![Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/2073?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
(he/him)
- Welsh speaking
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
Professor in Ancient History
Overview
Professor in Ancient History at Cardiff University with specialisms in Iranian history, the ancient Near East and Egypt; Global antiquities, Gender; and Reception Studies
Series Editor - Edinburgh Studies in Ancient Persia. Edinburgh University Press.
Series Editor - Screening Antiquity. Edinburgh University Press
Board of the British Institute of Persian Studies
My main research interests are:
Ancient Iran and the Near East; Egypt; east-west relations in antiquity; global antiquity; stoytelling traditions; court society; gender and sexuality; reception of history in the arts and popular culture
I am available for Phd supervision for all of these subjects and others by negotiation.
Publication
2024
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2024. Clothing the Shami Prince: The dress of Parthian horsemen. In: Chidwick, H. ed. The Body of the Combatant in the Ancient Mediterranean. London: Bloomsbury. , pp.77-98.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2024. The Cleopatras: The forgotten queens of Egypt. London: Wildfire.
2023
- Frasier, J. , Llewellyn-Jones, L. and Bishop-Wright, H. 2023. Luxury and power: From Persia to Greece.. London: British Museum.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2023. Ancient Persia and the Book of Esther. Achaemenid court culture in the Hebrew Bible. I B Tauris.
2022
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2022. Athens and Persia, 472 BCE. In: Stuttard, D. ed. Looking at 'Persians'. London: Bloomsbury. , pp.27-44.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2022. Body and clothing. In: Wharton., D. ed. Cultural History of Colour in Antiquity. Vol. 1, The Cultural Histories Series Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.. , pp.81-102.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2022. Mary Beatrice of Modena: A queen observed. In: Norrie, A. et al., Tudor and Stuart Consort. Queenship and Power Palgrave Macmillan. , pp.291-311. (10.1007/978-3-030-95197-9_17)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2022. Persians: The Age of The Great Kings. Wildfire Books.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2022. Wives, other women, and boyfriends. In: Stoneman, R. ed. Alexander the Great: the Making of a Myth.. London: British Library. , pp.158-167.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. and McAuley, A. 2022. Sister-Queens in the high Hellenistic period: Kleopatra Thea and Kleopatra III. Routledge Studies in Ancient History London, UK: Routledge. (10.4324/9781315206578)
- Tougher, S. and Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2022. Alexander the gay and the gloryhole that was Greece. In: Stoneman, R. ed. A History of Alexander the Great in World Culture. Cambridge University Press. , pp.424-447. (10.1017/9781316711798.020)
2021
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2021. Dress and ceremony in achaemenid Persia: the 'Gaunaka'. In: Batten, A. J. and Olsen, K. eds. Dress in Mediterranean Antiquity: Greeks, Romans, Jews, Christians. Bloomsbury. , pp.159-172.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2021. Hair and social status in the near east and early Greece, c. 900-300 BC. In: Batten, A. J. and Olsen, K. eds. Dress in Mediterranean Antiquity: Greeks, Romans, Jews, Christians.. Berg. , pp.172-188.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2021. The court. In: Rollinger, R. and Jacobs, B. eds. A Companion to the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Wiley Blackwell. , pp.1035-1046. (10.1002/9781119071860.ch71)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2021. The royal 'Gaunaka': dress, identity, status and ceremony in achaemenid Iran. In: Pankova, S. and Simpson, S. J. eds. Masters of the Steppe: The Impact of the Scythians and Later Nomad Societies of Eurasia. Archaeopress. , pp.248-257.
