Classics and Ancient History involves the study and research of Latin and ancient Greek and Roman civilisations and the contributions they have made to the modern world.

Particular attention is paid to their literature, history and archaeology.

The School is at the forefront of the application of computers to translating ancient texts, the use of aerial photography for archaeology and the study of currency.

1. Research strengths
2. Staff research interests

Research strengths

The Australia Research Council has funded research in: 

• Network for Early European Research: Between 2004 and 2010, the School played a key role in supporting Australian research into the culture and history of Europe between the fifth and early nineteenth centuries.
• Aerial Photographic Archive for Archaeology in the Middle East: You can access more than 30,000 photographs and several hundred maps for a dozen countries.
• Alexander the Great.
• History of medicine in early modern Italy: This multidisciplinary project explored 'hypochondria' in early modern Italy and how it was treated.

Other projects include:

• Jarash hinterland surveys: Several UWA survey teams in Jordan have identified ancient remains of the Greco-Roman city of Gerasa which is threatened by modern urban development.
• Zeugma: Account of the campaign to bring to the world's attention the significance of the Classical city of Zeugma in Turkey and the threat posed to it by a dam.
• Roman Archaeology Group: Promotes interest in Roman archaeology through newsletters, lectures and other activities.
• Morosini Codex: Translation of The Morosini Codex, the largest surviving single private document from fifteenth century Venice.
• Latin Humanism: The Cassamarca Chair in Latin Humanism was established in 2003 to raise awareness of Latin writing, especially since the Renaissance, and of the values that lie at the heart of modern European culture.

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Staff research interests

• Dr Norman Ashton: Ancient Greek Towers; the coinage of Ancient Siphnos; Ancient Greek winemaking; Ancient Megisti/Kastellorizo.
• Emeritus Professor Brian Bosworth: Ancient historiography and history, in particular Greek history of the fourth century BC, and Roman history of the Imperial period.
• Professor Yasmin Haskell: Latin literature from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries; theory and practice of didactic poetry from antiquity to Romanticism; poetry and poetics of the early modern Society of Jesus; classical tradition.
• Emeritus Professor John Jory: Theatrical entertainment in the Roman Empire; Roman Republican history; the application of computers to problems of Latin epigraphy.
• Winthrop Professor David Kennedy: Archaeology of the Roman Empire; aerial archaeology; Roman Near East; Roman army and frontier studies; history of settlement in Roman Arabia; Severan period.
• Winthrop Professor John Melville-Jones : Ancient coinage; Byzantine and Venetian historiography.
• Assistant Professor Lara O'Sullivan: Hellenistic Athenian history.
• Dr Neil O'Sullivan: Ancient literary criticism; Greek language and literature.
• Dr Andrew Stone: Byzantine history and literature.
• Emeritus Professor James Willis: Latin literature, especially late Empire; and textual criticism.

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