ideology of citizenship. World Archaeology 39(2), pp. 229-245. (10.1080/00438240701257671)
- Westgate, R. C., Fisher, N. R. E. and Whitley, A. J. M. eds. 2007. Building communities: house, settlement and society in the Aegean and beyond. Proceedings of a conference held at Cardiff University, 17–21 April 2001. British School at Athens Studies Vol. 15. London: British School at Athens.
- Westgate, R. C. 2007. Life's rich pattern: decoration as evidence for room function in Hellenistic houses. In: Westgate, R. C., Fisher, N. R. E. and Whitley, A. J. M. eds. Building Communities: House, Settlement and Society in the Aegean and Beyond. Proceedings of a Conference held at Cardiff University 17-21 April 2001. British School at Athens Studies Vol. 15. London: British School at Athens, pp. 313-321.
2002
- Westgate, R. C. 2002. Hellenistic mosaics. In: Ogden, D. ed. The Hellenistic World: New Perspectives. Swansea/ London: Classical Press of Wales and Duckworth, pp. 221-251.
2000
- Westgate, R. C. 2000. Pavimenta atque emblemata vermiculata: regional styles in Hellenistic mosaic and the first mosaics at Pompeii. American Journal of Archaeology 104(2), pp. 255-275.
- Westgate, R. C. 2000. Space and decoration in Hellenistic houses. The Annual of the British School at Athens 95, pp. 391-426.
1999
- Westgate, R. C. 1999. Genre and originality in Hellenistic mosaics. Mosaic 26, pp. 16-25.
1998
- Westgate, R. C. 1998. Greek mosaics in their architectural and social context. Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies 42(1), pp. 93-115. (10.1111/j.2041-5370.1998.tb00725.x)
Articles
- Westgate, R. 2024. Housing in the Ancient Mediterranean World: Material and Textual Approaches, J.A. Baird and A. Pudsey (eds.) [Book Review]. Bryn Mawr Classical Review
- Westgate, R. 2018. A survey of approaches to Greek and Roman Art - (C.) Marconi (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Art and Architecture [Review]. Classical Review 68(1), pp. 200-202. (10.1017/S0009840X17001615)
- Westgate, R. 2017. A.Glazebrook and B.Tsakirgis (eds.), Houses of Ill Repute: The archaeology of brothels, houses, and taverns in the Greek World [Book Review]. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 9, article number: 58.
- Westgate, R. 2016. F. Venturini, I Mosaici Di Cirene Di Età Ellenistica E Romana: Un Secolo Di Scoperte (Cirene ‘Atene d'Africa’ 5; Monografie di archeologia libica 34). [Book Review]. Journal of Roman Studies 106, pp. 312-313. (10.1017/S0075435816000927)
- Westgate, R. 2015. Space and social complexity in Greece from the early Iron Age to the Classical period. Hesperia 84(1), pp. 47-95. (10.2972/hesperia.84.1.0047)
- Westgate, R. C. 2014. Greek and Roman mosaics. Oxford Bibliographies: Classics, article number: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780195389661-0104. (10.1093/obo/9780195389661-0104)
- Westgate, R. 2012. A landmark in mosaic studies. Review article on D.S. Neal and S.R. Cosh, The Roman Mosaics of Britain, volumes III and IV (Society of Antiquaries, London, 2009, 2010). Britannia 43, pp. 423-425. (10.1017/S0068113X12000414)
- Westgate, R. C. 2007. House and society in Classical and Hellenistic Crete: a case study in regional variation. American Journal of Archaeology 111, pp. 423-457.
- Westgate, R. C. 2007. The Greek house and the ideology of citizenship. World Archaeology 39(2), pp. 229-245. (10.1080/00438240701257671)
- Westgate, R. C. 2000. Pavimenta atque emblemata vermiculata: regional styles in Hellenistic mosaic and the first mosaics at Pompeii. American Journal of Archaeology 104(2), pp. 255-275.
- Westgate, R. C. 2000. Space and decoration in Hellenistic houses. The Annual of the British School at Athens 95, pp. 391-426.
- Westgate, R. C. 1999. Genre and originality in Hellenistic mosaics. Mosaic 26, pp. 16-25.
- Westgate, R. C. 1998. Greek mosaics in their architectural and social context. Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies 42(1), pp. 93-115. (10.1111/j.2041-5370.1998.tb00725.x)
Book sections
- Nissin, L. and Westgate, R. 2025. Sleeping arrangements. In: Matuszewski, R. ed. A Cultural History of Sleep and Dreaming in Antiquity. A Cultural History of Sleep and Dreaming Bloomsbury Academic
- Westgate, R. 2021. Housing and inequality in ancient Greece. In: Cerasuolo, O. ed. The Archaeology of Inequality: Tracing the Archaeological Record. Institute for European and Mediterranean Archaeology Proceedings Vol. 10. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, pp. 211-234.
- Westgate, R. 2020. Household organization. In: Pache, C. ed. The Cambridge Guide to Homer. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 346-351.