2020
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2020. ‘Knocking her teeth out with a stone’: violence against women in Ancient Greece. In: Fibiger, L. et al., The Cambridge World History of Violence: Volume 1: The Prehistoric and Ancient Worlds. Vol. 1, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. , pp.380-399. (10.1017/9781316341247.020)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2020. Violence and the mutilated body in Achaemenid Iran. In: Fibiger, L. et al., The Cambridge History of Violence. Volume 1: The Prehistoric and Ancient Worlds. Vol. 1, The Cambridge World History of Violence Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. , pp.360-379. (10.1017/9781316341247.019)
2019
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2019. Clothing and textiles. In: Wharton, D. ed. A Cultural History of Colour in Antiquity.. Berg
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2019. 'Cockamamie, bull shite, hero worship, falsification of history': Iranian perceptions of the heroic in 300 and 300 Rise of an Empire. In: Augoustakis, A. and Ritchie, S. eds. Hercules and the Other Heroes.. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2019. Harem politics: Royal women and succession crises in the Ancient Near East (c. 1400-300 BCE). In: Woodacre, E. et al., The Routledge History of Monarchy. London and New York: Routledge(10.4324/9781315203195-31)
2018
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2018. Designs on the past: how Hollywood created the Ancient World. Screening Antiquity Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2018. Trouble in the Tehran multiplex: Iranian perceptions of the heroic in 300 and 300 Rise of an Empire. In: Augoustakis, A. and Richie, S. eds. Epic Heroes on Screen. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. , pp.191-205.
2017
- Lewis, S. and Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. The culture of animals in antiquity: A sourcebook with commentaries. Abingdon and New York: Routledge. (10.4324/9781315201603)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. Keeping and displaying royal tribute animals in Ancient Persia and the Near East. In: Fogen, T. and Thomas, E. V. eds. Interactions between Animals and Humans in Graeco-Roman Antiquity. Berlin/Munich/Boston: De Gruyter. , pp.305-338. (10.1515/9783110545623-013)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. Manliness, violation, and laughter: rereading the space and context of the Eurymedon vase. Journal of Greek Archaeology 2 , pp.221-234.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. 'Open Sesame!' Orientalist fantasy and the Persian Court in Greek Art 430-330 BCE. In: Strootman, R. and Versluys, M. eds. Persianism in Antiquity. Steiner Verlag. , pp.69-86.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. Persianisms: the Achaemenid Court in Greek art, 380-330 BCE. Iranian Studies 50 (6), pp.765-786. (10.1080/00210862.2016.1268379)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. Reviewing space, context and meaning: The Eurymedon vase again. In: Rodriguez Perez, D. ed. Greek Art in Context: Archaeological and Art Historical Perspectives. Routledge. , pp.97-115.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. "Salome, nice girl": Rita Hayworth and the problem of the Hollywood Biblical vamp. In: Almagor, E. and Maurice, L. eds. The Reception of Ancient Virtues and Vices in Modern Popular Culture: Beauty, Bravery, Blood and Glory. Metaforms Vol. 11.Brill. , pp.206-230.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. The Achaemenid Empire. In: Darayee, T. ed. King of the Seven Climes: A History of the Ancient Iranian World (3000 BCE - 651 CE). Ancient Iran Series Vol. 4.UCI Jordan Center for Persian Studies. , pp.63-103. (10.1163/9789004460645_006)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. and Davis, G. 2017. Gender and sexuality. In: Harlow, M. ed. A Cultural History of Dress and Fashion. Volume I: Antiquity.. Berg. , pp.87-104.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. and Davis, G. 2017. The Body. In: Harlow, M. ed. A Cultural History of Dress and Fashion. Volume I: Antiquity. Berg. , pp.49-69.
2016
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2016. Achaemenid Empire. In: MacKenzie, J. ed. The Encyclopedia of Empire. Wiley Blackwell. , pp.1-5. (10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe260)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2016. An orgy of Oriental dissipation? Some thoughts on the 'Camel lekythos'. DABIR: Digital Archive of Brief notes & Iran Review 1 (2), pp.31-38.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2016. Median Empire. In: MacKenzie, J. M. ed. The Encyclopedia of Empire. Wiley Blackwell(10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe263)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2016. The Kingdom of Lydia. In: MacKenzie, J. ed. The Encyclopedia of Empires. Wiley Blackwell(10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe264)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. and Winder, S. 2016. Berenike II and the Hathoric model of Queenship. In: Rutherford, I. ed. Greco-Egyptian Interactions: Literature, Translation, and Culture, 500 BC-AD 300.. Oxford: Oxford University Press. , pp.139-162.
2015
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2015. ‘That My Body is Strong’: the physique and appearance of the Achaemenid Monarch. In: Wascheck, F. and Shapiro, H. A. eds. Fluide Körper-Bodies in Transition. Cologne: Centre for Advanced Studies. , pp.211-248.
