Christopher Lillington-Martin

BA, PGCE (Wales), MSt (Oxon)

Publication

• Date
• Type

Research

My current research project, entitled ‘Literature as Pharmakon: A Narratological Approach to Medical Writings’, focuses on exploring storytelling’s role in health and cultural memory. My interdisciplinary approach connects literary and archaeological insights to advance understanding of the past.

1.     My pblications (https://www.ocla.ox.ac.uk/people/christopher-lillington-martin)

Edited volume

1.         Lead editor, Procopius of Caesarea: Literary and Historical Interpretations (with E. Turquois),             www.routledge.com/9781472466044 (2018).

Most recent (2024)

2.         “Antonina patricia: Theodora’s Fixer at the Female Court and the Politics of Gender in Procopius” in Empresses-in-waiting: Power, Performance, and the Female Court of the Later Roman Empire (4th-7thc.) edited by Rollinger, C. and Viermann, N. (Liverpool University Press 2024), pages 223-241, https://liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10.3828/9781802075939;

3.         “The strategic and economic importance of western Mediterranean islands to Byzantium,   from the 6th century: Belisarius’ strategy” in Las islas Baleares durante la Antigüedad Tardía (siglos   III-X), Historia y Arqueología, edited by Miguel Ángel Cau Ontiveros (Archaeopress 2024), pages 60-69, https://www.archaeopress.com/Archaeopress/Products/9781789692365;

Forthcoming

4. “Procopius´ Xenophontic Dreams” in: The Reception of Xenophon edited by Gish, D. and Farrell, C. (Brill, Leiden) – forthcoming 2025.

Chapters:

5.         “Introduction” and chapter 10, “Procopius, πάρεδρος / quaestor, Codex Justinianus, I.27 and Belisarius’ strategy in the Mediterranean”, pages 157-185 in 1. Procopius of Caesarea above;

6.         “Procopius on the struggle for Dara and Rome” in: War and Warfare in Late Antiquity: Current Perspectives (Late Antique Archaeology 8.1-8.2 2010-11) by Sarantis A. and Christie N. (2010-11) edd. (Brill, Leiden 2013), pages 599-630, ISBN 978-90-04-25257-8 (MSt. dissertation);

7.         “Fortifications in the West: Spain” in 7: pages 278-280 (co-authored with O. Olesti Vila);

8.         “La defensa de Roma por Belisario” in: Justiniano I el Grande (Desperta Ferro) edited by Alberto Pérez Rubio, no. 18 (July 2013), pages 40-45, ISSN 2171-9276;

Articles:

9.         “Turning Traitor: Shifting Loyalties in Procopius’ Gothic Wars” in BYZANTINA ΣΥΜΜΕΙΚΤΑ 31 (2021), pages 281-305 (co-authored with M. E. Stewart);

10.        “Hard & Soft Power on the Eastern Frontier: a Roman Fortlet between Dara and Nisibis, Mesopotamia, Prokopios’ Mindouos?” in: The Byzantinist, (ed) D. Whalin, Issue 2 (2012), pp. 4-5 http://oxfordbyzantinesociety.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/obsnews2012final.pdf

11.        “Procopius, Belisarius and the Goths” in: Journal of the Oxford University History Society: Odd Alliances, (2009) edited by H. Ellis and G. Iglesias Rogers, pp. 1-17. ISSN 1742917X, https://sites.google.com/site/jouhsinfo/issue7specialissueforinternetexplorer 

12.        “Fragments of a Statue Base? RIB 642 and 703”, British Epigraphy Society Workshop II (York 2008), pages 1-10, http://www.britishepigraphysociety.org/uploads/9/7/3/4/9734305/rib_642_and_703.pdf,

13.        “Archaeological and Ancient Literary Evidence for a Battle near Dara Gap, Turkey, AD 530: Topography, Texts and Trenches” in: BAR –S1717, 2007 The Late Roman Army in the Near East from Diocletian to the Arab Conquest edited by Ariel S. Lewin & P. Pellegrini, pp 299-311.

14.        “Pilot Field-Walking Survey near Ambar & Dara, SE Turkey”, British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara: Travel Grant Report, Bulletin of British Byzantine Studies, 32 (2006), pages 40-45;

15.        “Justinianic Greece”, British School at Athens: Hector & Elizabeth Catling Travel Bursary Report, Bulletin of British Byzantine Studies, 30 (2004), pages 29-35;

16.        “Justinianic Fortifications in S.E. Turkey”, British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara: Travel Grant Report, Bulletin of British Byzantine Studies, 29 (2003), pages 41-43.

Summary & Reviews:

17.        Summary of: “Procopius and his Justinianic World” in Boletín de la Sociedad Española de Bizantinística, edited by Juan Signes Codoñer and David Pérez Moro, 43 (2023), pages 15-25;

18.        Review of: Roman military architecture on the frontiers: armies and their architecture in late antiquity edited by R. Collins, M. Symonds and M. Weber. Oxford; Philadelphia: Oxbow Books (2015) for Bryn Mawr Classical Review (6 October 2017),             http://www.bmcreview.org/2017/10/20171011.html;

19.        Review of: Theodahad: A Platonic King at the Collapse of Ostrogothic Italy by Massimiliano Vitiello (2014) for University of Toronto Quarterly, Issue 85:3 (Summer 2016), 470-472. http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/utq.85.3.470;

Public Engagement

20.        Interview: “Secret Histories”, http://classicsconfidential.co.uk/2011/11/19/secret- histories/ 

21.       Dara, the battle of A.D.530, interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgTE_nE9LpA&index=2&list=PLmuNzB7fPSDeiRuf            h90IzKxHz0p3_s5xc

22.       Dara, the battle animated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3sO1TR4ngM (editor)

23.        “Source for a handbook: Reflections of the Wars in the Strategikon and archaeology” in: Ancient Warfare edited  by Jasper Oorthuys, Vol. IV, Issue 3 (June 2010), pages 33-37,  

24.        “Roman tactics defeat Persian pride” in Ancient Warfare edited by Jasper Oorthuys, Vol. II, Issue 1 (February 2008), pages 36-40.

Teaching

I'm focusing on my doctoral research Fellow, under the supervision of Professor L. Totelin, in the School of Global Humanities.

My current research project, entitled ‘Literature as Pharmakon: A Narratological Approach to Medical Writings’, focuses on exploring storytelling’s role in health and cultural memory. My interdisciplinary approach connects literary and archaeological insights to advance understanding of the past. 

Biography

I left school at 16 to work in a bank but I found reading Ancient History, especially Procopius of Caesarea, much more interesting and I was accepted to read a BA in Ancient History & History at Swansea. On graduating, I moved to Barcelona where I taught English (partly at the University of Barcelona and British Council) and learnt Catalan, then Spanish. After a 'fling' with marketing education, I returned to Wales where I undertook a PGCE in Further Education at Cardiff, which led to my teaching History and Spanish at Staffordshire University and English at The British Council in Naples. Another 'fling' with marketing education took me to London but I seized the opportunity to teach English to international students at Reading University and History with Classics at a nearby sixth form. I continued teaching History and Classics and started researching, presenting at conferences and publishing. This led to my completing an MSt. at the University of Oxford, after which I continued with my academic research and publications (mostly on Procopius) whilst teaching mostly Classics, and some History. Then I returned to the University of Barcelona to teach English to aspiring teachers, whilst continuing my research. The opportunity to return to Cardiff was irresistible.