- Westgate, R. C. 2013. Making yourself at home in the Hellenistic world. In: Ager, S. L. and Faber, R. A. eds. Belonging and Isolation in the Hellenistic World. Phoenix. Supplementary volume Vol. 51. Toronto: University of Toronto Press
- Westgate, R. C. 2012. Mosaics, Roman Empire. In: Bagnall, R. S. et al. eds. The Encyclopedia of Ancient History. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 4598-4602.
- Westgate, R. C. 2012. Mosaics. In: Smith, T. J. and Plantzos, D. eds. A Companion to Greek Art. Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 186-199.
- Westgate, R. C. 2011. Party animals: the imagery of status, power and masculinity in Greek mosaics. In: Lambert, S. D. ed. Sociable Man: Essays on Ancient Greek Social Behaviour in Honour of Nick Fisher. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales, pp. 291-322.
- Westgate, R. C. 2010. Interior decoration in Hellenistic houses: context, function and meaning. In: Ladstätter, S. and Scheibelreiter, V. eds. Städtisches Wohnen im östlichen Mittelmeerraum, 4. Jh. v. Chr. – 1. Jh. n. Chr.: Akten des Internationalen Kolloquiums vom 24.–27. Oktober 2007 an der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Archäologische Forschungen Vol. 18. Vienna: Austrian Academy of Sciences, pp. 497-528.
- Westgate, R. C. 2007. Life's rich pattern: decoration as evidence for room function in Hellenistic houses. In: Westgate, R. C., Fisher, N. R. E. and Whitley, A. J. M. eds. Building Communities: House, Settlement and Society in the Aegean and Beyond. Proceedings of a Conference held at Cardiff University 17-21 April 2001. British School at Athens Studies Vol. 15. London: British School at Athens, pp. 313-321.
- Westgate, R. C. 2002. Hellenistic mosaics. In: Ogden, D. ed. The Hellenistic World: New Perspectives. Swansea/ London: Classical Press of Wales and Duckworth, pp. 221-251.
Books
- Westgate, R. C., Fisher, N. R. E. and Whitley, A. J. M. eds. 2007. Building communities: house, settlement and society in the Aegean and beyond. Proceedings of a conference held at Cardiff University, 17–21 April 2001. British School at Athens Studies Vol. 15. London: British School at Athens.
- Westgate, R. C. 2011. Party animals: the imagery of status, power and masculinity in Greek mosaics. In: Lambert, S. D. ed. Sociable Man: Essays on Ancient Greek Social Behaviour in Honour of Nick Fisher. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales, pp. 291-322.
- Westgate, R. C. 2010. Interior decoration in Hellenistic houses: context, function and meaning. In: Ladstätter, S. and Scheibelreiter, V. eds. Städtisches Wohnen im östlichen Mittelmeerraum, 4. Jh. v. Chr. – 1. Jh. n. Chr.: Akten des Internationalen Kolloquiums vom 24.–27. Oktober 2007 an der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Archäologische Forschungen Vol. 18. Vienna: Austrian Academy of Sciences, pp. 497-528.
- Westgate, R. C. 2007. House and society in Classical and Hellenistic Crete: a case study in regional variation. American Journal of Archaeology 111, pp. 423-457.
- Westgate, R. C., Fisher, N. R. E. and Whitley, A. J. M. eds. 2007. Building communities: house, settlement and society in the Aegean and beyond. Proceedings of a conference held at Cardiff University, 17–21 April 2001. British School at Athens Studies Vol. 15. London: British School at Athens.
Ymchwil
My research is primarily concerned with the architecture and decoration of Greek and Roman houses, and the relationship between houses and the society, politics and economy of the ancient world.
Greek mosaics of the Classical and Hellenistic periods
I am working on a monograph about decorated mosaics in the Greek world from the fifth century to the early first century BC, covering pavements of pebbles, tesserae, stone chips and various combinations of materials. This will be the first comprehensive study of Greek mosaics since the 1930s, ranging from the pebble mosaics of the Classical period to the late Hellenistic pavements of Delos and Pompeii, and including a corpus of decorated mosaics which will enable scholars to get a reliable overview of this material for the first time. The book will survey the techniques, materials and design of the mosaics, and will re-evaluate the prevailing models of their stylistic and technical development, considering each pavement in its architectural and regional context. But it also goes beyond conventional art-historical concerns to explore the changing ways in which mosaics and other decoration were used to structure the space in houses, and thus to gain insights into social and economic trends in the Classical and Hellenistic periods.
Domestic space in Archaic–Hellenistic Greece
Another strand of my work examines the relationship between domestic space and socio-political organisation in the Greek world. At present I am exploring the ways in which the development of social and political complexity in the Aegean was played out in the architecture of houses from the Early Iron Age to the Classical period, looking at how social roles and status distinctions within and between households shaped the architecture and decoration of houses.