2014
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2014. Juvenalia: Bread and circuses. Times Literary Supplement (5812), pp.20-20.
2013
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2013. An almost all Greek thing: Cleopatra VII and Hollywood imagination. In: Nikoloutsos, K. P. ed. Ancient Greek Women in Film. Classical Presences Oxford: Oxford University Press. , pp.305-330.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2013. Empire of the gaze: seraglio fantasies à la greque in Chariton’s Callirhoe. Helios 40 (1/2), pp.167-191. (10.1353/hel.2013.0001)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2013. King and court in Ancient Persia 559-331 BCE. Debates and Documents in Ancient History Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
2010
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. and Robson, J. 2010. Ctesias’ History of Persia: tales of the Orient. Routledge Classical Translations) London: Routledge.
2004
- De Souza, P. et al., 2004. The Greeks at war: from Athens to Alexander. Essential Histories Specials Oxford: Osprey.
2003
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2003. Aphrodite’s tortoise: the veiled woman of Ancient Greece. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales.
Articles
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2016. An orgy of Oriental dissipation? Some thoughts on the 'Camel lekythos'. DABIR: Digital Archive of Brief notes & Iran Review 1 (2), pp.31-38.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2013. Empire of the gaze: seraglio fantasies à la greque in Chariton’s Callirhoe. Helios 40 (1/2), pp.167-191. (10.1353/hel.2013.0001)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2014. Juvenalia: Bread and circuses. Times Literary Supplement (5812), pp.20-20.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. Manliness, violation, and laughter: rereading the space and context of the Eurymedon vase. Journal of Greek Archaeology 2 , pp.221-234.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. Persianisms: the Achaemenid Court in Greek art, 380-330 BCE. Iranian Studies 50 (6), pp.765-786. (10.1080/00210862.2016.1268379)
Book sections
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2016. Achaemenid Empire. In: MacKenzie, J. ed. The Encyclopedia of Empire. Wiley Blackwell. , pp.1-5. (10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe260)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2013. An almost all Greek thing: Cleopatra VII and Hollywood imagination. In: Nikoloutsos, K. P. ed. Ancient Greek Women in Film. Classical Presences Oxford: Oxford University Press. , pp.305-330.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2022. Athens and Persia, 472 BCE. In: Stuttard, D. ed. Looking at 'Persians'. London: Bloomsbury. , pp.27-44.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2022. Body and clothing. In: Wharton., D. ed. Cultural History of Colour in Antiquity. Vol. 1, The Cultural Histories Series Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.. , pp.81-102.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2019. Clothing and textiles. In: Wharton, D. ed. A Cultural History of Colour in Antiquity.. Berg
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2024. Clothing the Shami Prince: The dress of Parthian horsemen. In: Chidwick, H. ed. The Body of the Combatant in the Ancient Mediterranean. London: Bloomsbury. , pp.77-98.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2019. 'Cockamamie, bull shite, hero worship, falsification of history': Iranian perceptions of the heroic in 300 and 300 Rise of an Empire. In: Augoustakis, A. and Ritchie, S. eds. Hercules and the Other Heroes.. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2021. Dress and ceremony in achaemenid Persia: the 'Gaunaka'. In: Batten, A. J. and Olsen, K. eds. Dress in Mediterranean Antiquity: Greeks, Romans, Jews, Christians. Bloomsbury. , pp.159-172.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2021. Hair and social status in the near east and early Greece, c. 900-300 BC. In: Batten, A. J. and Olsen, K. eds. Dress in Mediterranean Antiquity: Greeks, Romans, Jews, Christians.. Berg. , pp.172-188.