About our staff

• Director of Teaching (Classics)

My seduction into Classics came in the first year of university in Canada when I took a Classical Literature course as an option. I was instantly hooked! Although both my undergraduate and masters degrees are in Greek, and specifically in tragedy, I was enticed into Roman History in the first year of my PhD by Professor A.A. Barrett when he came into our Suetonius class one day and threw down a stack of photos; we then spent an hour trying to decide which were of Caligula, given our knowledge of the sources (for the answers, see his book on Caligula). I never looked back, though I do get wistful whenever I read Agamemnon.

Working at Kenchreai (Greece)

My research interests are varied, but remain rooted in Roman imperial history. My interest in the praetorian guard has led me along many different paths and continues to be my main focus. My other love is the Severans, especially the maligned Caracalla. I also dabble in archaeology, having worked in both Carthage, Greece and Italy; a book on the rediscovery of Carthage will be out in 2024. Recently I have become fascinated with espionage in antiquity, though I also am working on Roman imperial women – not that the two are unconnected! – and I hope to pursue these in future publications. The only problem, of course, is finding time to fit all this in, and still enjoy life in Edinburgh – a fabulous city to explore!

Summary of research interests

• Europe
• Mediterranean

• Ancient Civilisations
• Imperialism
• Language & Literature
• Material Culture

• Antiquity

My research currently focuses on several aspects of Roman imperial history, in particular the praetorian guard, Roman imperial women, ancient Carthage and the Severans.

The Roman Forum

Detail of Arch at Orange

• Latin 2B
• Roman World 1A and 1B
• Ancient History 2A
• Honours option: Empresses and Others: the Women of Imperial Rome
• Honours option: Monsters, Murder and Mayhem: Biography in the Ancient World
• Honours option: The Severans