I am particularly interested in Classical and Hellenistic houses in Crete, which are strikingly different in their form and appearance from the courtyard houses found elsewhere in the period. The differences may be related to a different form of social organisation on Crete, which is attested by the literary sources; the austere, backward-looking appearance and furnishings of Cretan houses in this period suggest a desire to suppress or deny social change.
Addysgu
Is-raddedig
- Ymchwilio i'r Byd Hynafol: Sgiliau a Thystiolaeth
- Gwrthrychau hynafol: ddoe a nawr
- Cyflwyniad i Gelf ac Archaeoleg Groeg
- Celf ac Archaeoleg Gwlad Groeg Archentaidd
- Hellenistic Art and Architecture
Ôl-raddedig
- Pwnc Arbennig: Y Byd Hynafol
Bywgraffiad
Addysg a chymwysterau
- 1995 PhD, Hanes Gelf, Prifysgol Manceinion (Mosaigau Groeg y Cyfnodau Clasurol a Helenistaidd)
- 1988 BA Classics, Coleg Clare, Caergrawnt
Trosolwg gyrfa
- 2019–2023 Pennaeth Hanes a Chrefydd yr Henfyd
- 2013–presennol Uwch Ddarlithydd mewn Archaeoleg a Hanes yr Henfyd, Prifysgol Caerdydd
- 2004–2013 Darlithydd mewn Archaeoleg a Hanes yr Henfyd, Prifysgol Caerdydd
- 1998–2004 Cymrawd Ymchwil/Darlithydd mewn Archaeoleg a Hanes yr Henfyd, Prifysgol Caerdydd
- 1996 Darlithydd Cyswllt, Adran y Clasuron, Coleg y Brenin Llundain
- 1993–1995 Myfyriwr Macmillan-Rodewald, Ysgol Brydeinig yn Athen
- 1992–1993 Myfyriwr Ysgol, Ysgol Brydeinig Athen
Llwyddiannau nodedig
- Cymrodoriaeth Absenoldeb Ymchwil Prifysgol Caerdydd 2017
- 2008 Cymrodoriaeth Ymchwil Leverhulme am waith ar fonograff ar fosaigau Groegaidd.
- 2001 Prif drefnydd y gynhadledd 'Adeiladu Cymunedau: Tŷ, Anheddiad a Chymdeithas yn yr Aegean a Thu Hwnt'.
Aelodaethau proffesiynol
- Publicity Officer and Committee member, Association for the Study and Preservation of Roman Mosaics
- Member of Standing Commitee, Council of University Classical Departments
- Member of Council, Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies, 2007–2010
- Secretary, Cardiff and District Classical Association, 2001–2010
- Member, Association International pour l'Étude de la Mosaïque Antique
- Member of Council, British School at Athens, 1996–1998
Meysydd goruchwyliaeth
Ardaloedd dan oruchwyliaeth
Byddai gennyf ddiddordeb mewn goruchwylio prosiectau PhD ar:
- Tai ac aelwydydd Groegaidd a Rhufeinig
- Mosaigau a phaentio hynafol
- Celf a phensaernïaeth Groegaidd a Rhufeinig, yn enwedig o'r cyfnodau Clasurol, Hellenistaidd a Imperialaidd Cynnar
- Archaeoleg Gwlad Groeg a hanes cymdeithasol
Myfyrwyr PhD cyfredol
- Karen Gregory, Mapio Mosaig ym Mhrydain Rufeinig y bedwaredd ganrif: patrymau rhanbarthol a rhwydweithiau elitaidd; Cyd-oruchwyliwr gyda Martin Pitts (Prifysgol Caerwysg)
- Alexia Miltiadous-Johansson, tai ac aelwydydd yn Creta Helenistaidd–Rufeinig a Chyprus; Cyd-oruchwyliwr gyda James Whitley
Prosiectau'r gorffennol
- Vasiliki Kontogianni, Haenau Hydroffobig ac ychwanegion organig mewn Mortariaid Hellenistic-Rufeinig: Astudiaeth Achos Creta; trydydd goruchwyliwr gyda David Watkinson a Nicola Emmerson (gwobrwywyd 2022)
- Nadia Randle, Triumphabant aeternae domus: motiffau o arfau yn Addurno Domestig Rhufeinig; Cyd-oruchwyliwr gyda Guy Bradley (gwobrwywyd 2015)
- Mark Woolmer, Masnachwyr Rhyngranbarthol yn y Byd Groeg: Reappraisal o'u statws cymdeithasol, gwleidyddol a chyfreithiol yn ystod y cyfnodau Archentaidd a Chlasurol; Cyd-oruchwyliwr gyda Louis Rawlings (gwobrwywyd 2009)
- Janett Morgan, Cwlt Domestig yn y Tŷ Groeg Clasurol; Cyd-oruchwyliwr gyda Nick Fisher (gwobrwywyd 2005)
Contact Details
Themâu ymchwil
Arbenigeddau
- Celf Groeg a Rhufeinig
- Archaeoleg Groeg a Rhufeinig
- Hanes hynafol