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2019. Harem politics: Royal women and succession crises in the Ancient Near East (c. 1400-300 BCE). In: Woodacre, E. et al., The Routledge History of Monarchy. London and New York: Routledge(10.4324/9781315203195-31)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. Keeping and displaying royal tribute animals in Ancient Persia and the Near East. In: Fogen, T. and Thomas, E. V. eds. Interactions between Animals and Humans in Graeco-Roman Antiquity. Berlin/Munich/Boston: De Gruyter. , pp.305-338. (10.1515/9783110545623-013)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2020. ‘Knocking her teeth out with a stone’: violence against women in Ancient Greece. In: Fibiger, L. et al., The Cambridge World History of Violence: Volume 1: The Prehistoric and Ancient Worlds. Vol. 1, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. , pp.380-399. (10.1017/9781316341247.020)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2022. Mary Beatrice of Modena: A queen observed. In: Norrie, A. et al., Tudor and Stuart Consort. Queenship and Power Palgrave Macmillan. , pp.291-311. (10.1007/978-3-030-95197-9_17)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2016. Median Empire. In: MacKenzie, J. M. ed. The Encyclopedia of Empire. Wiley Blackwell(10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe263)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. 'Open Sesame!' Orientalist fantasy and the Persian Court in Greek Art 430-330 BCE. In: Strootman, R. and Versluys, M. eds. Persianism in Antiquity. Steiner Verlag. , pp.69-86.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. Reviewing space, context and meaning: The Eurymedon vase again. In: Rodriguez Perez, D. ed. Greek Art in Context: Archaeological and Art Historical Perspectives. Routledge. , pp.97-115.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. "Salome, nice girl": Rita Hayworth and the problem of the Hollywood Biblical vamp. In: Almagor, E. and Maurice, L. eds. The Reception of Ancient Virtues and Vices in Modern Popular Culture: Beauty, Bravery, Blood and Glory. Metaforms Vol. 11.Brill. , pp.206-230.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2015. ‘That My Body is Strong’: the physique and appearance of the Achaemenid Monarch. In: Wascheck, F. and Shapiro, H. A. eds. Fluide Körper-Bodies in Transition. Cologne: Centre for Advanced Studies. , pp.211-248.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. The Achaemenid Empire. In: Darayee, T. ed. King of the Seven Climes: A History of the Ancient Iranian World (3000 BCE - 651 CE). Ancient Iran Series Vol. 4.UCI Jordan Center for Persian Studies. , pp.63-103. (10.1163/9789004460645_006)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2021. The court. In: Rollinger, R. and Jacobs, B. eds. A Companion to the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Wiley Blackwell. , pp.1035-1046. (10.1002/9781119071860.ch71)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2016. The Kingdom of Lydia. In: MacKenzie, J. ed. The Encyclopedia of Empires. Wiley Blackwell(10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe264)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2021. The royal 'Gaunaka': dress, identity, status and ceremony in achaemenid Iran. In: Pankova, S. and Simpson, S. J. eds. Masters of the Steppe: The Impact of the Scythians and Later Nomad Societies of Eurasia. Archaeopress. , pp.248-257.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2018. Trouble in the Tehran multiplex: Iranian perceptions of the heroic in 300 and 300 Rise of an Empire. In: Augoustakis, A. and Richie, S. eds. Epic Heroes on Screen. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. , pp.191-205.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2020. Violence and the mutilated body in Achaemenid Iran. In: Fibiger, L. et al., The Cambridge History of Violence. Volume 1: The Prehistoric and Ancient Worlds. Vol. 1, The Cambridge World History of Violence Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. , pp.360-379. (10.1017/9781316341247.019)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2022. Wives, other women, and boyfriends. In: Stoneman, R. ed. Alexander the Great: the Making of a Myth.. London: British Library. , pp.158-167.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. and Davis, G. 2017. Gender and sexuality. In: Harlow, M. ed. A Cultural History of Dress and Fashion. Volume I: Antiquity.. Berg. , pp.87-104.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. and Davis, G. 2017. The Body. In: Harlow, M. ed. A Cultural History of Dress and Fashion. Volume I: Antiquity. Berg. , pp.49-69.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. and Winder, S. 2016. Berenike II and the Hathoric model of Queenship. In: Rutherford, I. ed. Greco-Egyptian Interactions: Literature, Translation, and Culture, 500 BC-AD 300.. Oxford: Oxford University Press. , pp.139-162.
- Tougher, S. and Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2022. Alexander the gay and the gloryhole that was Greece. In: Stoneman, R. ed. A History of Alexander the Great in World Culture. Cambridge University Press. , pp.424-447. (10.1017/9781316711798.020)
Books
- De Souza, P. et al., 2004. The Greeks at war: from Athens to Alexander. Essential Histories Specials Oxford: Osprey.
- Frasier, J. , Llewellyn-Jones, L. and Bishop-Wright, H. 2023. Luxury and power: From Persia to Greece.. London: British Museum.
- Lewis, S. and Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2017. The culture of animals in antiquity: A sourcebook with commentaries. Abingdon and New York: Routledge. (10.4324/9781315201603)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2023. Ancient Persia and the Book of Esther. Achaemenid court culture in the Hebrew Bible. I B Tauris.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2003. Aphrodite’s tortoise: the veiled woman of Ancient Greece. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2018. Designs on the past: how Hollywood created the Ancient World. Screening Antiquity Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2013. King and court in Ancient Persia 559-331 BCE. Debates and Documents in Ancient History Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2022. Persians: The Age of The Great Kings. Wildfire Books.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. 2024. The Cleopatras: The forgotten queens of Egypt. London: Wildfire.
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. and McAuley, A. 2022. Sister-Queens in the high Hellenistic period: Kleopatra Thea and Kleopatra III. Routledge Studies in Ancient History London, UK: Routledge. (10.4324/9781315206578)
- Llewellyn-Jones, L. and Robson, J. 2010. Ctesias’ History of Persia: tales of the Orient. Routledge Classical Translations) London: Routledge.
Research
Research interests
- Iranian Studies
- East-West Encounters
- Cross cultural and cross temporal comparatives
- Gender and sexuality
- Egypt and the Near East
- Reception of antiquity in the arts and popular culture
- Storytelling
- Global Histories
RECENT National and International PUBLIC LECTURES and INDICATIONS OF ESTEEM:
Invited Lecture: 'Crafting Persian Luxury'. The Smithsonian Institute. August 2024.
Invited Lecture: 'The Cleopatras: the Forgotten Queens of Egypt'. British Museum. May 2024.
Invited Lecture: 'The Further Queer Adventures of Alexander the Great'. The British Library. March 2023.
Invited Lecture: 'In and Out of the Imagination: Women in Achaemenid Persia'. Iran Heritage Foundation. March 2019.
Invited Lecture: 'Elite Culture in Ancient Iran'. The Vladamir Lukin Lecture, British Museum. July 2018.
OUTREACH and KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
Recent Television Apperances
Alexander: the Making of a God (Nextflix; 6 episodes)
Ancient Megacities (PRIME; 3 episodes)
Queens of Ancient Egypt (PRIME; 1 episode)
The Art of Persia (BBC; 3 episodes)
Recent Podcasts:
The Persian Wars: Darius, Athens and the Battle of Marathon
The Persepolis Fortification Texts
Palaces in Paradise: Centres of the Persian World
The Cleopatras: A Dynasty of Rule Breakers
The Tower of Babel – Live Podcast at the London Podcast Festival
Cyrus the Great: Building the First Superpower
Darius the Great: Ruling from India to the Mediterranean
The Magnificent Seven Cleopatras
Ancient Persia and the Book of Esther
David, Bathsheba & Harem Politics
How the Persians were written out of history
The Persian empire: everything you wanted to know
Recent Media & Public Appearances
Teaching
Studying Shahnameh - the Persian Book of Kings - in the third year class, The Persians
Current UG Modules
- The Persians
- Projecting the Past
- A World Full of Gods
- Ancient Languages
- Ancient History: The Near East, Greece, and Rome
- Ancient Objects
- Greece and the Near East
- Gender and Sexuality
- Past and Present
Second Year Independent Study
Final Year Dissertations
Topic areas for undergraduate supervision:
- Achamenid Dynasty of Iran, 559-331 BCE
- Ancient Persian Empire
- History & Culture of Iran
- Greek and Persian interactions in antiquity
- Ancient Historiography
- Near Eastern and Egyptian History & Culture
- Gender, dress, sexuality in antiquity
- Reception of antiquity in the arts, especially Hollywood cinema
- Reception of antiquity in contemporary politics and social issues
Topic areas for MA, MPhil, PhD supervision:
- Iranian Studies
- Near Eastern Studies
- Egyptology
- Gender and Sexuality
- Global Antiquities
- Art and Iconography
- Reception Studies
Biography
I was born in Bridgend, raised in Cefn Cribwr, and attended Cynffig Comprehensive School. I recieved my undergraduate degree at the University of Hull (1985-1988), followed by a Masters (1996-1997) and a PhD (1997-2000) in Ancient History at Cardiff University. Following a Research Fellowship at the Open University and a lectureship at Exeter, I joined the Classics department at the University of Edinburgh in 2004 and in 2015 I became Professor of Ancient Greek and Iranian Studies. I took up the Chair of Ancient History at Cardiff University in February 2016.
My research interests are many and varied and I take a global view of antiquity. My main field of interest is in ancient Iran and its legacy, but I also work on the histories and cultures of ancient Egypt and the Near East more widely. I have worked extensively on Greek cultural histories, on gender in the ancient world, and on the reception of the past in popular culture and the arts.
My recent publications on ancient Persia and Ptolemaic Egypt have been translated into over fifteen languages, helping to forground Ancient History in the public mindset.
I travel frequently to IMiddle East, often leading cultural and historical study tours. I have worked with the BBC, Channel 4, Netflix, PRIME, and the History Channel and even with Hollywood production companies as historical advisor. I am a regular reviewer for The Times and Times Higher Education.
I recently worked alongside the British Museum on an exhibition that looked at conceptions of luxury in ancient Persia and Greece. As part of the project, I got to use my research on ancient dress to recreate some ancient Persian garments. They went on display in the BM and were seen by over 30,000 people!
Follow my blog, Persian Things
For cultural tours see: www.martinrandall.com
Education and qualifications
- 1997 - 2000 PhD. Ancient History, Cardiff University, Wales, UK.
- 1996 - 1997 MA (Distinction) Ancient History, Cardiff University, Wales, UK.
- 1985 - 1988 BA (Hons) Drama, University of Hull, England, UK.
Honours and awards
- Iran Heritage grant
- British Consul Starting Fund
- Principal's Knowledge Exchange Grant
- AHRC conference funding
- Carnegie Trust Award
Professional memberships
Present - Trustee of the British Institute of Persian Studies
02/2016 - Present Chair of Ancient History, Cardiff University
08/2015 - 01/2016 Chair of Ancient Greek and Iranian Studies, University of Edinburgh.
08/2010 - 07/2015 Senior Lecturer in Ancient History, University of Edinburgh.
08/2004 - 07/2010 Lecturer in Ancient History, School of History, Classics &\; Archaeology, University of Edinburgh.
08/2003 - 07/2004 Lecturer in Ancient History, Department of Classics and Ancient History, University of Exeter.
01/2000 - 08/2003 Research Fellow, Department of Classical Studies, The Open University
- Head of Classics, University of Edinburgh
- Associate Dean (Academic Conduct)
- Principal Discipline Officer
- College Recruitment & Admissions Committee
- College Recruitment Team
- College Recognition Awards Committee
- College Fitness to Study Committee
Academic positions
Editorships
Series Editor for Edinburgh University Press (commissioning and overseeing production of monographs and edited volumes from established academics):
Edinburgh Studies in Ancient Persia
Screening Antiquity (Co-Series Editor, with Prof. Monica Cyrino)
Editorial boards
- Journal of Greek Archaeology
- CADMO, Ancient History Review of the University of Lisbon
- DABIR (Digital Archive of Brief notes & Iran Review)
Membership of academic societies
- British Institute of Persian Studies
- Society for the Study of the Old Testament
- St Andrews Centre for the Study of Iranian Civilization
- Iran Heritage Foundation
- Textile Research Centre, Leiden
- The Classical Association
- The Classical Association of Scotland
Committees and reviewing
- Present - Member of SHARE Impact & KE Committee
- Present - NSS Champion, Ancient History
Supervisions
- Iranian Studies
- East-West Encounters
- Global approaches to Antiquity
- Near Eastern Studies
- Egyptology
- Cross cultural studies
- Gender and sexuality
- Reception of antiquity in the arts and popular culture
Current supervision
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Near Eastern Studies
- Reception Studies
- Egyptology
- Global AntiquitiIes
- Iranian Studies
